Skip to main content

What lines in Macbeth are the witches' prophecies?

In Act 1, scene 3, Macbeth and Banquo initially encounter the Weird Sisters.  They speak, at first, to Macbeth alone.


FIRST WITCH: All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!SECOND WITCH: All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!THIRD WITCH: All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter! (1.3.51-53)


The first statement is not prophetic because Macbeth already is the Thane of Glamis.  The second statement is technically not...

In Act 1, scene 3, Macbeth and Banquo initially encounter the Weird Sisters.  They speak, at first, to Macbeth alone.



FIRST WITCH: All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
SECOND WITCH: All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
THIRD WITCH: All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter! (1.3.51-53)



The first statement is not prophetic because Macbeth already is the Thane of Glamis.  The second statement is technically not a prophecy either because Duncan has already named Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor; Macbeth just doesn't know it yet.  The final statement, if one believes that fate controls one's destiny in this play, is prophetic because Macbeth has not yet been named king of Scotland (1.3.53).


Banquo asks for some news of his own future, and the next prophecy pertains to him.



FIRST WITCH: Lesser than Macbeth and greater.
SECOND WITCH: Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. (1.3.68-70)



In this prophecy, the Weird Sisters tell Banquo that he will not be king himself, but that he will father a line of kings.  All three of these lines are prophetic because they all speak to Banquo's future and things that have not yet taken place.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h