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 the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...