Analysis of Act One – The Witches’ Predictions
The witches are back – and there’s all sorts of hubble-bubble afoot.
Scene 3 – The Witches make three predictions
1. The Witches are accompanied by thunder again – this recurring motif hints at
chaos, danger and the overturning of natural order.
2. Macbeth’s first line in this scene, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”
immediately links him to the Witches and their “foul is fair” prophecy.
GET THE GRADE
The Witches describe sending out a storm on a sailor’s ship so that he can’t sleep. This could be
read as a metaphor for what will happen to Macbeth, who’s made sleepless by guilt, and the ship
could be a metaphor for Scotland, which is almost destroyed during Macbeth’s violent reign
Banquo and Macbeth react differently to the predictions
predictions
1. The Witches predict that Macbeth will be made Thane of Cawdor, then King, and that Banquo’s descendants
will also be kings. Banquo and Macbeth react differently to the news.
Banquo is suspicious and questions his own sanity – he asks, “have we eaten on he insane root”.
He warns that the Witches “Win us with honest trifles - to betrays”. He accepts that the Witches are telling the truth,
but he’s also aware that they’re manipulating Macbeth and himself.
Banquo isn’t as deceived as Macbeth. He calls the Witches “instruments of darkness” because he sees they’re evil,
whereas Macbeth is less certain – he says they “Cannot be ill, cannot be good”.
The encounter with the Witches leaves Macbeth “rapt withal”. He’s spellbound by the predictions, but he’s also scared
by the powerful ambition that the Witches have awakened in him.
2. The Witches tell Banquo he will be “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater”.
This is a reference to Banquo’s sons being kings, but it could also
mean that Banquo is greater because he isn’t driven by
greed and ambition.
3. Macbeth can’t stop thinking about the prophecies – this
shows his lust for power. He immediately thinks about Macbeth isn’t an evil
character – he’s wrestling with his conscious and torn between his ambition
and his loyalty.
Character – The Witches
4. When Macbeth finds out he’s been made Thane of Cawdor, it shows
that the first prediction has come true. This convinces him that the The Witches tell Banquo he will be “Not so
prediction about him becoming King will come true too, which happy yet much happier”. This hints that
although Macbeth will get what he wants (he’ll
strengthens ambition. be King), it won’t make him happy. Three
Witches use paradoxes and riddles to confuse
Macbeth and Banquo and lead them astray.
Act 1, Scene 3 – the Witches make three predictions
Q1. What do the Witches do to the sailor?
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Q2. Macbeth’s first words of the play are “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”
Why are these words significant? What do they suggest about Macbeth?
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Q3. Put these events in order by numbering the boxes. The first one has been done for you.
Macbeth orders the Witches to give him more information.
Banquo questions the Witches’ physical appearance. 1
The Witches disappear, leaving Banquo and Macbeth confused.
The Witches call Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor and say he will be king.
Banquo asks the Witches to predict his future.
Q4. Read from line 50 to line 87. How do Macbeth and Banquo react to the Witches’ predictions?
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Banquo: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Q5. Ross tells Macbeth that he is to become the Thane of Cawdor.
Describe the effect this has on the following things.
a. Macbeth’s feeling about the Witches’ prophecies
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b. Macbeth’s character
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