Answer key
Question 1.
1. a) Chestnuts
2. c) Swift Travellers
3. b) Unlike the inhabitants of Earth
4. b) The Thane of Fife
5. b) His children will become kings.
Question 2.
1. Because his wife offended her by not giving her the chestnuts she
asked for.
2. Because the pleasant tidings predicted by the witches could not be
true as he was, by that time only the Thane of Glamis and therefore
could not be the Thane of Cawdor or the king of Scotland.
3. Because if the witches prophecies were wrong, then the first two of
their prophecies would not have been fulfilled.
4. Because already the previous Thane of Cawdor was alive and how
could the title be given him.
5. Because the idea of attaining the third prophecy of the witches, that
is, he would become the king of Scotland, filled Macbeth's mind with
fear as Duncan the present king of Scotland was alive.
Question 3
Macbeth, the witches present Macbeth with three prophecies: he
will be named Thane of Cawdor, then Thane of Glamis (which he
already is), and finally, King of Scotland. For Banquo, they predict
he will be "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater," "Not so happy, yet
much happier," and that his descendants, not he, will be
kings. Macbeth is initially intrigued and disturbed, but ultimately
driven by ambition and influenced by Lady Macbeth to act on the
prophecies. Banquo, on the other hand, is more cautious and
skeptical of the witches' words.
Detailed Prophecies and Reactions:
Macbeth:
Thane of Cawdor: Macbeth is initially Thane of
Glamis. When the witches hail him as Thane of
Cawdor, it is a title he does not yet hold. Soon after,
messengers arrive confirming this title, planting the
seed of ambition in his mind.
King Hereafter: The witches' final prophecy that
Macbeth will be king sparks his desire for
power. Driven by ambition and spurred on by Lady
Macbeth, he murders King Duncan to seize the
throne.
Reaction: Macbeth is both fascinated and disturbed
by the prophecies. He initially dismisses them as
"fantastical," but the confirmation of the Cawdor
prophecy ignites his ambition and desire to become
king.
Banquo:
Lesser than Macbeth, yet greater: This prophecy
suggests a complex relationship. Banquo is less
powerful in the immediate sense, but his future
lineage will be more significant than Macbeth's.
Not so happy, yet much happier: This prophecy
suggests a life that is not characterized by simple
happiness, but by a deeper, more profound sense of
fulfillment through his descendants.
Heirs shall be kings: The witches predict that
Banquo's descendants, not Banquo himself, will
inherit the throne, which is a contrast to Macbeth's
desire for immediate kingship.
Reaction: Banquo is more cautious and skeptical of
the witches' predictions. He recognizes the potential
danger of the prophecies and warns Macbeth to be
wary of the witches' "instruments of darkness".
Question 4
Macbeth's ambition is revealed after his new title as Thane of
Cawdor when he immediately begins to ponder the possibility of
becoming king, fueled by the witches' prophecy and the
confirmation of the first part of their prediction. Banquo, however,
offers a warning, urging Macbeth to be cautious of the witches,
reminding him that "instruments of darkness tell us truths" to lure
people to harm.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Macbeth's immediate fascination with the throne:
Upon learning he is the Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth's mind
immediately races to the next part of the prophecy –
becoming king. This immediate focus on attaining the
throne demonstrates his ambition and susceptibility to
the witches' influence.
Banquo's cautionary advice:
Banquo, also a recipient of the witches' prophecies,
recognizes the potential for deceit. He warns Macbeth
that the witches' pronouncements, even if seemingly
true, could be manipulative tactics to lead him to harm.
Divergent paths:
This initial exchange sets the stage for the diverging
paths of Macbeth and Banquo. Macbeth, driven by
ambition, embraces the witches' prophecies, while
Banquo maintains a more cautious and skeptical
approach.
The theme of deception:
Banquo's warning highlights the theme of deception and
temptation, central to the play's exploration of ambition
and its consequences. He recognizes that evil forces
often use truth to mask their malicious intentions.
