What did the witches predict for Macbeth and Banquo?

The Witches' Prophecy

Act 1 Scene 3 – Key Scene

In this scene, we meet Macbeth for the first time. The witches gather on the moor and cast a spell as Macbeth and Banquo arrive. The witches hail Macbeth first by his title Thane of Glamis, then as Thane of Cawdor and finally as king. They then prophesy that Banquo’s children will become kings. Macbeth demands to know more but the witches vanish. Ross and Angus arrive to tell Macbeth that he has been given the title Thane of Cawdor by Duncan.

You can take a look at the scene here. Using the following steps, remember to look at it line by line and if you’re looking at the scene for the first time, don’t worry if you don’t understand everything at once.

Banquo

How far is’t called to Forres?

Forres is a place near to King Duncan’s camp.

Witches

The Weird Sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go, about, about,
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace, the charm's wound up.

Banquo

What are these
That look not like the inhabitants o’ th’ earth,
And yet are on’t? – Live you, or are you aught
That man may question?

Banquo is not sure whether the witches are human because of how they look. What do you imagine they look like?

Macbeth

Speak, if you can: what are you?

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, that shalt be King hereafter.

Why do you think Macbeth doesn’t respond immediately to the witches’ prophecies?

Banquo

Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? – I’th’ name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace, and great prediction
Of noble having, and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal; to me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow, and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
Your favours, nor your hate.

Why are you scared by words that promise an amazing future?

You have given my friend such great news about what his future holds that he is completely spellbound.

If you can foretell what will happen in the future and say what will happen and what won't.

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:
So all hail Macbeth, and Banquo.

Your children and descendants will be kings.

First Witch

Banquo, and Macbeth, all hail.

The WITCHES turn to leave.

Macbeth

Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
I know I am Thane of Glamis,
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence, or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.

The idea of being king is completely unbelievable.

How many questions do Macbeth and Banquo ask of the witches and why do you think the witches don’t answer?

(Text edited for rehearsals by Polly Findlay and Zoe Svendsen)

First Witch
When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Second Witch
When the hurly-burly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.

Third Witch
That will be ere the set of sun.

First Witch
Where the place?

Second Witch
Upon the heath.

Third Witch
There to meet with Macbeth.

The play opens with the Witches greeting each other in Act I, scene 1. From the opening, the dark and disturbing tone of the play is clear. The Witches speak easily of warfare as something to watch avidly until it’s time to meet with their newest victim: Macbeth.

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, that shalt be king hereafter!

In Act 1, Scene 3, the three Witches greet Macbeth in a startling and unexpected way. The first Witch calls him “thane of Glamis,” already his title, because of Sinel’s death. But then the Witches call him “thane of Cawdor” and “king hereafter” thus prophesizing that he will be promoted to thane of Cawdor and then king. Macbeth has always dreamed of becoming king, so he is unnerved to hear his ambition said aloud. The Witches’ prediction sets in motion the plot of the play, as Macbeth and his wife murder to assure that he will become, and stay, king.

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.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

After the Witches prophesize that Macbeth will be king in Act 1 scene 3, Banquo asks what his future holds. The witches tell him he’ll be less happy than Macbeth but far happier, and predict that Banquo will never be king, but his descendants will be. Macbeth will soon murder Banquo to try to keep this from happening, but he will fail to kill Banquo’s son Fleance, who could end up making the witches’ prophesy come true.

Second Witch
By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.

In Act 4, scene 1, Macbeth returns to ask the Witches for more prophesies. Sensing his presence, the Second Witch calls Macbeth “wicked.” Her words mark the first time the witches describe Macbeth as evil in the play.

What did the witches tell Macbeth about Banquo?

What predictions do the witches make about Macbeth and Banquo quizlet?