Thursday, November 17, 2016

Which one of the things the witches said about Macbeth is about to come true?

Allof the things the witches predicted about Macbeth come true at some point in the play, though not exactly as he thought they would. But from the wording of your question, it seems that you are referring to the first prophecy. When Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches in Act I, Scene 3, they hail him first as Thane of Glamis (his current title) and then as Thane of Cawdor (a title he...

All of the things the witches predicted about Macbeth come true at some point in the play, though not exactly as he thought they would. But from the wording of your question, it seems that you are referring to the first prophecy. When Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches in Act I, Scene 3, they hail him first as Thane of Glamis (his current title) and then as Thane of Cawdor (a title he has not yet received). Then they hail him as "Macbeth, who shall be King hereafter!" This gets his attention. But he does not believe what the witches say until Ross arrives, bearing news that the Thane of Cawdor, having committed treason against the King, will be executed. King Duncan, moreover, has given the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth, who is astonished to hear the news. All of this happens in Act I, Scene 3, and by the end Macbeth is already thinking of the prospect that he might become king, saying:



If chance will have me king, why, chance
may crown me/Without my stir.



So the statement that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor comes true almost immediately, with profound consequences for everyone.

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