The Witches’ Predictions

• What recurring motif is present when the Witches appear in Scene 3?

  Thunder
• What does the recurring motif of thunder hint at in Scene 3?

  Chaos, danger, and the overturning of the natural order
• What is Macbeth's first line in Scene 3?

  “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”
• How does Macbeth's first line link him to the Witches?

  It echoes their prophecy “Foul is fair”
• What is a motif?

  A recurring symbol
• What metaphor is used when the Witches describe sending out a storm on a sailor’s ship?

  It represents what will happen to Macbeth, who is sleepless due to guilt
• What could the ship in the Witches' metaphor represent?

  Scotland, which is almost destroyed during Macbeth's violent reign
• What are the implications of the Witches' predictions in Scene 3?

  • They foreshadow chaos and danger.
  • They link Macbeth to the supernatural.
  • They highlight Macbeth's internal conflict and guilt.
  • They symbolize the destruction of Scotland during Macbeth's reign.
• What do the Witches predict for Macbeth?

  That he will be made Thane of Cawdor and then King
• What do the Witches predict for Banquo?

  That his descendants will become kings
• How does Banquo react to the Witches' predictions?

  He is suspicious and questions his own sanity
• What does Banquo mean by asking, “have we eaten on the insane root”?

  He questions whether they are under the influence of something that distorts reality
• What warning does Banquo give regarding the Witches?

  He warns that they “Win us with honest trifles - to betray’s”
• How does Banquo view the Witches compared to Macbeth?

  He sees them as “instruments of darkness” while Macbeth is less certain
• What does Macbeth say about the Witches' predictions?

  He says they “Cannot be ill, cannot be good”
• How does the encounter with the Witches affect Macbeth?

  He is left “rapt withal” and spellbound by the predictions
• What powerful feeling is awakened in Macbeth by the Witches?

  His powerful ambition
• What do the Witches tell Banquo about his future?

  That he will be “Lesser than Macbeth and greater”
• What does the phrase “Lesser than Macbeth and greater” imply about Banquo?

  It suggests that Banquo's sons will be kings, indicating he is greater in legacy
• How does Macbeth's reaction to the prophecies reflect his character?

  He is torn between ambition and loyalty, showing he isn't evil yet
• What does Macbeth immediately think about after hearing the prophecies?

  He thinks about killing Duncan
• What does Macbeth's reluctance to kill Duncan indicate about him?

  It shows he is wrestling with his conscience
• What does Macbeth's promotion to Thane of Cawdor signify?

  It shows that the first prediction has come true
• How does Macbeth interpret the fulfillment of the first prediction?

  He believes the prediction about him becoming King will also come true
• What does the Witches' statement about Macbeth being “Not so happy, yet much happier” imply?

  It suggests that Macbeth will achieve his goal but it won't bring him happiness
• How do the Witches use language to confuse Macbeth and Banquo?

  They use paradoxes and riddles
• What are the key differences in how Banquo and Macbeth react to the Witches' predictions?

  • Banquo is suspicious and questions his sanity.
  • He warns about the Witches' manipulations.
  • He sees the Witches as evil.
  • Macbeth is spellbound and uncertain about the Witches' nature.
  • Macbeth wrestles with ambition and loyalty.
• What themes are highlighted through the characters' reactions to the Witches' predictions?

  • Ambition and its consequences
  • The nature of evil and manipulation
  • The conflict between fate and free will
  • The complexity of human morality