Introduction:
The witches are Supernatural characters in the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Three Witches, Banquo’s ghost, and Hecate are the representator of supernatural forces in the play. All the events of the Macbeth tragedy are based on the prophecies of the witches about Macbeth and Banquo.
More Notes: Macbeth
The prophecies of the witches about Macbeth and Banquo:
After the battle of Scotland when Macbeth was returning from the battle with his friend Banquo three witches meet them on the way, they make three prophecies – Macbeth will be a thane, Macbeth will be king, and Banquo’s sons will be kings. In Macbeth, Weird Sisters are called Three Witches. They prophesy the destinies of the main characters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. They are the agents of the destiny of classical mythology. When they meet with Macbeth and Banque, the witches hail Macbeth as the “Thane of Glamis” which is his present title, as the “Thane of Cawdor”, the title he is going to achieve officially. Besides they inform him that Macbeth is “king hereafter”. Hearing startles greeted by witches Macbeth is frightened and at the same time, he became greedy for power. Then Macbeth tells Banque that “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”. On the other hand, When Banquo questions the witches himself they greet him with the phrases “Lesser than Macbeth and greater,” “Not so happy, yet much happier,”. They also assure him as a man who “shall get kings, though [he] be none”, Meaning of the phrase Banque is a man nobody will be like him. He will be the forefather of the next eight kings. When Macbeth hears all this and wants to question the witches more, the witches disappear into thin air. When the witches disappear, Ross and Angus appear with the news that the king has named Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. Besides at the end of the tragedy, we see that all the witches’ prophecies are proven correct.
Conclusion:
Finally, we can say the witches’ prophecy about Banquo is the main theme of the play Macbeth. The tragedy would be incomplete without the witches’ prophecy. Because the witches’ prophecies are the key to Macbeth’s quest for the throne.
