Wednesday, March 26, 2014

How did the three figures look? What did they say to hail Macbeth and Banquo?

When Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches in act 1, scene 3, they are horrified by their ugly appearance. Banquo wonders if they are supernatural creatures, because they don't appear to be “inhabitants o’ th’ earth.” We have learned earlier that they fly on broomsticks and keep animals as familiars. Banquo also notes that the women have beards, which unsettles him.
The witches catch the attention of the two men by hailing Macbeth not only as Thane of Glamis but also as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth knows he is Thane of Glamis but is startled to be called Thane of Cawdor, as he does not yet know Duncan has bestowed that title on him. The witches continue to hold the men's attention by predicting that Macbeth will become king of Scotland and that Banquo's descendants will be kings of Scotland too.

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