Analysis of Witches' first prophecy to Macbeth and Banquo

In Act 1, scene three of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, a dark tale of strife, bloody revenge, and malicious ambition, the three witches, or “Weird Sisters” as they are referred to in the text, are on a “bleak place near the battlefield” awaiting Macbeth, who, with fellow nobleman, Banquo, returns from a bloody battle to put down rebels. Upon meeting the two noblemen, the Sisters prophesize that not only will Macbeth be awarded the title “Thane of Cawdor” but crowned King, as well. The witches then reveal that Banquo “shalt get kings,” though he himself will not be king. The foreshadowing offered in this brief appearance by the Weird Sisters provides a powerful backdrop and spur to Macbeth’s terrifying ambition to ultimate power, even through ruthless measures.

To fully appreciate the gravity of this scene, note that Shakespeare places it adjacent to the provocative first two scenes—one, where the Weird Sisters invoke their planned meeting with Macbeth, introducing the supernatural and sinister tone which opens and seems to cast the whole play under its spell; and two, where reports are given of Macbeths bloody victory on the field of battle (he “unseamed” a rebel “from nave to th’ chaps/And fixed his head upon our battlements”). The wicked and the bloody usher in the play. Near the battlefield, the “bleak place”, Macbeth echoes the early chant of the Sisters: “So fair and foul a day I have not seen” he remarks to Banquo. Indeed, for discerning what is just and what is unjust will plague Macbeth from this scene on like scorpions in his mind.

Immediately they encounter the Sisters. Banquo wonders that they are so “withered and wild in their attire” and seem “not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth…” These bearded women appear to understand Banquo by the way each laying a “choppy finger …upon her skinny lips” which effect is to silence him. Yet it is Macbeth they address at first accurately, “All hail Macbeth…Thane of Glamis” but progressively with potent predictions of Thane of Cawdor and even “king hereafter.” Startlingly, it is Banquo and not Macbeth who responds to the witches’ grand predictions, but tellingly he first comments on Macbeth’s reaction. “Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear/Things that do sound so fair?” What could Macbeth, who had just been heralded as brave, noble, and fearless in bloody battle, seem to fear? Shakespeare’s witches do not prophecy what will occur as much as what they know Macbeth desires to occur; the witches serve the supernatural purpose of drawing out what lurks darkly within Macbeth’s very soul.

Banquo then turns and addresses the witches again, noting that his “noble partner [they] greet with present grace and great prediction” but are silent with regard to Banquo’s future: “To me you speak not.” In effect, Banquo seals his fate by welcoming them to usher him into their “fantastical” prophecy:

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 favors nor your hate....

The witches in turn duly answer his plea with “Hail” then offer their paradoxical predictions: Banquo will be “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater,” “Not so happy, yet much happier.” This last prophecy is worth pondering before moving on to the devastating final one. After Macbeth murders Duncan, he is assailed by doubts and guilt over his terrible deed. He admits to Lady Macbeth that he heard a voice crying “Sleep no more/Macbeth does murder sleep.” Later he seems almost to envy Duncan who now in death sleeps—soundlessly, as it were, without worry that sting living minds. Tragically, we can take this latter prophecy not as ambiguity but as progression: not as fortunate as Macbeth, not a king, but the seeds he casts will indeed grow, as the final prophecy determines. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” And these are the last words Banquo and Macbeth hear from the witches. Not surprisingly, Macbeth’s first query, or rather demand that the witches remain and clarify, centers on how it’s possible that he would be Thane of Cawdor while the man “lives a prosperous gentleman.” Macbeth claims to believe the prophecy of his being crowned king “stands not within the prospect of belief.” But Shakespeare’s brilliant painting of ambiguity shows never more colorfully than the witches’ prophecy that he indeed shall be king. For it can be either a seed offered Macbeth to plant and nurture into growth, or the awakening of an ambitious desire lying asleep within. Regardless, the moment is charged, the spark lit, and events heretofore begin their ruthless unfolding.

Without further addition, the witches here vanish, refusing Macbeth’s demand they “Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence.” But of course why should they stay? Macbeth’s question is moot. Wicked intentions, cruel ambition, have no supernatural origins but lie humanly, all too humanly within. Banquo and Macbeth calmly remark, perhaps quietly smiling, on their final given prophecies, Macbeth noting that Banquo’s sons will be kings, Banquo retorting that Macbeth will be king. Perhaps out of noble friendship, neither comments on this seeming impossibility: both can’t be true, or come true, at the same time. But it is left for one to determine the dreadful fate of the other, and his own fate as well. Resounding above, you can almost hear the witches’ hoarse and cackling laughter hovering "through the fog and filthy air.”