The Three Prophecies:
1. "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter." This prophecy foretells Macbeth's rise to the throne, which ultimately drives his ambition and sets the stage for the play's tragic events.
2. "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: / So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!" This prophecy is initially directed at Banquo, suggesting he will father kings even though he won't be king himself. However, it also implies that Macbeth's descendants will inherit the throne after him, foreshadowing a future line of kings.
3. "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! / Dismiss me. Enough." This prophecy warns Macbeth of danger from Macduff, the Thane of Fife. It's ambiguous, but hints at Macduff's eventual role in Macbeth's downfall.
Their Revelation at the End of the Play:
The witches' prophecies are revealed in a complex and tragic way:
* Macbeth's Rise to the Throne: The first prophecy is fulfilled when Macbeth, driven by ambition and spurred on by Lady Macbeth, murders King Duncan and takes the throne.
* Banquo's Descendants: While Banquo himself is murdered by Macbeth, Banquo's descendants do become kings, as predicted. This is revealed through a line of kings presented in Act IV, Scene 1, solidifying the witches' power and adding to Macbeth's paranoia.
* Macduff's Role: The final prophecy is revealed tragically when Macduff, spurred by the murder of his family by Macbeth, confronts the king and kills him. Macduff, having been born by Caesarean section and thus "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb, is not considered a "natural" man and is therefore not bound by the witches' prophecy that Macbeth would only be defeated by someone born of woman.
The Twist:
The witches' prophecies are ultimately a catalyst for Macbeth's downfall, but they also contain an element of self-fulfilling prophecy. Macbeth's actions, driven by his ambition and paranoia, are shaped by the witches' words, leading to a tragic chain of events that ultimately fulfills their predictions.
Key Points:
* The witches are not all-powerful: They are ambiguous and manipulative, using prophecy to influence Macbeth's actions. They do not control the future but play a significant role in shaping events.
* Macbeth's free will: While the witches provide prophecies, ultimately Macbeth makes his own choices, driven by his ambition and paranoia. He is responsible for his actions.
* The theme of fate and free will: The play explores the complex relationship between fate and free will. The witches' prophecies shape Macbeth's destiny, but he is also free to act on them, and ultimately, responsible for the consequences.