fate and free will

"Lesser than Macbeth, and greater"

This prophecy by the witches suggests Banquo's fate is predetermined, as he will have a lesser status than Macbeth but a greater legacy

“hover through the fog and filthy air”

‘fog’ only able to see a short distance but not being able to see any further (metaphor to the future of how macbeth is blinded and short sighted by his ambition) so unaware of what is past the fog unless you carry on going through it, filthy air = pollution. pollution is from the cause of other (the witches) so the witches create contamination in the air bc of their meddling in macbeths business

"He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first"

spoken by the witches, highlights Macbeth's arrogance and his refusal to be controlled by fate

the three fates

greek mythological sisters, one drew the string of life, one measured its length/lifespan and the last cuts the string and determines the end of life