Act 1, Scene 3 — The Prophecies

"So foul and fair a day I have not seen"

Macbeth's first line, echoing the witches' words and linking him to them

Macbeth's first prophecy

Thane of Glamis (a title he already holds)

Macbeth's second prophecy

Thane of Cawdor

Macbeth's third prophecy

"Thou shalt be king hereafter"

Banquo's first prophecy

"Lesser than Macbeth, and greater"

Banquo's second prophecy

"Not so happy, yet much happier"

Banquo's third prophecy

His descendants will be kings, though he will not be

Who confirms Macbeth is Thane of Cawdor

Ross and Angus, sent by Duncan

Macbeth's reaction to the prophecies

He is startled, silent, and immediately begins imagining murder

Banquo's reaction to the prophecies

Cautious and suspicious; he does not act on them

"Instruments of darkness tell us truths"

Banquo's warning that evil forces reveal small truths to lead us into disaster

"This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good"

Macbeth's confused aside as he weighs the prophecy

"If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir"

Macbeth considering letting fate act without him committing murder

"My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical"

Proof Macbeth already thinks of killing Duncan before Lady Macbeth suggests it

Key theme in Scene 3

Fate vs. free will — do the witches cause events or reveal them?