heir words are in his mouth. Is Macbeth really in control of his own destiny? The three witches make three initial predictions. The first witch says, “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis”, the second witch then goes onto say, “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor”, the third witch then says “all hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”. They also tell Banquo that his sons shall become King. The prophecies have a lot of influence over Macbeth. The witches are clever in coming to Macbeth at the right time and in what they said. They chose exactly the right moment to approach Macbeth. He is full of triumph and fresh from the fighting ad killing. He is at a particularly vulnerable time to have his head filled with thoughts of becoming king and fame. He says to Banquo “… Why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix to my hair, and make my seated heart knock on my ribs, Against the use of Nature.” The text states clearly that Macbeth has murderous thought in his mind that are prompted by the prophecy, “Present fears, are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder is fantastical shakes so single state of man.” It is an important point, it shows his reaction that someone has read his mind. The Witches are actually speaking Macbeth's innermost thoughts. Does this prove that Macbeth could control things and that the Witches were actually reading his mind by pushing him towards fate? The witches know exactly what to say, and their timing is precise. They seem unnaturally close and act with one mind. They also speak in riddles, which torment and twist his mind, for example. “Lesser than Macbeth, but greater” and “Not so happy, yet much happier”.Once the Witches vanish, some other Thanes, Ross and Angus, soon arrive with the news from the king that Macbeth is about to receive the title Thane o...
