Role Of Prophecies In Macbeth

The play Macbeth by Shakespeare shows the transformation of a power driven man and his strides to become King. This tragic story is viewed as either a morality play or a play of prophecies. However, throughout the plot, prophecies overshadows morality. The prophecies told by the witches cause Macbeth to be a dynamic character. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo wonders upon three witches, the Weird sisters. Life altering events are called upon by three prophecies told to them by the witches. The first prophecy predicts that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor. This soon becomes true after the original Thane of Cawdor is killed at battle and Duncan awards Macbeth with the title. The second prophecy given is that Macbeth “shalt

They provide Macbeth with four more prophecies. The first is an apparition of a floating head with a helmet on warning Macbeth to beware of Macduff. The second apparition is a bloody child that confesses that no one born from a woman can harm Macbeth. An apparition of a crowned child with a tree in his hand confronts Macbeth and tells him that no one can harm him until a forest climbs a hill. The first three apparitions comfort Macbeth since they all appear impossible. However, the last apparition is a line of kings with the last resembling Banquo and holding a mirror, representing the rest to come. Although Macbeth is weary about the final image, the others make him feel indestructible. Macbeth tells the servant to “go prick thy face and over-red thy fear” as word reaches him that there are ten thousand soldiers outside the castle.(5.3.16) Macbeth feels protected by the wisdom of the witches and is over confident of what is to come. The prophecies gave him a lack of fear which caused for his death. He tempts fate as he meets Macduff and tells him that he can do whatever he wants, but he cannot kill him for “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born.”(5.8.15-16) This showed that Macbeth, even in battle, felt invincible due to the prophecies. To Macbeth’s dismay, Macduff is the loophole and kills Macbeth. Macbeth’s downfall came down to his lack of fear and his dynamic character build up due to all of the witches’