Prediction Of The Witches In Macbeth

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the predictions of the witches and symbolism lay the foundation of the story’s advancement. Believing their predictions, Macbeth takes all the evil steps which bring disaster to him and others too. In this way, the dream of becoming king has ironically changed from a bright future to a tragic end due to some of the crucial decisions Macbeth has made during the course of his journey. With a clap of thunder, the Witches appear. Having demonstrated their power by casting a terrible curse upon a sailor whose wife offended one of them, they encounter Macbeth and Banquo as the two soldiers ride from the battlefield. The sisters make three prophecies, the first two regarding Macbeth and the last

The line "To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!" (70) Is almost disbelieving, as if Macbeth is trying to convince himself that the Witches could not possibly have spoken the truth. The entry of the hired murderers is a crucial element in the development of Macbeth 's character. His use of others to do his dirty work presents him as politically powerful but morally weak. Long gone are the days when Macbeth would meet his enemy "front to front." Now he must commit murder with the seeming protection of distance, “something distant from the palace” (133). The murderers carry lanterns and fail in their duty only when the light is accidentally knocked out. This moment is also highly symbolic, foreshadowed at the end of Act II, when Ross remarks to the old man "By the clock 'tis day; / and yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp." In Macbeth, the forces of darkness seem constantly at odds with those of light. In an ideal world, a belated traveler may hope to find "timely" accommodation, however late the hour. But in a world where the natural order of things has been in disarray and in which light is extinguished, as it is symbolically in this scene, that hope is also extinguished. Banquo is riding not toward a friendly welcome but toward his own extinction. The escape of Fleance is the turning point in Macbeth 's tragedy.

While feeling the guilt of his conscience due to the first bloodshed, he quickly numbs and will not stop at anything to fulfill his destiny. Though the supernatural plays a huge role in his ambition, he will take his fate into his own hands. And with one’s discretion, will come a vicious