Lines:51-52)
Banquo then states that the witches told only
Macbeth of his future, and asks them to foretell his
future if it is possible,whether it is good or bad. This
shows he may feel he is destined for great things as
well as his friend, but he could be slightly jealous
and is exceedingly curious,
"If you can look into the seeds of time
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me."(Act 1 Sc3, Lines:56-58)
The witches reply to his request in riddles to
deliberately confuse Banquo. The First Witch tells
him, "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater." (Act1
Sc3,Line:63)
This means he will have less power than Macbeth but
morally will be a better person.
The Second Witch tells him,"Not so happy, yet much
happier." (Act1 Sc3,Line 64)
This means he won't be as happy as Macbeth at first,
but as time goes on he will be more content, and will
have less hassle to deal with.
The Third Witch tells him,"Thou shalt get kings,
thought thou be none." (Act1 Sc3, Line:65)
This tells Banquo that he will never become king, but
his decendants will.
As soon as the witches foresee Banquo's future,
Macbeth tries to argue how his predictions could be
true. He is confused and curious how the witches
know such things and why they feel it is necessary to
tell him. He argues that the Thane of Cawdor is alive
and well and that there is no possibility of him ever
becoming king, "Stands not within the prospect of
belief" (Act 1 Sc3, Line:72)
Macbeth demands the witches answer his questions,
but they refuse, and vanish without trace.
Macbeth is disappointed the witches did not stay as
he was becoming very intrigued and wanted to know
more,which is a change of attitude from the
beginning.
Banquo, although not doubting the witches at first,
seems jealous now and questions whether the
witches really existed or not so Macbeth will decide
the whole thing never happened,
"Would they had stayed.
Were such things here as we do speak about?" (Act 1
Sc3, Lines:80-81)
Banquo even suggests the pair might have eaten
hemlock, henbane or deadly nightshade, which turns
the consumer mad when eaten,"Or have we eaten on
the insane root?" (Act 1 Sc3, Line:82)
The pair then repeat their predictions to each other,
and two Thanes, Ross and Angus enter.
Ross tells Macbeth how pleased King Duncan is with
him, and that they were sent to pronounce him the
new Thane of Cawdor, "He bade me, from him, call
thee Thane of Cawdor" (Act1 Sc3, Line:102)
Macbeth seems amazed by this, but questions why
the King is giving him a title which isn't his as the
Thane of Cawdor is alive,"Why dress me/ In borrowed
robes?" (Act 1 Sc3, Lines:106-107)
Angus then explains, that the Thane of Cawdor
betrayed Scotland and is soon to be executed, "But
under heavy judgement bears that life/ Which he
deserves to lose." (Act1 Sc3,Lines: 108-109)
Macbeth then realises the witches told the truth
about his first prediction, and decides the best is yet
to come, "The greatest is behind" (Act1 Sc3,Line:116)
Macbeth is then jealous of Banquo's prediction, as he
knows he will be king but his children will not, and he
tries to uncover how Banquo feels about this.
Banquo answers with a cynical view, saying the
witches were equivocators who only told them the
good things that would happen to them both, not the
bad. Banquo feels they can't be trusted and calls the
witches, "instruments of darkness." (Act 1
Sc3,Line:123)
Macbeth then shares a deep thought with the
audience, questioning if Banquo is right.
The thought of being king has always been in
Macbeth's mind, and now the witches have told him it
is his destiny, he wonders if he will have to do
something in order for it to become a reality.
He decides the only way he will become king is if
King Duncan dies and his sons are dead. He doesn't
know what to do with all the information he has been
given, but he says he doesn't want to kill Duncan,
"Present fears/Are less than horrible imaginings." (Act
1 Sc3,Lines:136-137)
After thinking his options through, Macbeth decides
that he will leave it to chance and if he is meant to be
king, he will, without doing something to ensure it, "If
chance will have me king, why chance my crown
me/Without my stir." (Act1 Sc3,Lines:142-143)
Macbeth then asks Banquo to think about the
predictions and everything that has happened and
talk later. Perhaps by then, they will understand it
more. Banquo agrees and they both depart.
By Beckiy Webber 11-4
