In the first scene we are introduced to three ugly evil looking hags, the witches. We know that the women are witches because they begin by referring to the battle that Macbeth had just won.

Scene three the witches evil intentions begin to show, a witch accounts a spell she has just put on a young woman’s husband out at sea because the woman wouldn’t give the witch a chestnut from her basket. This introduces the power the witches possess to produce cruel and sadistic spells upon humans for everyday disappointments.  It was important for Shakespeare to get across the idea that the witches were supernatural beings, and that they had the power to control a persons life, because as Macbeth draws closer to them, he says he has never seen a day so foul and fair. A supernatural but subtle occurrence happened between the witches and Macbeth before they had even met, suggesting more evidence that the witches were there to meet with Macbeth. Before Macbeth appears in view, one of the witches claimed ‘a drum, a drum, Macbeth doth come.’ Makes it evident the witches knew Macbeth would come, and that they could recite prophecies that would unfold his deepest desires. If he were as honourable and loyal as his king had previously claimed, he would not want to have heard more about the witches unlawful suggestions. Banquo was taken aback by what the women had said, but didn’t take it as literal as Macbeth had. The witches lured and tempted Macbeth with greater titles of power; the witches already knew he had been appointed as thane of Glamis. Which to know such news so fast seemed almost impossible, but to then say he will have greater titles, stuck Macbeth. This was not down to witchcraft, just Macbeth’s weakness of temptation. As Banquo smiled and saw the whole thing odd and almost funny, the witches claimed his sons would become kings.

‘He seems rapt’, Banquo quote means that Macbeth seems withdrawed and entranced, of course as we know, by the prophecy. He didn’t reject the witches but wanted to know more, and after being appointed thane of Cawdor, he even began believing what he should have shunned. Banquo seemed to notice the slight change in him. Therefore he goes onto say to Macbeth, Banquo warns Macbeth that evil creatures (‘the instruments of darkness’) do not necessarily have to lie, but sometimes say true things (‘tell us truths’ and offer ‘honest trifles’) in order to tempt people into harming themselves (being won ‘to our harm’) and making awful things happen (‘betray's / in deepest consequence’). ‘Trifles" in this instance might mean ‘pleasant events’, and ‘betray's’ is just an elision of ‘betray us’. Banquo is warning Macbeth that - in line with the theme of the play and their own opening lines of this scene - what seems fair could actually be the work of something foul. In this play, people look like innocent flowers, when they are actually serpents - and Banquo wants his friend to look before he leaps.

Macbeth begins wrapping himself up and concealing his true feelings in order to hide what he is really thinking about. If what the witches prophesied had already come true, then there was a possibitity he could ‘that shalt be king hereafter’. He becomes unhealthy analysing and welcoming the witches words. His unloyal thoughts of killing Duncan by any mean necessary proves that the witches have Macbeth craving the title of King.  Evidence of this is when Duncan’s son is named heir to the thrown, Macbeth turns away and tells himself ‘stars hide your fires, let not light see my deep and dark desires’, this evoked that Macbeth, before the murder, could never fully reconcile his desire for the throne, which is strongly was suggested by, if not certified, by his ambitious evil wife.

His wife changes Macbeth into a blood-thirsty cold blooded killer, he betrays the King who sees him as and equal and trusted him, he also betrays his best friend Banquo. Banquo knew something was gnawing inside his good friend, Lady Macbeth also knew, but acted upon it to help the achieve unlawful and disgraceful acts, without remorse or second thoughts.