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What are the influences of the Witches' prophecies on Macbeth's actions?

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  • Essay length: 1250 words
  • Submitted: 28/06/2004
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GCSE Macbeth

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What are the influences of the Witches' prophecies on Macbeth's actions?

The three witches in the tragedy "Macbeth" are introduced right at the beginning of the play. They deliver to Macbeth three prophecies: that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King. These prophecies introduce Macbeth to ideas of greatness. Macbeth will eventually follow through on killing King Duncan, a destruction of the natural order; it was sometimes thought that the witches had the ability to reverse the natural order of things. This brings into the play the idea of fate and the role with which it has in the play. One can wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met with the witches.

It is however; more realistic to believe that Macbeth was responsible for his own actions throughout the play, as in the end it was he who made the final decisions.

Banquo says, "The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's / In deepest consequence." He thinks and says bad things of the witches. He calls them "instruments of darkness" and "the devil". He might

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