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In "Macbeth," Macbeth doesn't appear to be ambitious. He seems to have been a loyal soldier to King Duncan, and maybe sold himself a bit short. This would explain Lady Macbeth's belief that he would need to be coaxed to take advantage of the opportunity to become king.

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How does Macbeth's first meeting with the witches tempt him and Lady Macbeth?

The witches' prophecies all come true. Indeed Macbeth should beware Macduff because Macduff is the one who kills him, the one who is not of woman born. The forest of Birnam Wood (or part of it anyway) does travel to Dunsinane before the final battle.


What is the significance of Malcolm's army carrying branches from Birnam wood to the castle?

The witches predicted Macbeth's army would be defeated only if Birnam wood comes to his castle - APEX


How does Hecate feel about Macbeth?

She is the one who, after finding out that 'her' witches (the witches that she taught to do things like casting spells etc) were talking and "spilling too many beans" to Macbeth about the future, she, as the head witch, shows Macbeth the Apparitions, and she is the one who is a little more evil than the witches, as they did not try to trick Macbeth as much as she did, (she said herself that "security/is mortals' chiefest enemy") only obeyed her orders or had some fun.


Why is Macbeth a supernatural play?

We are never really sure of how the witches relate to Macbeth. Do they merely foretell? Or are they controlling the lives of Macbeth and his wife? Before the play was revised and the character Hecate added (probably by the excellent playwright Thomas Middleton), the play was really ambiguous on this point.


Macbeth says that he does not think of the witches but he contradicts himself How?

MacBeth tells Banquo that he had not been thinking of the witches after Banquo says he, himself, has. Banquo is thinking about the predictions and MacBeth becoming Thane of Cawdor fulfilling one of the prophesies. This occurs after MacBeth is set on killing Duncan, the king. He is trying to hide his guilt even before he is truly guilty.

Related Questions

Do we know if Macbeth is a guilty man before he meets the witches?

Yes, Macbeth is portrayed as a valiant and respected warrior before he meets the witches. There is no indication of guilt or wrongdoing in his character until the witches plant the seed of ambition and power in his mind.


What is lady Macbeth's immediate reaction to the news of the witches prophecy?

Hecate expresses her anger with the three witches in Act III scene v. She asks the witches why they have helped Macbeth, calling him a "wayward son, / spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, / Loves for his own ends, not for you." She also says that she is angry that she was not consulted before they aided Macbeth, and she gives the witches instructions on how to lead him to his own distruction by giving him a false sense of security with their predictions.


How does Macbeth's first meeting with the witches tempt him and Lady Macbeth?

The witches' prophecies all come true. Indeed Macbeth should beware Macduff because Macduff is the one who kills him, the one who is not of woman born. The forest of Birnam Wood (or part of it anyway) does travel to Dunsinane before the final battle.


What theme is established when the witches vanished before Macbeth could get answers to his questions?

Ambiguity.


What is the significance of Malcolm's army carrying branches from Birnam wood to the castle?

The witches predicted Macbeth's army would be defeated only if Birnam wood comes to his castle - APEX


What does Macbeth reveal in the letter to Lady Macbeth?

He talks about the meeting with the witches, and how they vanished into thin air. He tells her about the predictions that he will be Thane of Cawdor and King hereafter. Finally, he tells her that the Cawdor prophecy has already come true, so there is good reason to believe in the "king hereafter" part as well.


What was the name of the forest in Macbeth?

The forest in Macbeth is called Birnam Wood. This forest plays a significant role in the play, particularly in fulfilling the witches' prophecy that Macbeth will not be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill.


How does Hecate feel about Macbeth?

She is the one who, after finding out that 'her' witches (the witches that she taught to do things like casting spells etc) were talking and "spilling too many beans" to Macbeth about the future, she, as the head witch, shows Macbeth the Apparitions, and she is the one who is a little more evil than the witches, as they did not try to trick Macbeth as much as she did, (she said herself that "security/is mortals' chiefest enemy") only obeyed her orders or had some fun.


Why is Macbeth a supernatural play?

We are never really sure of how the witches relate to Macbeth. Do they merely foretell? Or are they controlling the lives of Macbeth and his wife? Before the play was revised and the character Hecate added (probably by the excellent playwright Thomas Middleton), the play was really ambiguous on this point.


Macbeth says that he does not think of the witches but he contradicts himself How?

MacBeth tells Banquo that he had not been thinking of the witches after Banquo says he, himself, has. Banquo is thinking about the predictions and MacBeth becoming Thane of Cawdor fulfilling one of the prophesies. This occurs after MacBeth is set on killing Duncan, the king. He is trying to hide his guilt even before he is truly guilty.


How does macbeth use dramatic irony to comment on banquo's fate?

In "Macbeth," Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to comment on Banquo's fate by having Banquo unknowingly bring up the witches' prophecy about himself and Macbeth. The audience is aware of the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will be kings, while Banquo himself remains oblivious to this and trusts Macbeth. This creates tension and highlights the contrast between Banquo's innocence and Macbeth's ambition.


Why is Hecate angry with the three witches with 2 reasons?

Hecate is angry with the three witches because they have been meddling in Macbeth's affairs without her approval, which has caused chaos and confusion. Additionally, their actions have disrupted the natural order of things and could potentially lead to their own downfall.