Who are the three witches waiting for in Shakespeare's Macbeth?

Answer 1

As supernatural beings (like witches) who could predict the future. If you believed in the supernatural (and the Elizabethans and Macbeth did) the their prophesies would inevitably come true. So the audience and Macbeth knew Macbeth would become king of Scotland, the question was how?.

Answer 2

The Weird Sisters are a musical group in the Wizarding World, and they play in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for the Yule Ball. In the book, they play many songs and in the movie, they play two songs.

Answer 3

The sisters are called "witches" only once in the play, as opposed to being referred to as "weird" a total of six times. The term "weird," as we know, comes from the Old English term "wyrd," meaning "fate" so it seems pretty clear that they're in some way associated with the three fates of classical mythology. Why does this matter? Well, the "fates" are supposed to control man's destiny and one of the major questions in the play revolves around the issue of whether or not Macbeth's actions are governed by his own free will or by some outside force.

Answer 4

The only people that talk to the weird sisters are Macbeth, Banquo and Hecate (in the scenes added by Thomas Middleton). Since neither Banquo nor Macbeth are likely to compliment them on their preparations, it must be Hecate you are talking about. And in fact it is: this is what she says in IV, 1: "O, well done! I commend your pains! And every one shall share i' the gains." (For some reason whenever I read one of Middleton's lines for Hecate I hear it in Carol Channing's voice.)

Answer 5

Macbeth ; they want to tell him the prophesy that he will be Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland

Answer 6

The Weird Sisters predict that both Macbeth and Banquo will rule. Their prediction causes Macbeth to commit murderous acts to satisfy his ambition.

Answer 7

Ambivalently. "This supernatural soliciting cannot be good; cannot be ill."

Answer 8

"I think not of them."

Answer 9

"Hail, Banquo!"