Macbeth Group

Question:

macbeth12345
macbeth12345
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What are the riddles given by the witches in Macbeth?

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Posted by macbeth12345 on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 8:50 AM and tagged with characters, macbeth, prophesies, riddles, themes, witches.

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  1. troutmiller Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In Act IV scene 1 the witches give Macbeth 3 apparitions and a glance into their prophesy of Banquo.  Each of theapparitions is a riddle.  The first is the armed head.  It tells him that he should beware Macduff.  He doesn't know how or why, but he should beware Macduff.  The second is a bloody child who says "for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth."  He thinks that means that no "human" can hurt him since all humans are born from their mothers.  The third apparition is a crowned child holding a tree. This one says, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” He doesn't think that the trees could possibly uproot and walk up to his castle.  The final vision is of Banquo holding a mirror.  All of his reflections multiply until they blur.  So if we count the Banquo vision, there are 4 riddles given in this Act.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/act-iv-summary-analysis

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    Posted by troutmiller on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 3:51 PM