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   lit24 Teacher
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   In Act I sc 3 the  three  witches meet Macbeth and Banquo on the heath near Forres and greet him prophetically as the Thane of Cawdor and as the future king of Scotland, "All hail Macbeth thou shalt be king hereafter!"

   On hearing these prophecies Macbeth is so shocked and surprised that he is not able to say anything immediately and it is Banquo who first responds to the prophetic greetings of the witches. From Banquo's remarks we are able to understand Macbeth's immediate reactions to the prophetic greetings of the witches.

   Macbeth's immediate reactions are a mixture of fear and hope.  He is frightened because he knows that legally and rightfully he can never ever become the king of Scotland because Duncan has two sons. If at all the prophecy of the witches has to come true, it can come true only by "foul" means: "Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear/Things that do sound so fair?"  At the same time he is enraptured  and delighted to hear that he will become the king of Scotland: "My noble partner/You greet with present grace and great prediction/Of noble having and of royal hope/That he seems rapt withal."

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/character-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/summary-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/themes

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   Posted by lit24 on Tuesday November 18, 2008 at 6:01 AM