2. Kim Harrison

3.  All throughout the play, there are many examples of foreshadowing, especially in Macbeth’s dealings with the witches since they know the future. They are the reason the events turn out the way they do.  Play begins with the witches setting the scene of when the first encounter with Macbeth will take place. Even here they are showing their knowledge of the future.

4. First Witch When shall we three meet again? Second Witch When the battle’s lost and won. Third Witch That will be ere the set of sun. 1.1

5. What he [the thane of Cawdor] hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. 1.2

6. 1 st : Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! 2 nd : Hail to thee, thane of Crawdor! 3 rd : All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! 1.3

7. If you can look into the seeds of time And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favors nor your hate. 1.3

8. 1 st : Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. 2 nd : Not so happy, yet much happier. 3 rd : Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. 1.3

9.  At that point, Macbeth was the thane of Glamis, but earned the title of thane of Cawdor after his valiant effort in battle (and the previous thane of Cawdor acted in treason towards his country/ king).

10. Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind. 1.3

11. If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir 1.3 http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/26500 /26584/crown_26584.htm

12.  At this point, Macbeth has given in to the prophecy and has decided to go along with it.

13. But ’tis strange. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s In deepest consequence. 1.3

14. Macbeth realized that the king had to die for him to gain the crown, so he plotted and carried out Duncan’s murder. Afterwards, he was crowned king. http://publisoft.net/

15. Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ’t 3.1

16. Beware Macduff/Beware the thane of Fife. [N]one of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until/Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/Shall come against him 4.1

17. The attacking army carried boughs to hide behind, making it seem like the forest was moving. Macduff did kill Macbeth in the end, for “Macduff was from his mother's womb/Untimely ripp'd,” and was not born naturally.

18.  If you, like Macbeth, were presented with a prophecy concerning your life, how likely would you be to act upon it?

19.  How far would you go to ensure this prophecy does/ does not happen?

20.  Do you think the witches’ prophecies are the reason the play turned out the way it did?  What does this show about the power of knowledge?