The witches have a very strong effect on Macbeth’s character; they highly influence him in his achievements and expose him to his ambitions. They give Macbeth a false sense of security with their illusions of truths. Instead, they prove to be harmful for Macbeth, who buys into their truths and becomes too comfortable and confident in them. They are the one’s who initially plant the idea of murdering Duncan into Macbeth’s thoughts. Ever since the beginning, the predictions that were made by the witches had an impact on Macbeth, to the point that Banquo notices Macbeth’s reply during their encounter with them. In Act 1, scene 3, Banquo remarks, “Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?” It is evident that
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Again, in Act 1, scene 3, Banquo states, “What, can the devil speak true?” Macbeth responds with, “Do you not hope your children become kings…” Here, Banquo becomes concerned that Macbeth has fallen under the spell of witchcraft, which often misleads people. Macbeth is showing that he is increasingly buying into the witches’ prophecies. During Act 1, scene 3, Banquo also says, “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.” Macbeth also deliberates with a sense of foreboding in an aside: “This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? ...Present fears are less than horrible imaginings ...and nothing is but what is not.” While Macbeth senses a blurring of the lines between fantasy and reality, he is also bothered by the fact that he finds himself contemplating killing King Duncan, a thought so horrible that it "unfixes" his hair and makes his heart palpitate. In fact, the dangers that threaten him unnerve him less than his own thoughts. This is the beginning of Macbeth's entry into the realm of witchcraft and spirits as "Nothing is what is not"and he is seduced by the prophesies of
Again, in Act 1, scene 3, Banquo states, “What, can the devil speak true?” Macbeth responds with, “Do you not hope your children become kings…” Here, Banquo becomes concerned that Macbeth has fallen under the spell of witchcraft, which often misleads people. Macbeth is showing that he is increasingly buying into the witches’ prophecies. During Act 1, scene 3, Banquo also says, “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.” Macbeth also deliberates with a sense of foreboding in an aside: “This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? ...Present fears are less than horrible imaginings ...and nothing is but what is not.” While Macbeth senses a blurring of the lines between fantasy and reality, he is also bothered by the fact that he finds himself contemplating killing King Duncan, a thought so horrible that it "unfixes" his hair and makes his heart palpitate. In fact, the dangers that threaten him unnerve him less than his own thoughts. This is the beginning of Macbeth's entry into the realm of witchcraft and spirits as "Nothing is what is not"and he is seduced by the prophesies of