In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, during Macbeth’s third speech he mentions that, in regards to the three witches’ prophecies and Banquo, “they hail’d him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown, And put a barren scepter in my gripe” (III.i.59-61). This quote occurs before Macbeth’s banquet, after Banquo has just left the palace to ride his horse. The quote is significant because Macbeth now realizes that there is no royal future for him and his lineage, because, since so far everything the witches have prophesied has come true, their prophecy of Banquo’s descendants becoming kings must be true too. However, while Macbeth has essentially leapt over time and disturbed the natural world order in order to receive the crown,
