The three witches present a prophecy to Macbeth: they identify him as the Thane of Glamis, which he currently is. He is next addressed as the Thane of Cawdor, which he unknowingly already has been named by King Duncan on the betrayal and death of the previous Thane. Then they call him King. This is puzzling, because Duncan is already king. This all comes true. A second prophecy tells him that he should beware Macduff, that no one born of woman shall harm him, and that he will be safe until Birnam Wood shall come to Dunsinane Hill. The spells that they cast on these occasions make Macbeth vulnerable to these prophecies, weakening his resolve and humility, and exacerbating his pride. Coupled with his wife’s urgings, these spells push Macbeth over the edge to commit murder, which eventually leads to his own death, which the second batch of prophecies hint at (Macduff murders Macbeth, Macduff was not “born” but delivered by Caesarean section, and the opposing forces hide behind branches from the trees of Birnam Wood, giving the appearance of a marching forest). The spells did not create anything that was not in Macbeth’s soul already, but preyed on the weakness already there.
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