1. Who were Duncan & Macbeth?
When did the two Scottish Generals meet the witches? How did the witches look? What
did they say? What did miraculously correspond to the prediction made by the
second witch? What was Macbeth’s reaction to that? What was Banquo’s opinion
about the predictions made by the witches?
Macbeth
was a brave General who lived in Scotland . He was the thane of
Glamis. He had great valour and skill in wars. He was also a close relative of
the old king Duncan.
Two
Scottish Generals, Macbeth and Banquo were returning from a great battle. On
the way they met three witches.
The
three witches looked like women, except that they had beards. Their withered
skin and wild dress made them look like unearthly creatures. They were dancing
and singing.
The
first witch saluted Macbeth with the title of ‘thane of Glamis’. The second
witch addressed Macbeth as the ‘thane of Cawdor’. The third witch told Macbeth
that he would be the king of Scotland .
The witches then turned to Banquo and told him in somewhat riddling terms that
Banquo is lesser than Macbeth but greater, not so happy but much happier. They
also prophesied that Banquo would never be king but his successors would be
kings of Scotland .
Then the three witches vanished in air.
When
Macbeth and Banquo stood pondering on what the witches had said, there came
some messengers from the king Duncan. They conferred upon Macbeth the title of
the thane of Cawdor. This was the event that miraculously corresponded to the
prediction made by the second witch.
Macbeth
was deeply amazed and his hopes began to swell as he thought of the third
prediction that he would be the king of Scotland . Macbeth inquired Banquo
if he hoped that his children would be kings as the witches had predicted. But
Banquo warned Macbeth and said that such ministers of darkness often brought
forth only some partial truth that might betray them into the deeds of greater
consequence.
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