Saturday, August 9, 2014

What are the second predictions given to Macbeth by the witches?My copy of the text misses this part out.

The second set of prophecies that the witches give to Macbeth,

"First Apparition of an armed Head.
Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,—
First Witch. He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought.
First App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
beware Macduff;
Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.
[Descends.
Second Apparition, a bloody
Child.
Sec. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth'—
Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.
Sec. App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh
to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends. 
Third Apparition, a Child crowned,
with a tree in his hand.
What is this,
That rises like the Issue of a king,
And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty?
All. Listen, but speak not to't.
Third App. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take
no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill"

These prophecies are followed by the appearance of the ghost of Banquo who follows a long line of kings, which are apparently descended from his son Fleance.

Macduff is the only person who can really kill Macbeth, because he was not "born of woman" in the usual way, but was born by Cesarean section.

The final part of the prophecy concerning Great Birnam Wood, Malcolm and his men cut down branches from this forest, to hide their approach to Dunisnane Hill, thereby allowing the prophecy to come true about Great Birnam Wood.

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