Witches

Question 1

“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Thane of Cawdor! / That shalt be king hereafter!”

Answer 1

The witches speak in a triple prophecy, which creates a sense of power and rhythm. This structure builds tension and temptation for Macbeth. Shakespeare uses their language to plant the seed of ambition, showing how the witches manipulate Macbeth’s future through suggestion.

Question 2

“Something wicked this way comes.”

Answer 2

Ironically, the witches call Macbeth “wicked”, showing how far he has fallen since first meeting them. The word “something” makes him sound unnatural or monstrous, suggesting Macbeth is no longer fully human. Shakespeare shows that Macbeth has become one of them — a creature of darkness.