Does Macbeth initially believe the witches prophecies?

Initially, Macbeth appears skeptical of the witches' predictions, thinking them as delusions or tricks. He does not immediately commit to pursuing them out of faith, but rather out of curiosity and ambition. When the witches greet Macbeth with the titles "Thane of Glamis," "Thane of Cawdor," and "future King," he wonders whether they are "instruments of darkness," sent to deceive him. He worries about the ethical consequences of committing crimes to fulfil the prophecies, wondering whether doing so would "trammel up the consequence" and produce negative outcomes.

However, as events begin to unfold, and Macbeth's desire for power becomes stronger, he becomes increasingly convinced of the prophecies' truthfulness. The rapid fulfilment of the first two titles, his elevation to Thane of Cawdor and then to King, feeds his belief in the witches' power and reinforces the idea that they have supernatural insight. This growing belief in the prophecies propels Macbeth to take drastic measures to secure his position, ultimately leading him down a path of violence, guilt, and self-destruction.