- For Macbeth:
a. Thane of Cawdor:
The witches greeted Macbeth as "Thane of Cawdor," a title he did not hold at the time. This prediction suggested that he would soon receive this prestigious title.
b. King Hereafter:
The witches also prophesied that Macbeth would eventually become king, planting the seed of ambition in his mind.
c. Be bloody:
They warned Macbeth that "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.'' He would need to become bloody due to a malicious person in Macbeth's future.
- For Banquo:
a. Lesser than Macbeth, greater:
They proclaimed that Banquo would be lesser than Macbeth in terms of power and rank but would ultimately father a lineage of kings, hinting at the future reign of his descendants.
b. **No King, but father to kings:''
This cryptic statement meant that while Banquo himself would not become king, his sons would ascend to the throne.
These initial predictions laid the groundwork for Macbeth's descent into darkness as he pursued the prophecies with ruthless determination, leading to tragic consequences for himself and those around him.