Description
As the witches converse, they are joined by Macbeth and Banquo, who are returning from a victorious battle. The witches then deliver their famous prophecies: they hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king, and they predict that Banquo’s descendants will be kings even though Banquo himself will not. This encounter sets the stage for the central conflict of the play, as the prophecies spark Macbeth’s ambition and lead to his eventual downfall.
