Question

1. why does this news confuse and amaze macbeth?
2. what explanation does the messenger provide him?
3. right after this, we see \the wheels turning\ in macbeths mind. what does this mean?
4. what is the warning that banquo gives to macbeth as they whisper together?

why is this important? this is important because...

1. in detail, explain macbeths thoughts while the other men are talking.
2. banquo makes a good-humored attempt to excuse macbeths behavior by saying that he was...
3. why do you think banquo felt the need to say that?
4. what do macbeth and banquo secretly agree to before the scene closes?

Explanation:

These questions refer to Act 1, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth, where the witches' prophecies start to come true.

1. Question 8: The news (Ross telling Macbeth he is now Thane of Cawdor) matches one of the witches' seemingly impossible prophecies, so Macbeth is confused by how the unreal became real, and amazed that the prophecy was fulfilled.
2. Question 9: The messenger explains that the previous Thane of Cawdor committed treason against King Duncan, so the title has been stripped from him and given to Macbeth as a reward for his loyalty in battle.
3. Question 10: This means Macbeth is fixated on the witches' final prophecy: that he will become king. He is already contemplating the violent, unethical actions he might need to take to make this prophecy come true.
4. Question 11: Banquo warns Macbeth that witches often use small truths to lure people into destructive, evil actions. This is important because it foreshadows Macbeth's downfall—he ignores the warning and acts on the prophecies, leading to his ruin.
5. Question 12: Macbeth is deeply distracted, fixated on the witches' prophecy that he will be king. He is horrified by the thought of murdering Duncan to seize the throne, but also intensely tempted by the power and fate the prophecy promises. He is so lost in these dark thoughts that he barely registers the other men's conversation.
6. Question 13: Banquo says Macbeth was "startled by things that sound so fair"—meaning he was overwhelmed by the shocking, seemingly positive prophecies.
7. Question 14: Banquo cares for Macbeth and wants to defuse the awkward tension of Macbeth's strange, distracted behavior. He also subtly tries to remind Macbeth (and the other lords) to stay grounded, not carried away by the witches' words.
8. Question 15: They secretly agree to talk more about the witches' prophecies later, specifically focusing on the prophecy that Banquo's sons will become kings.

Answer:

1. The news matches the witches' impossible-seeming prophecy that he would be Thane of Cawdor; he is confused by how a fantasy became reality, and amazed the prophecy was fulfilled.
2. He explains the former Thane of Cawdor committed treason against King Duncan, so Macbeth has been given the title as a reward for his loyal battle service.
3. Macbeth is fixated on the witches' prophecy that he will be king, and is already contemplating the violent, unethical acts he may need to commit to make this come true.
4. Warning: Banquo warns Macbeth that witches use small truths to tempt people into evil. Importance: It foreshadows Macbeth's downfall, as he ignores the warning and acts on the prophecies, leading to his ruin.
5. Macbeth is completely lost in dark, conflicting thoughts about the witches' prophecy that he will be king. He is horrified by the idea of murdering King Duncan to seize the throne, but also intensely tempted by the power the prophecy promises. He is so absorbed in these disturbing ideas that he barely pays attention to the other men's conversation.
6. "startled by things that sound so fair" (overwhelmed by the shocking, seemingly positive prophecies)
7. Banquo cares for Macbeth, wants to defuse the awkward tension of his strange behavior, and subtly reminds him (and the other lords) to stay grounded, not carried away by the witches' words.
8. They secretly agree to discuss the witches' prophecies later, specifically the one that Banquo's sons will become kings.