On a heath near Forres, the three witches meet again. They share their experiences since they last saw each other.
The first witch says that she plans to torture the husband of a woman who refused to share chestnuts with the witch. The husband was a sailor and the witch plans to toss his boat in a storm till all food and water supplies run out. She would not kill the man but would make his suffer, sleepless and hungry for nine into nine days. The other witches enjoy the plan and offer their support.
The scene helps to understand the diabolical nature of the witches who would go to any extent to extract revenge and/or for their own enjoyment.
The witches wound up a charm when they hear Macbeth and Banquo approaching. Macbeth claims that he has never before seen such a foul yet fair day. The day is foul with the dead on the battlefield and perhaps, also the weather (thunders due to the arrival of the witches) and fair because it has been a day of victory for Scotland.
The concept of 'foul and fair' reverberates throughout the play. The witches' first charm talked of 'foul and fair' and here, Macbeth comments on the foul and fair day. It seems symbolic of the fact that the fair conquest of the throne will lead to foul fortune for the next ruler, that is, Macbeth.
Banquo and Macbeth are surprised to see the witches who are dressed in drabs, seem to be women but have beards, thin lips and wrinkled skin. The witches greet Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis (his current title) but also as the Thane of Cawdor and the future King of Scotland.
As yet unaware that the title of Thane of Cawdor has been awarded to the valiant Macbeth and the original Thane executed, Macbeth is shocked to hear himself being greeted as someone else ('in borrowd robes'). Banquo however tells Macbeth that there is no reason to fear creatures who made such glowing prophecies. He asks the witches to predict his own future as well.
The witches claim that he shall be lesser than Macbeth yet greater, not as happy yet happier and the father to kings even though he shall never wear the crown himself.
When Macbeth questions the witches about the prophecies, they vanish into thin air leaving the two warriors bemused and awed. They wonder about the prophecies and are still trying to make sense of the experience, when Ross and Angus arrive to inform Macbeth that he has indeed been conferred the title of Thane of Cawdor.
Since the first prophecy proves true, both Macbeth and Banquo begin to wonder if indeed all the predictions were truths. Banquo says that evil beings are instruments of darkness which often tempt with honest trifles but lead to significant personal harm in the future. Macbeth finds himself ambivalent and wonders if his prophecies are actually good or evil. His mind has begun to imagine possibilities and he realizes that nothing is as it seems to be. He finally concludes that if fate wanted him to be king, it would make that happen without Macbeth taking any planned action towards that goal. He says time will always go on no matter how rough a day and his clouded thoughts would soon be cleared. He decides he shall face whatever comes his way.
Hence, the witches made three major prophecies: Macbeth was to be the Thane of Cawdor and the future King of Scotland. Banquo was to be a father to kings.
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