Although readers dispute whether or not the Weird Sisters actually know the future, or if they simply manipulate Macbeth into believing that they do and, in this way, coerce him to commit unscrupulous behaviors, it is clear that the witches do have at least some real supernatural ability. After they confront Macbeth and Banquo, and Macbeth commands them, "Speak, I charge you," they do vanish (1.3.81). Certainly, their ability to vanish indicates that they are, truly, witches who are capable of some measure of witchcraft. Further, later, in Act Four, they do conjure (with Hecate's help) some apparitions which do provide some information about Macbeth's future. This information is confusingly worded and designed to make him feel secure, but it does contain some truth: Birnam Wood will come to Dunsinane, Macbeth should beware of Macduff, Banquo's issue will reign in Scotland, and so forth. Then, afterward, the witches vanish; they should move past Lennox to leave, but Lennox never sees them (4.1.154). Therefore, again, the sisters seem capable of some witchcraft.
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