We need to understand who the witches are and what they represent overall to understand this scene better. Whenever the witches are shown in the play <em>Macbeth</em>, they are usually foreshadowing later events in the play. In the play, when the witches meet with Macbeth, they call him "Thane of Glamis," "Thane of Cawdor," and "king."
This scene is significant overall. Thane of Glamis is Macbeth's original title, so he anticipated being called that. However, he had not, at this point, received word of King Duncan's choice to name him Thane of Cawdor, so he is confused by this proclamation. He is also confused by being called king as they inform him he will one day be king.
It is during this scene that Macbeth is informed of his new title and he realizes that the witches have essentially told him his fortune. The timing of all this is very significant because it proves to Macbeth that what the witches tell him is true. Without this, it is unlikely that he would have believed the "prophecy" that they tell him of his future.
Explanation:
The short story ''The Guests'' by Saki, the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro, takes place entirely in the context of a conversation between two friends, Matilda and Annabel. Matilda explains to Annabel her appreciation of peace and quiet through a story of a wild incident that took place in her home in India.
Miller’s purpose to include this excerpt in the opening narrative was B. to compare the Salem Witch Trials with the political atmosphere of his time.
This introduction in the play signals a foreshadowing of what is going to happen as the events are recalled. However, Miller’s purpose throughout the play is to compare those historical events to what was happening at the time he wrote it. Arthur Miller sought to criticize Senator McCarthy’s prosecution of presumed communists US citizens by comparing it with the Salem Trials, in which innocent people were accused of witchcraft and later hanged.
