In Act 4 of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the witches share three prophetic visions with Macbeth when he seeks their counsel. These visions are presented through a series of apparitions. Here are the first three visions:
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First Apparition (a floating head): The first apparition warns Macbeth to "beware the Thane of Fife," referring to Macduff. This foreshadows the conflict and danger posed by Macduff to Macbeth.
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Second Apparition (a bloody child): The second apparition tells Macbeth that "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." This gives Macbeth a false sense of security, leading him to believe he is invincible because everyone is born of a woman.
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Third Apparition (a crowned child holding a tree): The third apparition proclaims that Macbeth will not be vanquished until "great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him." This prophecy leads Macbeth to believe he cannot be defeated as he thinks it is impossible for a forest to move.
These visions, while seemingly assuring, ultimately contribute to Macbeth's overconfidence and his eventual downfall.