Final answer:
The witches tell Macbeth he is the thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and that he shall be king hereafter. These prophecies set the stage for Macbeth's actions and eventual downfall throughout the play.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Three Prophecies Told to Macbeth
At the beginning of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the three witches make three distinct prophecies to Macbeth upon his encounter with them on the heath after the battle. First, the First Witch greets him as "thane of Glamis," a title Macbeth is already aware of holding due to his father Sinel's death. Second, the Second Witch calls him "thane of Cawdor," a title that is yet to be bestowed upon him, as the current thane still lives. Third, the Third Witch prophesizes that Macbeth will be "king hereafter," an event that seems completely implausible to him at the moment.
These prophecies deeply affect Macbeth, initially causing scepticism but eventually leading to ambition and action. The prophecy about the thane of Cawdor comes true shortly after, reinforcing the potential truth of their final prediction of kingship.
Banquo also receives a perplexing prophecy during this encounter, where the witches predict that although he will not be king himself, his descendants will sit on the throne. This suggests a future legacy for Banquo, and his reaction mirrors Macbeth's curiosity and confusion.