Macbeth Quote Analysis

Banquo encounters Macbeth in the courtyard and mentions that he dreamed of the witches, adding that their prophecies have started coming true for Macbeth.

Banquo's plain statement 'I dreamt last night' places the supernatural directly into his sleeping mind, blurring the line between prophecy and psychology. By bringing up the witches unprompted, he reveals they're occupying his thoughts even when Macbeth claims not to think of them—the prophecies are haunting both men, but only one is willing to admit it openly.

Support a thesis that the witches don't need to appear onstage to exert power—once they plant their ideas, the characters do the psychological work themselves, as Banquo's dream shows.