Witches, an illusionary dagger, and the Ghost of Banquo all helped to cause Macbeth's downfall. The three witches' prophecies caused Macbeth to think and do things he normally wouldn't do. The witches grabbed Macbeth's attention right away by addressing him as "Thane of Glamis/ Thane of Cawdor and/ king hereafter" (1.3.50-55). The witches stated Macbeth's present, near future, and future titles. Macbeth disbelieves the witches until he is made the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth immediately realizes that the predictions are probably no good, but ....