In this scene, Macbeth is portrayed as an ambitious man. This is evident in the text because, immediately after the witches prophesy that he will be Thane of Cawdor and the future king, he becomes intrigued and begins imagining himself as king. This is equally evident as he goes as far as asking the witches how it is possible that he will become all of those titles. When he is named Thane of Cawdor, he believes the witches’ prophecy and, in an aside, asks himself how he will become king. These reveal Macbeth to be ambitious and power-seeking.

Macbeth is curious in this scene as he is concerned and questions the whereabouts of the witches after they vanish, which leaves him disappointed. His curiosity is equally demonstrated when he asks how he could be named Thane of Cawdor when the actual Thane is still alive, or how he could become king when Duncan is still alive. When he is named Thane of Cawdor, he is curious again as he is eager to know how the prophecy of him being king will come to pass.