What does this sentence mean?
I'm reading Macbeth(simplified version) now and came across these sentences.

“They also told you that you’d be king, but perhaps the witches were bad spirits. I have heard that such spirits try to make men do wicked things by making them promises.”

I don't quite get the second sentence. What does “by making them promises” mean?

I'd appreciate if you could answer this questions!

Question

What does this sentence mean?
I'm reading Macbeth(simplified version) now and came across these sentences.

“They also told you that you’d be king, but perhaps the witches were bad spirits. I have heard that such spirits try to make men do wicked things by making them promises.”

I don't quite get the second sentence. What does “by making them promises” mean?

I'd appreciate if you could answer this questions!

Answer

Also, Japanese movie director Kurosawa Akira made a movie version of Macbeth called "Throne of Blood."
Maybe you would like to watch it:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050613/

Answer

The witches will say, for example: "You will be king, but first you must kill Jack." They promise him that he'll be king if he does this bad thing, but are really lying to him to motivate him to do something they want.

Answer

A promise means to tell or assure someone that something will happen.

E.g. "I will give you $100 if you don't tell anyone. I promise".

In the above example, a promise has been made if the secret is kept.

So, the witches made promises to the men. If the men did what the wiches wanted, they would get something in return.

Hope this helps.

Answer

Thank you so much!!!
Now I understand what I didn't.

Answer

By making promises to them (men). 
I have heard that such spirits try to make men do wicked things by promising things to them.
I have heard that such spirits try to make men do wicked things by promising them things.
To make a promise (to) = to promise something to someone.
I promise you I won’t tell mom. = I made a promise to you I won’t tell mom = I made you a promise I won’t tell mom.

Hope this helps.

Answers · 8

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