Eventually, Macbeth stops thinking for himself and does whatever Lady Macbeth wants. After Macbeth was crowned king, he stopped sharing his plans with Lady Macbeth and relied solely on the witches and their apparitions. .
The witches and their apparitions also caused Macbeth's lack of self-knowledge. In the beginning of the play when Macbeth and Banquo were confronted by the witches, there was some confusion as to what the witches were telling him. After he was named Thane of Cawdor, he began listening to everything the witches had said to him. "Fair is foul and foul is fair" (I.i.12) became Macbeth's way of living. The witches lead Macbeth to kill Duncan. They told Macbeth, "Hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (I.iii.51) They did not tell Macbeth how exactly he was going to be king, just that in the future he would become king of Scotland. After Macbeth had heard about his future, Banquo wanted the same. Banquo's prophecies told him that he will never be king but his descendants will. Macbeth does not see this as a threat until after the murder of Duncan, when he proceeds to murder his good friend Banquo. Macbeth also attempts to murder Fleance, Banquo's son, because he views him as a threat. Macbeth is unsuccessful in the murder and refers to Fleance as a baby snake without fangs, harmless in the moment, but that will eventually become of danger to him. .
The apparitions give Macbeth reassuring thoughts about his life. They tell him to beware of Macduff, whom from the beginning of the play showed distrust in Macbeth. They then tell him "Be bloody, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." (IV.i.81-83) This apparition tells Macbeth to be bold and brave because no one born of woman can harm Macbeth. This makes Macbeth feel as though no one can harm him and that he is invincible. The apparitions are all equivocators for the real truth.