Macbeth

The Thane of Cawdor

Explain the clothing metaphor in the following statement of Macbeth: “The thane of Cawdor lives; why do you dress me/In borrow‟d robes?” (I.iii.108-109)

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The witches pronounce that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor. As far as Macbeth knows, the Thane of Cawdor still lives. Macbeth wants to know why the witches are giving him Cawdor's robes, metaphorically, that do not belong to him. 

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