Macbeth's first reaction to the murder of his king is escapist. He doesn't want to think about it. His wife reinforces that reaction by telling him that playing and replaying the crime serves nothing but to turn the criminal to madness. Macbeth's second reaction is fearful, of being caught and of losing power. This fear leads him to consult the witches, and to kill Banquo and Macduff's family. Macbeth's third reaction is confident, from the witches' predictions of safety from all men born of women. This overconfidence leads him to brutalize the entire Scottish nation.