Macbeth, Act 4 Scene 1 Macbeth’s utterance “Let this pernicious hour/Stand aye accursed in the calendar” is probably more prophetic than anything the witches have said. Explain the deep irony in his exclamation and what it suggests about his state of mind at this point in the play. Has he been thinking this all along or is this a sudden decision made as a result of his consultation with the witches?