Macbeth Act IV

Based on this picture and quote, can you guess what happens in Act 4 Scene i?

Scene i In a cavern, the weird sisters throw awful ingredients such as "eye of newt and toe of frog" into a cauldron full of a boiling brew. Hecate (Goddess of magic) arrives, and all dance and sing. One witch cries out "Something wicked this way comes" : Macbeth enters. He commands the witches to answer his questions. Macbeth returns to the Weird Sisters and boldly demands to be shown a series of apparitions that tell his future.

Apparition #1 The first apparition is the disembodied head of a warrior who seems to warn Macbeth of a bloody revenge at the hands of Macduff.

Apparition #2 The second is a blood-covered child who comforts Macbeth with the news that he cannot be killed by any man "of woman born."

Apparition #3 The third is a child wearing a crown, who promises that Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam wood physically moves toward his stronghold at Dunsinane.

Macbeth becomes a monstrous murderer… Encouraged by the news of such impossibilities, Macbeth asks, "Shall Banquo's issue ever reign in this kingdom?" The Witches present an image of a ghostly procession of future kings, led by Banquo. All this serves only to enrage Macbeth, who, trusting in his own pride, reveals in an aside to the audience his determination to slaughter the family of Macduff.

Macbeth’s rage boils…

Act 4 Scene ii In Macduff's castle in Fife, Lady Macduff comforts and is comforted by her young son, who displays a courage beyond his years when confronted with the possibility that his father has turned traitor. Although warned by the Thane of Ross to escape before it is too late, Lady Macduff is encountered by Macbeth's henchmen, who brutally kill first her child and (as the audience learns in the following scene) her.

Discussion: What does the murder of Lady Macduff’s son mean for Macbeth’s character considering he ordered the murder? Is Macbeth now beyond redemption? Is he the epitome of a murderous monster? What is the significance of the final words of the boy regarding traitors?

Scene iii Set in England. Duncan's son Malcolm tests the loyalty of his newest recruit, Macduff. Read through the scene. How is the idea of a ‘true man’ developed here? How is ambition involved in Malcolm’s test of Macduff?

Reverse Psychology – Malcolm tests Macduff… By demeaning his own nobility and professing himself to be a greater tyrant than Macbeth, Malcolm hopes to goad Macduff into an open display of his loyalties. This attempt at reverse psychology has its desired effect. Macduff is thrown into a fit of anger against the "untitled tyrant" Macbeth, and Malcolm enlists his help in the struggle.

Macduff’s resolve… When Ross appears with news of the slaughter of Macduff's family, Macduff is finally convinced not only to engage in the rebel army but also to take personal revenge upon Macbeth. QUESTION: What is the significance of England’s King – Edward the Confessor in this scene? How is his character represented in terms of the notion of the divine right of kings?

Act 5 Scene i Lady Macbeth has gone mad. Like her husband, she cannot find any rest, but she is suffering more clearly from a psychological disorder that causes her, as she sleepwalks, to recall fragments of the events of the murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Lady Macduff. Read the scene and look for evidence of: Lady Macbeth’s mental ruin Her feelings of guilt Her confessions about what she and Macbeth have done.

Scene ii Four lords of Scotland — Lennox, Menteth, Angus, and Caithness — resolve to join Malcolm and the English forces, who have by now marched into Scotland and are encamped at Birnam Wood, not far from Macbeth's stronghold at Dunsinane.

Scene iii Macbeth hears that his thanes are abandoning him The English army is approaching His wife is soul-sick He tries to convince himself he has nothing to fear Macbeth prepares to fight

Analysis Read through the scene and answer the following questions: What does Macbeth’s actions and words say about his character in this scene? Do you feel sympathy or spite for Macbeth? Can you detect bravery in Macbeth’s actions? Desperation?

Scene iv The English and rebel Scottish armies, under the leadership of Malcolm, meet at Birnam Wood. With military foresight, Malcolm orders each soldier to cut a branch and carry it in front of him as camouflage "to shadow the numbers of our host" — that is, to conceal the actual size of the advancing army.

Discussion: How is ‘fate’ involved in this scene? How is the themes of ‘Appearances versus Reality’ developed in this scene? At the start of the play, there was a lot of uncertainty about who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’ – is there still a lot of uncertainty about this in this scene?

Scene v Now fully armed, Macbeth confidently turns all his scorn on the advancing armies, only to find his brave rhetoric interrupted by an offstage shriek. The queen is dead — whether by her own hand is not made clear — and Macbeth is left to contemplate a lonely future of endless tomorrows "signifying nothing." Yet another blow comes with the announcement that Birnam Wood appears to have uprooted itself and is even now advancing towards Dunsinane. Macbeth recalls the prophecies of Act IV, sure of, but still wishing to deny, their powerful truth.

Scene vi Malcolm and his troops have reached Dunsinane under the "leafy screens" of the branches, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the apparitions: Birnam wood has come to Dunsinane. Malcolm orders his men to throw down the branches they carry. The first charge against Dunsinane commences under Siward and Macduff.

Scene vii Foreshadows the final destruction Macbeth The courageous son of Siward challenges Macbeth but Macbeth kills him. Macbeth gloats over Siward’s dead body: "Thou wast born of woman.“ QUESTION: Why do you think Shakespeare had Macbeth say this at this time?

‘Bad’ fights the ‘Good’ Immediately afterwards, Macduff is seen eagerly seeking out Macbeth, the man who was responsible for the murder of his family. Lastly, it is announced that Macbeth's forces have surrendered Dunsinane castle.

Scene viii Macbeth and Macduff finally come face to face. They challenge each other with words, then swords. Macduff reveals he was born via Caesarian – the prophecy has come true. Macbeth is killed.

Scene ix In the castle of Dunsinane, with the tyrant Macbeth dead and war honours acknowledged, Malcolm is proclaimed to the assembled thanes to be the new king of Scotland.

GROUP TASK Complete the character relationships handout in groups. Create a power point for your assigned character to present to the class. List all the prophecies / advice given by the witches to Macbeth throughout the play List when and how Macbeth learns whether they ‘come true’ or not in the play.