Macbeth Act 3 continued… ACT 4 English 12

Act 3, Scene 5 The witches meet with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. Hecate scolds them for meddling with Macbeth without consulting her. She declares that she will take over as supervisor of the mischief.

ACT 3, Scene 5 Hecate says that when Macbeth comes the next day, they must fill him with a false sense of security and “draw him on to his confusion” Hecate vanishes, and the witches go to prepare their charms.

ACT 3, Scene 6 Somewhere in Scotland, Lennox walks with another lord, discussing what has happened to the kingdom. Banquo’s murder has been officially blamed on Fleance, who has fled. Nevertheless, both men suspect Macbeth, whom they call a “tyrant,” in the murders of Duncan and Banquo.

ACT 3, Scene 6 The lord tells Lennox that Macduff has gone to England, where he will join Malcolm in pleading with England’s King Edward for aid. News of these plots has prompted Macbeth to prepare for war. Lennox and the lord express their hope that Malcolm and Macduff will be successful

ACT 4, Scene 1 The three witches suddenly appear onstage. They circle the cauldron, chanting spells and adding bizarre ingredients to their stew—“eye of newt and toe of frog, / Wool of bat and tongue of dog” (IV.i.14–15).

ACT 4, Scene 2 In fulfillment of the witch’s prediction, Macbeth enters. He asks the witches to reveal the truth of their prophecies to him. To answer his questions, they summon horrible apparitions, each of which offers a prediction to soothe Macbeth’s fears

ACT 4, Scene I A floating head warns him to beware Macduff Then a bloody child appears Next, a crowned child holding a tree A procession of eight crowned kings walks by, the last carrying a mirror Banquo’s ghost walks at the end of the line THE APPARITIONS

ACT 4, Scene 1 Macbeth demands to know the meaning of this final vision, but the witches perform a mad dance and then vanish. Lennox enters and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England Macbeth resolves to send murderers to capture Macduff’s castle and to kill Macduff’s wife and children.

ACT 4, Scene 2 At Macduff’s castle, Lady Macduff accosts Ross, demanding to know why her husband has fled Ross insists that she trust her husband’s judgment and then leaves.

ACT 4, Scene 2 Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but the little boy knows he is not A messenger warns Lady Macduff that she is in danger and urges her to flee. Lady Macduff protests, arguing that she has done no wrong A group of murderers enters. When one of them denounces Macduff, Macduff’s son calls the murderer a liar, and the murderer stabs him.

ACT 4, Scene 2 Lady Macduff turns and runs, and the pack of killers chases after her. ….. End scene

ACT 4, Scene 3 Outside King Edward’s palace, Malcolm speaks with Macduff, telling him that he does not trust him since he has left his family in Scotland and may be secretly working for Macbeth. To see if Macduff is trustworthy, Malcolm mentions his vices. He says he wonders whether he is fit to be king because he is lustful, greedy, and violent.

ACT 4, Scene 3 At first, Macduff politely disagrees. Eventually Macduff cannot keep himself from crying out, “O Scotland, Scotland!” (IV.iii.101). Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland makes him say that Malcolm is not fit to govern Scotland. Macduff has passed Malcolm’s test of loyalty and he embraces Macduff as an ally .

ACT 4, Scene 3 A doctor arrives. When the doctor leaves, Malcolm explains to Macduff that King Edward has a miraculous power to cure disease.

ACT 4, Scene 3 Ross enters. He has just arrived from Scotland, and tells Macduff that his wife and children are well. He urges Malcolm to return to his country. Malcolm says that he will return with ten thousand soldiers lent him by the English king.

ACT 4, Scene 3 Then, breaking down, Ross confesses to Macduff that Macbeth has murdered his wife and children Macduff is crushed with grief. Malcolm urges him to turn his grief to anger, and Macduff assures him that he will inflict revenge upon Macbeth.