Macbeth Act IV, Scenes I-III

Major Characters

Macbeth The lead character in the play. He is a very brave warrior. He is also very easily persuaded. He is persuaded by the words of the three witches and his wife, Lady Macbeth, to overtake the throne. After killing Duncan he is taken over by guilt.

Macduff He is a Scottish Nobleman. He is next in line for the throne after Macbeth, so Macbeth plans to kill his wife and son in attempt to scare him. Macduff leaves his wife and son to take refuge with Malcolm in England. After learning of his family’s murder, Malcolm persuades Macduff to lead an army against Macbeth to overtake him.

Malcolm He is the eldest son of Duncan. He was supposed to be next in line for king, however, after Macbeth kills his father Duncan, he takes refuge in England with Edward the Confessor, biding his time until he could lead an army against Macbeth. He is the man who kills Macbeth and take his place on the throne.

Minor Characters

Lady Macduff and Son After Macduff flees to England, Lady Macduff believes that he is dead and informs her son of his fate. She is not emotionally affected by this fact, and then soon after hearing the news of her husband’s death she is murdered along with her son by a murderer that was hired by Macbeth.

Ross He is often the messenger of news, and he relays events to other people.

Three Witches The witches convince Macbeth to kill Duncan by telling him that someday he will be king. They also convince Macbeth to kill Macduff’s family by showing him three apparitions.

Plot Overview

Act IV, Scene I Macbeth speaks with the three witches where he has second thoughts about his decisions to seize the throne. The witches summon apparitions which give Macbeth reassurance about his actions. The apparitions alter Macbeth’s way of thinking, to get him to murder Macduff in order to secure the throne. Macbeth initially disregards the warning about Macduff but ultimately succumbs to the apparitions’ manipulative words.

Act IV, Scene II Lady Macduff and Ross have an exchange about Macduff’s decision to leave. Lady Macduff decides that Macduff’s actions were unjustifiable and that he was not a noble man to begin with. A messenger then warns Lady Macduff of a close by danger. She ignores this and eventually a murderer breaks in and kills her son and chases her.

Act IV, Scene III Macduff informs Malcolm of the previous events in Scotland. Malcolm goes to question Macduff’s actions. Malcolm continues to boast that he himself would be a better king than Macbeth. Macduff is then visited by Ross who bears the news of Macduff’s family’s death. Macduff is briefly overcome with sadness but is soon persuaded by Malcolm to avenge his family’s death.

Important Quotes

Act IV, Scene I, (Lines 90-94) “Be lion mettl’d, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.” The third apparition said the quote. The quote was said to Macbeth. The speaker was referring to the prophecy that Macbeth will be un-harmed until challenged by Great Birnam Wood. The quote is significant to the play because it shoes that the witches try to manipulate Macbeth’s thoughts. The audience can draw that Macbeth will now feel that he is safe from everyone except Great Birnam Wood.

Act IV, Scene I (Lines 150-154) “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to the edge of the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool:” Macbeth said the quote to himself. The speaker is referring to murdering Macduff and all that follow him. This quote is significant to the play because it shows that Macbeth is very easily tempted by the witches ‘warning.’ The audience can draw that Macbeth will kill Macduff in attempt to protect the throne.

Act IV, Scene I (Lines 122-124) “Horrible sight! Now, I see, ‘tis true; For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his.” Macbeth said the quote. He said it to the witches. The speaker was referring to seeing Banquo point at the kings to suggest that he wants to obtain revenge for his death. The quote is significant because it shows that Macbeth has doubts in his actions, and ultimately in the witches.

Act IV, Scene II (Lines 6-14) “Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion and his titles in a place From whence himself does not fly? He loves us not; He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, the most diminutive of birds, will flight- Her young ones in her nest-against the owl. All is the fear and nothing is the love; As little is the wisdom, where flight So runs against all reason.” Lady Macduff said the quote. She said it to Ross. The speaker was referring to the fact that even though the father, (Macduff), wouldn’t fend for his children, she would. This quote is significant because it shows the strength of Lady Macduff, and what she thinks about her husband. The audience can draw that Lady Macduff no longer has faith in her husband to support her and her family.

Act IV, Scene II (Lines 38-40) “Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father? Nay, how will you do for a husband? Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.” Lady Macduff 38, 40, Son 39. It is an exchange between the two. The exchange ultimately refers to the importance of a father, and a husband. The quote is significant because it shows that Lady Macduff has no real value for a husband because she can provide for her family herself. The audience can draw that a husband is not that valuable to Lady Macduff.

Act IV, Scene II (Lines 85-86) “He has kill’d me, mother: Run away, I pray you!” The son of Lady Macduff says it to Lady Macduff. The speaker is referring to the fact that he has been murdered and the Lady Macduff should flee before she is murdered also. This quote is significant because it shows the maliciousness of because he has murdered Macduff’s son without a real Motif. The audience can draw that Macduff’s son has been murdered.

Act IV, Scene III (Lines 228-229) “Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.” Malcolm says the quote to Macduff. The speaker is reffering to the death of Macduff’s family, and to turn his grief from this tragedy into anger to take revenge upon Macbeth. This quote is significant because it shows the manipulative side of Malcolm, and it brings out Malcolm’s intentions to overtake Macbeth. The audience can draw that Malcolm is trying to turn Macduff’s greif in to anger.

Act IV, Scene III (Lines 204-207) “Your castle is surpris’d; your wife and babes Savagely slaughter’d; to relate the manner Were, on the quarry of these murder’d deer, To add the death of you.” Ross said the quote. He said it to Macduff The speaker was referring to the death of Macduff family. This quote is significant because now Macduff knows the fate of his family. The audience can draw that it was a brutal murder.

Act IV, Scene III (Lines 201-203) “Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever, Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound That ever yet they heard.” Ross said the quote. He said it to Macduff. The speaker was referring to the fact that he was bearing bad news, but that he does not want to be despised because of it. This quote is significant because it shows the loyalties of Ross, and how delicate of a character he is. The audience can draw that Ross is bearing the news of Macduff’s family’s death.

Cody Church Amy Earle Caitlin Wolhfart Hannah Parsons Dominique Monard Quinn Shreenan

Scene I First Snitch (Originally Witch): Hannah Second Snitch (Originally Witch): Caitlin Third Snitch (Origianally Witch): Amy Macdude (Originally Macbeth): Cody Honey (Originally Hecate): Dominique Lenny (Originally Lennox): Quinn First Text Message (Originally Apparition): Hannah Second Text Message (Originally Apparition): Caitlin Third Text Message (Originally Apparition): Amy

Scene II Macbuff’s Girlfriend (Originally Lady Macduff): Caitlin Ross: Cody Macbuff’s little bro (Originally Son): Hannah Phone Call (Originally Messenger): Dominique Thug (Originally Murderer): Quinn

Scene III Macbuff (Originally Macduff): Cody Malcolm: Amy Ross: Hannah Dad (Originally Doctor): Caitlin