Group work: Act IV Powered by: Liguori Veronica Magonara Luca Maran Marco Milan Sara Stincone Valentina

Short summary of Act Act IV starts with the three witches dancing and chanting around a caulron while making a spell. Macbeth enters and receives new prophecies spoken by apparitions. They tell Macbeth he will not be killed by anyone born of a womnn and that he need not worry until Burnam Wood moves towards his castle. In Scene two three murderers kill Lady Macduff and her son after Ross’s visit. Hehad gone there to warn them about the danger. At the same time Malcolm is talking with Macduff about his nature. While they are talking, Ross arrives from Scotland bringing some news about Macduff’s family. After the news, Macduff decides to kill Macbeth.

Define function of Act The functions of Act IV are: Developing plot Showing Macbeth’s conviction he is unbeatable Illustrating the death of Macduff’s family gives to Macduff the strength to kill/revenge Macbeth

List characters inhabiting Act IV The main characters described in the Act are the three witches, Macbeth, Lady Macduff, Macduff and the fate Secondary characters are Malcolm, Macduff’s son and Ross.

Explain why they are main characters Witches are important because they fortell Macbeth: “… there would be no one to emulate him…”, “… for none woman born shall high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him…”. Moreover, they become agents of Macbeth’s madness, which turns out a crucial point for the whole play. It underlines Macbeth’s metamorphosis into a tragic hero. Madness will not just lead Macbeth to cruel murders, but to his own death,too. He will make fate’s will true: Macbeth will kill Macduff’s son and wife. Macduff will convert his suffering into the flame of enemity, killing Macbeth in the final battle.

Illustrate the witches characterization and its function The three witches have a sinister role: they are introduced right from the beginning of the first scene when they are preparing a potion.The element wich suggest the idea to the reader are its ingredients: frog,snake,dragon... common in the collective imaginary when thinking about witches.They confirm the presence of the supernatural in the play which apparently has a relevant role to define Macbeth’s destiny.

Explain how Macbeth is characterized and why it was built that way In Act IV Macbeth looks as if he were scared. His obsession for power, the regret for his murders start to torture him. So he needs more and more safety and visits the witches again to reach such goals and he is apparently satisfied but to tell the truth he is stressed. Macbeth makes the reader understand the end is not so far.

Illustrate L. Macduff’s characterization and explain why it was built that way Lady Macduff look as a good woman who loves her children and her husband. As a matter of fact in the beginning of the second scene she appeares sad, disappointed and deceived by Macduff, but in the dialogue with Ross this side of Lady Macduff is no longer there and she looks stronger and angry with her husband. She is ready to start a new life with a new man. Therefore the reader’s first impression, disappears and she looks as an emancipate woman.

Outline Malcom’s characterization and explain its function During the dialogue Malcolm appears almost humble as if he didn’ t want to become King, but he must in order to save the kingdom from terrible Macbeth. Later he will tell Macduff that is not a good man, greedy of power to confirm the sacrifice he did. He wants to be considered kind of a hero.

Outline Macduff’s characterizationand its function Macduff appears in the second scene as a coward because his wife complains he leaves her always lonely since he is scared to be killed by Macbeth. To tell the truth he looks the only one who wants to save the kingdom.

Outline other characterizations Other characters like Ross, Lennox and the ghosts are not described in detail.

Discuss Act Setting Act Iv is set in thre different places:  In the first scene Macbeth and the three Witches are in a dark cave surrounded by an atmosphere of mystery.  In the second scene Lady Macduff, her Son, Ross and a murderer are in Macduff’s castle.  In the last scene Malcolm and Macduff are in Malcolm’s castle.  The most important setting is in the first scene, because it creates the suityable atmosphere. As a matter of fact without, in our opinion, without such scene you would not get the same effect.

Does Act IV create associations with the coming or previous acts? The act creates associations with the coming Act, because in it the reason to continue the play are set. Macbeth does not behave that way even if the Witches don’t fulfill their prediction. Moreover Macduff decides to take part in the war against Macbeth after his wife’s murder.

Possible audiences’ reaction in front of Act IV? Act IV, Scene I is full of mystery. Naturally the audience could be scared by the witches’ arrival. So, when the audience sees the cavern and the three witches accompanied by thunders, surely an intense silence will fall in the room. That's why, in our opinion, Shakespeare let the three witches declare their own gruesome poetry: thanks to silence. To be more precise:if there were no silence in the room the poetry of the witches would not create the same mysterious effect on the public. However, generally speaking, the characters of Acty IV trigger a good reaction on the audience. Indeed Macduff's widow and her son are painful and poor, kind people in the eyes of the audience. In conclusion, we can say all characters in Act IV are interesting for the audience. It is surely an important act to evaluate characters’nature.

Does this act teach a lesson? There is not a lesson. The Act anticipates the end: in the first scene Lady Macbeth tries to wash her hands but blood does not go away and the the battle of Macbeth against Malcolm and Macduff begins. The problem to focus on is the right succession of the king.

How is the female figure presented? In the Act the female figure is represented by Lady Macduff. She is Macduff’s wife and appears only in Act IV, Scene II. She represents all the good people slaughtered by Macbeth. The speech with Ross is really the only moment in the entire play where her true character comes to surface. In this short passage you can see that she is shy, completely guileles, well intentioned and too trusting of those around her. She is the opposite of Lady Macbeth, even if they have got a trait in common: her deep loyalty to her husband. Lady Macduff loves her family and is distressed at Macduff’s departure: she doesn’t really think he is a traitor, she loves him and she is only angry because he left his family without telling them anything

What reflection/s about contemporary society does the act suggest? Characters in this act are like contemporary people because they are guided by passions. Macbeth believes in the supernatural, Macduff blindly believes in Macbeth etc. "Who takes advantage of such situations?": that's the question to be posed. In our opinion the three witches act as contemporary wizards (the ones appearing on TV) who take advantage of your weakness.

THE END… THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION