Macbeth, Act 4
4.1: Macbeth’s Fortune
The Witches
Hecate
Macbeth
Apparitions, including ghost
of Banquo
*The Witches call forth three apparitions to predict
Macbeth’s future:
--Helmeted Head: Beware Macduff.
--Bloody Child: no man born of woman can harm
Macbeth.
--Crowned Child holding a tree: Macbeth cannot be
defeated until Birnam Wood marches against him at
Dunsinane Hill.
*Macbeth demands to know if Banquo’s
descendents will still be kings, and the witches show
him a procession of eight kings with Banquo
following; the last king holds a mirror that shows an
endless succession of kings.
“By the pricking of my
thumbs,/ Something wicked
this way comes.” –the Witch
says this, and Macbeth is the
thing that is wicked; this
shows how evil he has
become
Foreshadowing from the predictions
Suspense (how will Macbeth be defeated and killed if
no man born of woman can harm him, and he can’t
be defeated until a forest marches against him?)
--we know the Witches and Hecate planned to trick
him into feeling safe and secure, so there has to be a
catch
4.2: Slaughter of the Innocents
Lady Macduff
Her Son
Murderers
Lady Macduff states her anger at
Macduff for leaving her and their
children vulnerable. Murders enter, kill
the boy, and chase Lady Macduff off
stage (killing her and the rest of their
children)
“Then the liars and swearers are fools, for
there are liars and swearers enough to
beat the honest men and hang up them.”
--The son is observing that the evil people
seem to outnumber the good people.
*We learn that Macduff felt going to
England was important enough that he
left his family vulnerable.
4.3: A Test and Tragic News
Malcolm
Macduff
Ross
Macduff tries to persuade Malcolm to come home and
fight Macbeth for the throne. Malcolm, fearing that
Macduff may be an agent of Macbeth, refuses , then he
tests Macduff by telling him that he, Malcolm, is just as
evil as Macbeth to see if Macduff is still willing to follow
him. Macduff isn’t, proving himself to be honorable and
convincing Malcolm that he can be trusted.
Then Ross arrives with the news that Macduff’s wife
and children have all been murdered, along with all the
servants of his house.
“Macduff, this noble
passion,/Child of integrity,
hath from my soul/Wiped
the black scruples,
reconciled my thoughts/To
thy good truth and honor.”
--Malcolm realizes
Macduff is trustworthy.
--Malcolm is shown to be wise, cautious, and cunning
--The English have 10,000 troops ready to fight for
Malcolm
--We learn the people are on the verge of revolt against
Macbeth.
--Macduff is shaken by the news that his family has been
murdered, but resolves himself to avenge them against
Macbeth.