Shakespeare's Macbeth
Act 4, scene 1
In a cavern, the weird sisters throw awful ingredients such as eye of newt and toe of frog" (line 14) into a cauldron full of a boiling brew. Hecate arrives, and all dance and sing. One witch cries out, "Something wicked this way comes" (line 62). Macbeth enters. He commands the witches to answer his questions.
The witches conjure up three apparitions. First a floating head appears and tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff.
Next, a bloody child appears. The child says that "no man of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth" (lines 95­96).
Finally a child wearing a crown and holding a tree appears. It says that Macbeth will not be defeated until Great Birnam Wood marches to Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth is pleased: since forests don't march, he must be invincible.
Macbeth wants to know one more thing: will Banquo's heirs have the throne? The witches perform a final conjuring. Eight kings appear walking in a line, the eighth holding a mirror, and all of them followed by Banquo's ghost. Macbeth, furious at this sign that Banquo's heirs will get the throne, demands answers. But Hecate mocks him and the witches vanish.
Lennox enters. He brings word that Macduff has fled to England. In an aside, Macbeth scolds himself for failing to kill Macduff when he wanted to earlier. He vows in the future to act on every impulse, and decides to attack Macduff's castle and kill anyone connected to him: servants, wife, and children.
Shakespeare's Macbeth
Act 4, scene 1
WITCHES' APPARITIONS
pages 136 and 138
What Macbeth Sees
a floating head
a bloody child
What Macbeth Hears
beware of Macduff
Symbolism/Meaning
Macduff's rebellion
Macbeth's fate
Macbeth is confused. Why should he beware of Madcuff if "no man of woman born shall harm him"
"no man of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth" (lines He thinks this means no one 95­96).
can harm him. He is wrong.
child with crown and tree symbolize Malcolm;
a child wearing a crown and Great Birnam Wood will holding a tree
march to Dunsinane Hill
Macbeth thinks he is invincible because trees can't march. However he misunderstands this apparition as it is a symbol of Malcom's attack.
Shakespeare's Macbeth
Act 4, scene 1
DO NOW: Reread pages 136 and 138 and examine yesterday's WITHCES' APPARITIONS chart. An important theme in Macbeth has been things are not always what they seem to be. Make a prediction about the three apparitions as they relate to Macbeth.
What Macbeth Sees
a floating head
a bloody child
What Macbeth Hears
beware of Macduff
Symbolism/Meaning
Macduff's rebellion
Macbeth's fate
Macbeth is confused. Why should he beware of Madcuff if "no man of woman born shall harm him"
"no man of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth" (lines He thinks this means no one 95­96).
can harm him. He is wrong.
child with crown and tree symbolize Malcolm;
a child wearing a crown and Great Birnam Wood will holding a tree
march to Dunsinane Hill
Macbeth thinks he is invincible because trees can't march. However he misunderstands this apparition as it is a symbol of Malcom's attack.
At least some of the prophecies are not as positive as Macbeth
believes they are. He is not completely safe.
Act 4, scene 1
FOURTH APPARITION
Shakespeare's Macbeth
page 140
What does Macbeth learn from the images of the eight kings?
He learns that Banquo’s descendants will reign. He also sees that the last
one has a mirror (glass) which shows that there will be more than eight
kings. He sees images (balls and scepters) that let him know that more
than one country will be ruled by these kings.
Act 4, scene 1
Shakespeare's Macbeth
page 144
Macbeth's Attitude Towards Killing Duncan
­ filled with doubt and guilt
­ persuaded by Lady Macbeth
Macbeth's Attitude Towards Killing Macduff's Family
­cold­blooded execution of an entire innocent family
­lost all semblance of humanity ­ no guilt or doubt
Macbeth has interpreted the prophecies as meaning he cannot be
touched. Therefore, the murders he is currently planning seem much
worse because they are completely unnecessary. They gain him
nothing and are against people who are not a threat.