MacBeth Act 4

What is MacBeth seeking from the witches and how does he treat them? more information and rudely
“Beware MacDuff; Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough” – 1st apparition: an armed head-look out for MacDuff-MacBeth responds with saying thank you and that is exactly what he has feared
“Be bloody, be bold, be resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of a woman born can harm MacBeth” – 2nd apparition: a bloody child- be violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at other men because none born of a woman can harm you.- MacBeth responds that then he has no need to kill MacDuff, but he will do it anyways to let him sleep at night
“MacBeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsaine Hill shall come against him.” – 3rd apparition: a crowned child with a tree- You will be king until the forest moves to the top of the hill-MacBeth responds with overconfidence and haste saying that a forest can never move so he will be king forever
What is the last vision that MacBeth sees? 8 kings, the last has a mirror and Banquo’s ghost. These are Banquo’s lineage and they will hold king for 8 generations
“From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand.” MacBeth: now he will think with his heart and not his brain. Act now and think later. Shows how he is becoming ruthless. Says it to Lennox. Tells murderers to kill Macduff’s family
What is different about these murders compared to the other ones? There is no reason/less of a motive. He is killing innocent people and MacBeth is becoming more ruthless
What does Lady MacDuff think happened to her husband? and what is her main concern? He is dead. She is worried that her son will grow up without a father.
Who warns Lady MacDuff that she may be in danger? – a messenger- Ross kind of warns her
“Wither shall I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world; where to do harm is often laudable” Lady MacDuff: Where should I go, I have done nothing wrong. But i must remember that I am on earth where doing evil is praised. This is after the messenger comes
Who would become King once they overtake MacBeth? Malcom
What qualities does Malcom make up about himself? lustful, steal/greedy
“When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head, or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country shall have more vices than before” Malcom- Scotland will be worse off than it has ever been before if Malcom takes over as king- trying to test MacDuff
“That when they shall be open’d, black MacBeth will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state esteem his as lamb.” Malcom- when he rules MacBeth who is a tyrant now will seem like an angel compared to how Malcom will rule
“These evils thou repeat’st me upon thyself have banish’d me from Scotland. Oh my breast, thy hope ends here!” Macduff: he doesn’t want to live in Scotland with Malcom as king because of all these bad qualities that he has. It is his breaking point and shows his loyalty to Scotland
Why is Malcom testing Macduff? -To see if he is loyal to Scotland or MacBeth-being careful about who he trusts unlike his father
What does the English King do and how is he a foil to MacBeth? – heals people – compared to MacBeth who is focused on killing people/keeping the crown, this king is healing and caring about the people
Who is leading the Army against MacBeth? Siward- leading 10,000 men
What news does Ross reveal to Malcom and Macduff? Macduff’s wife and son have been killed
“Let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it” Malcom; MacDuff needs to take the grief and convert it to anger in his heart to have the motivation to kill MacBeth
“Be comforted:let’s make us medicine of our great revenge, to cure this deadly grief” Malcom to MacDuff- let us take this bad news and use it as a tool for revenge
“What all my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop” MacDuff: MacBeth killed his son and wife
“I shall do so; but i must also feel it as a man” MacDuff to Malcom: he is taking it as a man, but he must grieve/have feelings.
“Front to front, Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself. Within my sword’s length set him; if he ‘scape, Heaven forgive him too.” MacDuff- his turning point. “Bring him to the devil of Scotland and let him kill him. If he escapes heaven forgive him as well.