Act+Four

Act One/ Scene 4- The three witches suddenly appear. They circle the cauldron, chanting spells and adding bizarre ingredients to their stew—“eye of newt and toe of frog, / Wool of bat and tongue of dog” (Act 4, scene 1. 14 – 15 ). Hectate compliments the witches on their work. One of the witches then chants: “By the pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes” (Act 4 scene one 61 – 62) Macbeth enters, He asks the witches to reveal the truth of their prophecies to him. First, a floating head warns him to beware Macduff. Macbeth says that he has already guessed as much. Then a bloody child appears and tells him that “none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth” (Act 4 scene 1 ( 96 – 97 ). Next, a crowned child holding a tree tells him that he is safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. Finally, a procession of eight crowned kings walks by, the last carrying a mirror. Banquo's ghost walks at the end of the line. Macbeth demands to know the meaning of this final vision, but the witches perform a mad dance and then vanish. Lennox enters and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth sends murderers to capture Macduff’s castle and to kill Macduff’s wife and children. (Britt D)

Act 4/ Scene 2- Lady Macduff is talking to her son about his father. She tells him that his father is dead but the son does not believe her. "Why should I mother? Poor birds they are not set for. My father is not dead, for all your saying." (IV, ii, 42-44) Lady Macduff knew that her husband was not dead but it had been so long since she had seen or heard from him that she was giving up hope and trying to forget about him. When her son asked what she will do about a husband she answers as if nothin is wrong, "Why I can buy me twenty at any market." (IV, ii, 47) She is telling her son this because she probably doesn't want to get his hopes up too much. - Hannah K

Act 4/ scene 3- Because Macduff works for Macbeth, Malcolm doesn't trust him. Macduff states "O Scottland, O Scottland." (IV.iii. 101 ). which means Macduff feels Malcolm is not suited to be a proper king. The king Edward, whom Macduff and Malcolm have come to see, is a curer of diseases. A doctor went into the building where the king was with souls that needed curing. (IV.iii. 142 ). Since Macbeth took the crown, he has caused his country troubles and is not very well liked. It is said to Macduff that his children and wife have been murdered by Macbeth. At this, he is very frusterated with Macbeth and plans to get even. (If it was me, i would be more than angry. Macbeth killed the people most important to Macduff. To me, I would be devastated and probably be so depressed that I get sick and adventually die.) Becky C.

Act 4/ Scene 2- Ross comes up to Macduff and tells him that his family is fine. Macduff says that he is going back to scotland with troops to kill Macbeth and this is when Ross says that Macbeth murdered his whole family. Macduff becomes enraged and says that he will get his revenge upon Macbeth. -Alex M

Act 4/ Scene 3 MacDuff's children and wife were brutally killed by murderous villians who wanted to find out where he was. Malcolm tries to make Macduff see that he needs to get angry with the slaughter of his family, turn his sorrow and grief into anger and vengence. Malcolm is preparing to fight against Macbeth and turn all his tretcherous ways on him. The news of his family's death made Macduff more ready to prepare an attack on the murderers along with Macbeth. -Luann F

Act4/ Scene 4 Macbeth starts off being happy and unscarred. When he gets the news about Banquo being killed, Macbeth was extremely happy to hear this news. "First Murderer: My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him." "Macbeth: Thou art the best o' th' cutthroats; Yet he's good that did the like fo Fleance. If thou didst, thou art the nonpareil."(IV.iv.17-20) Then as fast as his happiness came, it left him the same way. He finally felt safe that he would not be killed and his crown would be taken from him. When he asked about Fleance's dealth and gets the word of him escaping troubles Macbeth because there is still someone out there that is a thret to him being king. Macbeth soon starts "hulucinating" as Lady Macbeth would say, he sees Banquo's dead body sitting at the table. -Shannon

Act 4/ Scene 3- Macduff arrives at King Edward's palace in England to meet with Malcolm. Malcolm does not trust Macduff because Macduff left his wife and child at home in Scotland, and Malcolm fears that Macduff is working for Macbeth. Malcolm tests Macduff by telling him how horrible he is, and how he would be an unfit and terrible ruler of Scotland. " It is myself I mean, in whom I know all the particulars of vice so grafted that, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state esteem him as a lamb, being compared with my confineless harms."(IV, III, 61-66) Macduff at first is calm with Malcolm and disagrees, but becomes enraged with how Malcolm talks of Scotland and believes Malcolm is not fit to be king, or to even live. Macduff passes Malcolm's test and Malcolm takes back everything he said, and the they are allies. Ross then enters the scene, and when Macduff asks of his family ross claims that they are fine. Ross asks Malcolm to return to Scotland and take what is rightfully his. Malcolm says he shall take ten thousand english troops to Scotland to try and overthrow Macbeth. At the end of the scene, Ross confesses to Macduff, telling him that his family has been slaughtered under direct orders of Macbeth. Macduff is overcome with grief and frustration. Malcolm urgess Macduff to use his emotions for revenge against Macbeth, and Macduff swears that he will take out his anger on Macbeth, and recieve his revenge.- Justin R.

Act4/Scene 3- Macolms asks Macbeth to sit down so that he can take a while to cry. But Macbeth instead tells him to use that anger and pick up his sword and use it towards Scotlands anguish. "Let us rather Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men, Bestride our downfall'n birthdom. Each new morn New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out Like syllable of dolor."(IV,iii,3-9) Malcom tells Macbeth that he will avenge what he thinks is wrong and he will fight for what he thinks is right. "What I believe I'll wail; What know believe, and what I can redress,As I shall find the time to friend, I will. (IV,iii,8-10) -Colette McKdonalds

Act4/Scene4 I completely agree with Shannon on this fact. Macbeth was extremely happy with the news that Banquo was dead. and I think these quotes are a good selection for this scene discussion.

Act 4/ Scene 1 What happens in the scene is it starts out with the witch brewing up something in a cauldron. The third witch says all the ingrediants. "Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, witch's mummy, maw and gulf..." (llll,i,121) Hecate is there and then the second witch says something wicked this way comes. Macbeth comes in and wants to know if he is secure. So the witches call up the gosts (apparitions) to tell macbeth what to beware of. They say to beware of Macduff, he won't be overthrown until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane. Then a line of kings is shown and Banquo is at the end of them. Then lennox enters and they talk about Macduff fleeing to England Lennox " Macduff is fled to England." Brooke