Act IV

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Act IV

• By Allie McPherson
• Caitlin Axtmayer
• Deanna Margius

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Act IV, Scene i
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Summary

• Witches and their brew- odd components of brew
• Prophecies and apparitions, apparitions visit
  MacBeth
• Meeting with Lennox
• Macduff flees to England but his family remains
  in the castle
• MacBeth plans to capture Macduffs castle and
  kill Macduffs wife and his children

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Q1 Analyze the contents of the witches brew in
relation to their pagan beliefs.

• Witches put in the potion Liver of blaspheming
  JewNose of Turk and Tartars lips,(26-29)
• Jews, Turks, and Tartars are enemies of
  Christianity.
• These people are put in the potion on the basis
  of being unchristian.
• This situation is ironic, because witches are
  believed to be pagan, not Christian, and they are
  condemning their pagan enemies by placing them in
  the potion.

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Q2 Who comes to visit the witches as they are
making the spell?

• Macbeth walks in
• This is ironic because they say that something
  wicked comes this way and then Macbeth walks in.
• By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked
  this way comes (Lines 44-45)

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Q3 What does Macbeth want from the witches?

• He wants to know what comes next in their
  prophecies

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Q4 The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth. What do you think this
means? How does Macbeth take it? Predict
Macbeths demise.
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• Answer
• Significance Very few people will be able to
  kill MacBeth. Either a supernatural being or a
  person not naturally born.
• MacBeth takes this as proving how unstoppable he
  his, how he is invincible.
• Consequently, MacBeth will have a different
  attitude. He might become more violent and cruel,
  thinking that no one will be able to stop him.
• MacBeths downfall will be that he will act
  differently because of this information.

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Q5 Do you think the witches really predicting
fate or just orchestrating events the way they
want to?

• The witches do not make MacBeth kill others, so
  they are not really orchestrating the events.
• They are predicting fate because they just tell
  things how they are supposed to be and do not
  interfere in the lives of the characters too
  much. (The witches tell MacBeth prophecies, but
  they do not make him evil and cause him to kill).

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Q6 What are the apparitions? What is the
purpose of them?

• 3 apparitions
• 1) Armed head, symbolizing MacDuff. Beware or be
  careful of Macduff
• 2) Bloody child, symbolizing MacDuff at birth.
  This apparition is truly important to the rest of
  the story. FORSHADOWING.
• 3) A child crowned with a tree in his hand,
  symbolizing Malcom. Until Great Birnam Wood moves
  to Dunsinane Hill nothing will happen to MacBeth.
• The 3 apparitions are visions that the witches
  reveal to Macbeth to reveal the prophesies and
  calm Macbeths fears.

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Q7 Discuss the theme of blood in apparitions and
earlier in the play

• Earlier in the play blood symbolizes the guilt of
  both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself
• After Duncans murder the remaining blood on
  Macbeths hands represents his guilt resulting
  from the murder
• What is the importance of blood
• in this scene?

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Q8 What is the significance of the line of
kings?

• All of those in the line of kings are descendents
  of Banquo
• The witches show the line of kings to MacBeth,
  fulfilling the first prophecy they made to him
  (when they said MacBeth would be king, also that
  Banquos sons will be king).

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Q9 Compare/Contrast Macbeths thoughts as he
plans the murder of Macduffs family with his
thoughts before Duncans murder

• When MacBeth killed Duncan, he had feelings of
  humanity, guilt. He also second guessed himself.
  And this plan was conceived by MacBeths wife,
  not himself.
• When MacBeth killed Macduffs family, he had no
  second thoughts. He is all evil, and becoming
  crazier.
• The murder of Macduffs family further proves
  that MacBeth will do whatever he can to have
  power over everybody.

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Important quotes in Scene i

• 44-45 By the pricking of my thumbs, something
  wicked this way comes.
• The witches said this, and then MacBeth
  approached them.
• MacBeth is evil, and even the wicked witches
  believe this.
• 80-81 The power of man, for none of woman born
  Shall harm Macbeth.

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ACT IV, Scene ii
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How does Lady Macduff feel about Macduffs
escape?

• She is angry and disappointed
• Believes that because he fled he will appear
  guilty to the others
• She calls him a traitor because he broke their
  vows of marriage and has left her and their son
• To leave his wife, to leave his babes,/ His
  mansion and his titles in a place/ From whence
  himself does fly? / He loves us not (line 8-10)

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Why does Macduff leave his family at risk?

• He goes to England to meet with Malcolm to talk
  about Macbeth

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What does Lady Macduff tell her son about his
father, and what is his response? How does he
know it is not true? Why did she lie?

• -She tells him that his father has died, but he
  does not believe her
• -She also tells him his father is a traitor
• He knows his father is not dead (or a traitor)
  because she is not crying
• If he were dead, youd weep for him. If you
  would not, it were a good sign that I should
  quickly have a new father. (lines 69-71)

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Then the liars and swearers are fools for there
are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest
men and hang them up.

• What is the significance of this line? (64-66)
• It is said by Macduffs son during a conversation
  about what happens to traitors
• He is saying that there are not many honest men
  left to punish the liars and traitors

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What does the messenger warn? Who do you think
sent him?

• The messenger tells Lady Macduff that she should
  flee because danger is coming
• She will not leave because she says she did
  nothing wrong to endanger herself
• Whither should I fly? I have done no harm.
• Is there a tie between 3rd murderer and
  messenger? Who do you think sent the messenger?

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Who kills Macduffs son and why? What happens to
Lady Macduff?

• Murderer, sent by Macbeth killed Macduffs son
  after verbal argument
• Lady Macduff flees, but is also killed

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Act IV, Scene ii Summary

• Lady Macduff tells her son that Macduff is dead,
  but the son will not believe her
• A messenger comes in and tells Lady Macduff she
  is in danger but she does not believe him
• Murderer kills Macduffs son, and Lady Macduff
  flees but is chased by the murderers

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ACT IV, Scene iii
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At the beginning of this scene who is Macduff
with? What are they discussing?

• He is with Malcolm
• They are discussing a plan against Macbeth

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What does Macduff want from his companion? Why
has he come to this person?

• He wants his support against Macbeth
• He comes to him because his father, Duncan, was
  killed and he too should be killed.

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Why do they consider Macbeth a tyrant? What
theme is present?

• He came to power by force
• No hope in Scotland, people are dying
• He presents a speech about the funeral bells of
  Scotland
• The theme of kingship vs. tyranny is present here
• King Should be loyal to its country and should
  put his country and people ahead of himself
• Tyrant Brings chaos to the country and become
  selfish in the quest for more power

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What is the purpose of Malcolms test of loyalty?

• He believes that Macduff is working for Macbeth
• He wants to give him a test of loyalty and trust
  to make sure that he would be a good king

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How does Macduff react to the news of the death
of his wife and son?

• He is overcome with grief
• Malcolm urges him to come up with a plan of
  revenge against Macbeth

29
Who is King Edward and what is his gift? What is
his importance?

• King Edward is able to heal people of all
  different diseases by placing a gold coin on
  their neck and praying holy prayers over them
• Used his supernatural powers to benefit his
  people
• What do you think his importance is?
• Probably shows the theme of tyrant vs. kingship
  because unlike Macbeth, King Edward was a very
  selfless king who was loved by his people

30
What is the state that Scotland is in?

• Alas, poor country! Almost afraid to know
  itself! It cannot be called our mother but our
  grace, were nothing But who knows nothing is once
  seen to smile Where sighs and groans and shrieks
  that rent the air, Are made, not marked where
  violent sorrow seems a modern ecstasy. The mans
  knell is there scarce asked for who, and good
  mens lives expire before the flowers in their
  caps, dying or ere they sicken.
• (Line 164-173)

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What will happen if/when Malcolm returns to
Scotland? Who is joining him?

• When Malcolm returns to Scotland he will attack
  Macbeth
• He will be joined by King Edwards army forces in
  the attack

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What is the reoccurring theme in Malcolms
comforting of Macduff? Give examples.

• The theme of masculinity.
• To be a man they believe that you need to act in
  violence and killing.
• When Macduff finds out about deaths of his wife
  and son Malcolm urges him to respond with
  revenge masculinity

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How does the scene end?

• Malcolm and Macduff decide on a plan as revenge
  against Macbeth

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Scene iii Summary

• Malcolm conducts a test of loyalty for Macduff
  and he passes it
• Ross at first tells Macduff that his family is
  fine, but then confesses that they were murdered
  by Macbeth
• Macduff is filled with grief and him and Malcolm
  come up with a plan of revenge