Macbeth

Act IV
1. The three visions given to Macbeth by the apparitions are:
(1) “Beware Macduff, beware the Thane of Fife.” (Act IV:1:72). The vision given
by the first apparition implies Macbeth to be aware of Macduff.
(2) “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of
woman born shall harm Macbeth.” (Act IV:1:80).
(3) “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high
Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” (Act IV:1:90-94). The vision given
by the third apparition foreshadows Macbeth’s death when “the Great Birnam
Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him”.

2. Macbeth is confident of about each of the prediction because he believes that he

can overcome them. Macbeth believes that there is no need of him to fear Macduff
since he is the king and he also assumes that the “Great Birnam Wood to high
Dunsinane Hill” is impossible. Therefore, Macbeth is confident about each of the
predictions of the three apparitions.

3. This scene foreshadows the death of Macduff’s entire family as Macbeth is

planning to grimly slaughter Macduff’s household when he finds out Macduff had
fled to England.
“Time, thou anticipat’st my dead exploits. … The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
seize upon Fife, gibe to th’ edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate
souls that trace him in his line.” (Act IV:1:144 and 150-153).
This scene also foreshadows Macbeth’s own death, as do the visions given by the
apparitions and the final vision which shows eight crown Kings with Banquo last.

4. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth’s image is a brave warrior who fought
courageously to defend his country and a worthy kinsman and thane. As the play
progresses and reveals Macbeth’s character traits in depth, Macbeth alters to a
negative character who is ruthless, cruel, evil, aggressive, predominant, even cursing
on the witches.

5. The witches refuse to tell Macbeth more when Macbeth questions them whether the
prophecy of Banquo’s heirs will be kings is true. Macbeth, who furiously curses the
witches, demands them to tell him more. The witches does not answer question, but
instead give Macbeth another vision, which is a show of eight crowned of Kings and
with Banquo, holding a glass in his hand, at the end. This last vision of procession of
Kings reveals the future line of kings, which all descended from Banquo. In the glass
that Banquo bears, Macbeth sees more crowned kings that carry twofold balls and
treble scepters, which is a reference to the double coronation of James at Scone and
Westminster, as King of England and Scotland and his assumed title as King fo Great
Britain, France, and Ireland: “And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass which
shows me many more; and some I see that twofold balls and treble scepters carry.”
6. In scene III, Macduff’s opening speech is ironic because the slaghter of his own
family it is even worse than what he describes the conditions in Scotland, it is: “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”
(Act IV:4-7)

7. Because Macduff is the traitor who has fled to England, Macbeth slaughters his
entire household for the purpose of Macduff to seek revenge and return to Scotland.
The third murder by Macbeth somewhat contrasts the murder of Banquo, in which his
son, Fleance, have escaped and fled.

8. In scene III, from line 51 to line 99, Malcolm accuses himself of no virtue, with all
of the evil and negative qualities human nature possesses, such as excessive greed,
maliciousness, and deceitfulness. Malcolm used a simile in the conversation, which
reveals his false evilness and compares with black Macbeth, to test Macduff’s loyalty:
“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 a snow, and the poor state
esteem him as a lamb, being compared with my confineless harms.” However, when
Macduff is filled with disappointment and despair “Fit to govern! No, not to live. O
nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered, when shalt thou see thy
wholesome days again, since that the truest issue of thy throne by his own interdiction
stands accursed, and does blaspheme his breed?... these evils thou repeat’st upon
thyself hath banished me from Scotland. O my breast, thy hope ends here!” (Act
IV:3:103-108, 112-114), Malcolm finally reveals his true good qualities in from line
115 to line 135.

9. In this scene, Macduff’s the love of Scotland and the loyalty to Malcolm is
revealed: “These evils thou repeat’st upon thyself hath banished me from Scotland. O
my breast, thy hope ends here!” (Act IV:3:112-114), “Macduff, this noble passion,
child of integrity, hath form my soul wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts
to thy good truth and honor. Devilish Macbeth by many of these trains hath sought to
win me into his power; and modest wisdom plucks me form over-credulous haste:but
God above deal between thee and me!” (Act IV:3:115-122)

10. When Ross reports to Macduff about the news from his family, Ross conceals the
truth about the tragedy of his entire family had been murdered “No, they were well at
peace when I did leave ‘em.” (Act V:3:180). The opening speech of Macduff at the
beginning of the scene is also another example of irony.