Macbeth act 4

Act 4 Scene 1

Enter the three witches, each brewing a potion round their cauldron, chanting and speaking aloud their spells, involving “wool of bat and tongue of dog”. Hecate then enters, praising their work telling them of the reward that is to come. The second witch then predicts that “Something wicked this way comes” after which Macbeth enters. He asks for the witches to tell him more of their prophesies, which is when they conjure up their “masters”, whom appear in the form of phantoms. The first, a floating head, warns Macbeth of Macduff, which Macbeth was already aware of. The second takes form as a bloody child, telling him that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” Macbeth decides to be sure his fate is not sealed by Macduff, he shall be rid of him, when the third apparition appears, it is a crowned child, warning that Macbeth shall remain unharmed till “Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”. This clearly seems impossible to Macbeth. As a final request Macbeth wishes to know if Banquo shall ever reign Scotland. In answer to this the Witches conjure eigth kings to stroll past, and last in line is carrying a mirror, yet following them is the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth is evidently disturbed by this final vision, demanding to know why the witches had shown him this, yet he gets no answer, they dance then vanish. Macbeth ponders their whereabouts till Lennox enters informing him of Macduff’s flight to England. He plans to “suprise” Macduff’s castle, murdering his wife and children along with any “unfortunate souls” that get in the way of the murder he sends

Scene 2

Set in Fife at Macduff’s castle

Lady Macduff, her son and Ross enter, with Lady Macduff questioning Ross on the sudden trip to England her husband made. She feels abandoned, as he has left her, the children, his home and title. Ross tries to make her trust his actions then reluctantly leaves. Lady Macduff then informs her son that his father has died, to which he denies, believing that he is still alive. Here they discuss the fate of “traitors” whom Lady Macduff describes as those who lie and swear. She concludes that these dishonest men must be hanged by the honest men. A messenger arrives suddenly warning her of dangers she may face, and telling her to leave, as he leaves she contemplates her actions claiming that she has done no wrong doing. The murders then enter asking for Macduff, claiming he is a traitor, when the son replies that he is no such thing, resulting in the son being stabbed. In his dying words he tells his mother to leave, and as she does she shouts “Murder” as the assassins follow.

Scene 3

England. Outside King Edward’s Palace

Enter Macduff and Malcom. Malcom is a little wary of Macduff, since his departure from Scotland was sudden and could come across as some form of conspiracy. Macduff claims he is not a traitor. Yet Malcom claims that appearances do not mean everything, and how Scotland is falling in graces and good natures, yet England has offered him “goodly thousands”. As they talk Malcom wonders whether he is fit to succeed Macbeth as he admits to lechery and his yearning lustful ways, along with his violent nature as he admits he wishes to “tread upon the tyrant's head, Or wear it on my sword”. Macduff reassures him that all will be well. Yet Malcom continues by saying how he may abuse his kingly powers to take people’s land, houses and earthly possessions, then claiming he has a lack in qualities that a king should have, such as “justice, verity, temperance, stableness....”. It is here that despair over takes Macduff who cries “O Scotland, Scotland!”. Macduff’s love for Scotland leads him too to doubt Malcom’s abilities as future king, as he may be unlike his father before him. A Doctor enters, claiming that there are evil spirits confiding within the King of England, yet despite his symptoms he is curing. Ross then enters, having arrived directly from Scotland, telling them of the woe the country is now in, that the air is filled with fear and screams. He notifies to Macduff that his wife is well, as are his children, and wishes for him to come to the aid of Scotland and to create an army. Malcom reassures that the English king has ten thousand men ready to fight, but Malcom’s up beat manner results in Ross breaking into floods of tears, where he confesses that Macduff’s wife and child have been slaughtered, and they will come for his also. Malcom wishes for Macduff to use the grief he feels against Macbeth, to use his energy as anger. The men then speak of the anger building up inside for Macbeth and how “Macbeth is ripe for shaking”. They exit.