- Read Act IV of Macbeth in class using the Wordplay Shakespeare video/reading of the play as an additional resource.
Check your findings for the study questions from your reading below ...
A IV; S 1
1. How has Macbeth's attitude toward the witches changed since his first meeting with them?
When he first met the witches, he regarded them with as odd/weird figures and did not trust them or believe what they say could even be possible. Now he consults with them and seeks their advice over that of his wife and others. A once good man now openly conspires with these supernatural figures.
2. What 3 apparitions rise from the witches' cauldron?
An armored head (as a symbol of war), a bloody child, and a child wearing a crown and carrying a tree in his hand
3. What does each warn/predict?
The Head - Beware Macduff
The Bloody Child - Macbeth cannot be killed by any man who was born of woman
The Crowned Child - Macbeth will remain kind until Birnam Wood (a forest) comes to Dunsinane (his castle now as king)
4. What does Macbeth decide to do to Macduff and his family?
He decides to have them murdered - all of them ... Macduff, Lady Macduff, and their son.
A IV; S 2
1. What does the murder of Lady Macduff and her son show about the descent of Macbeth's character?
While Macbeth has done evil things previously, there was at least a reason/motivation for doing so. He killed Duncan to become king. He had Banquo murdered to protect his throne. However, the murder of Lady Macduff and her son is truly the murder of innocents who pose no threat to him.
A IV; S 3
1. What is Macduff's plan of revenge?
Macduff plans to return to Scotland with Malcolm and an army of 10,000 soldiers in order to overthrow Macbeth - and to confront him directly and avenge the murder of his wife and son himself. He will kill Macbeth.
