MACBETH

Did you know?

-Witches added dragon’s scale to their potion which suggests that they can
either travel to other realms, or dragons somehow managed to exist on earth
at some point of time.
-12 ghosts appear in this act, and 1st ghost says exactly 13 words, the
unlucky number.
-Act IV has the only scene in the play that is not in Scotland

Act IV Scene I-III

Scene I
Three witches circle a boiling cauldron, in a dark cavern. They chant
spells and add strange ingredients (eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of
bat, tongue of dog). Hecate admires their work and compliments them.
Macbeth asks the witches how they know the things they do about
him. The witches call three ghosts to tell Macbeth, because he doesn’t
believe the witches. Spirits predictions are:
- Macduff will want to harm you.
-No woman shall harm you.
-You won’t be harmed till the wood of Birnham comes to the castle of
Dunsinane.
Macbeth full of new confidence after meeting the weird sisters
confesses to Lennox that he saw them.

Scene II
At the Macduff’s castle, Lady Macduff asks Ross, demanding to know
why her husband, Macduff, has taken off. Ross replies by telling her it
was either wisdom or fear that made him leave. Lady Macduff is
furious, and says it’s not wise for him to leave his wife, children, house
and belongings. Ross insists her to trust Macduff and leaves. Once Ross
has left, Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but her son
argues that he is not dead. A messenger enters to warn Lady Macduff
to flee because she is in danger. She complains that she has done
nothing wrong. The murderers enter asking for Macduff. Macduff’s son
calls him a liar, which causes the murderer to become angry and stabs
him.

Scene III
The scene starts in front of the King’s house. Malcolm is speaking to
Macduff, telling him he doesn’t trust him because he has left
everything back in Scotland and thinks he may be working for
Macbeth. Malcolm tests Macduff by pretending his is even worse than
Macbeth, fortunately his answers satisfied him and Malcolm starts to
trust Macduff . Soon a doctor appears and lets them know that a crowd
of sick people wait for the King to be cured by his royal touch. It
emphasises holy goodness of king of England compared to hell in
Scotland. Soon after, Ross arrives from Scotland to inform Macduff that
his family has been murdered by Macbeth, Macduff is in a rage and
Malcolm encourages him to turn his grief into anger and revenge
against Macbeth. Macduff agrees, and soon he and Malcolm will go to
Scotland with sir. Siward and ten thousand men.