Act 4, Scene 1: At the witches’ haunt, the weird sisters and Hecate are busy preparing the potion that will bring about Macbeth’s ruin. Macbeth enters and asks to speak to the witches’ masters about the future. An apparition takes the form of a helmeted head and tells Macbeth to beware the Thane of Fife (Macduff).
A second specter appears in the form of a bloody child. It tells Macbeth to be brave because “none of woman born” can kill him. (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 80) Then, a third spirit emerges in the form of a crowned child with a tree in its hand.
It tells Macbeth that he shall never be vanquished until the Great Bir nam Wood travels to high Dunsinane Hill (part of Inverness).
Macbeth becomes relieved, because he laughs at the idea of trees moving. As a final question, Macbeth asks the witches if Banquo’s sons will ever reign in Scotland. Eight ghosts with crowns emerge, who represent the future sons of Banquo.
Banquo himself appears at the end of the line with a mirror, thus implying an infinite number of descendants. Stupefied, Macbeth cannot believe his eyes and is angered to realize that despite all of his work, he wears a “fruitless crown.” (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 61) The witches disappear and Lennox enters the haunt. He informs Macbeth that Macduff has run off to England. Macbeth decides that he must act out all of his thoughts and impulses.
He determines to kill Macduff’s wife and children as his first step of revenge. Act 4, Scene 2: Lady Macduff asks Ross why her husband has suddenly fled to England. She is not aware of the troubles between Macbeth and Macduff and does not realize that she is in danger. Lady Macduff decides that her husband left his family because he did not love them anymore. Ross tries to comfort her and warns her that Scotland is a dangerous place to be at the present. Lady Macduff tells her young son that Macduff is dead to ease the pain of his departure from the family.
The Essay on Macbeth Themes Act 1 Scene
Throughout Shakespeare literature similar themes reoccur frequently. One theme which is evident throughout Macbeth is the use of parental and child references. Shakespeare associates children and babies and parenthood within the play. Child references describe many things. One use may be seen when Duncan thanks Macbeth for his bravery in battle, Macbeth replies. Your highness' part is to receive ...
She also tells him that his father was a traitor. A messenger runs in and interrupts the mother-son conversation, telling Lady Macduff to escape while she can. A few moments later, murderers under the bidding of Macbeth enter the castle and kill Lady Macduff and her son. Act 4, Scene 3: Macduff has found Malcolm in England and the two are conversing in front of the king’s palace. The two lament the evils that Scotland has suffered under the “tyrant” Macbeth’s reign. Macduff tries to convince Malcolm to overthrow Macbeth.
Malcolm, however, is still wary of anyone from Scotland. Thus, he pretends to be inferior to Macbeth and refuses to take the throne. He falsely states that he is licentious, greedy and materialistic. Macduff consoles Malcolm and tells him that anyone would be better on the throne than Macbeth.
Touched by his patriotism and true compassion, Malcolm realizes that Macduff is not a spy and apologizes for lying to him. He agrees to help Macduff and Seward fight Macbeth. After the two swear to help each other, Malcolm tells Macduff about the virtues of the English king. Supposedly, he is able to heal people suffering from scrofula (a tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands) by merely touching them. On a historical note, it is believed that Shakespeare’s English king was based after King Edward.
Edward was a saintly monarch who had the gift of healing his subjects from scrofula. Malcolm’s praises of this king provides a direct contrast to the sinister Macbeth, who kills his subjects instead “Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men Bestride our down-fall’n birth dom.” — Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 3-4: Macduff to Malcolm about saving Scotland In this metaphor, Macduff compares courage to a “mortal sword.” This is important because it portrays Macduff’s willingness to fight for his country. “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell: Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace… .” — Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 22-3 Malcolm compares Macbeth to a fallen angel, thus implying that he is Lucifer himself. “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke; It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash Is added to her wounds.” — Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 39-41: Macduff to Malcolm Macduff draws a parallel between Scotland and a beast of burden. Like an abused animal, Scotland is on the verge of collapsing underneath its tyrannous master (Macbeth)..
The Essay on Macduff vs. Macbeth: a True Case of Good vs. Evil?
... take his rightful place as king of Scotland. This is evident when Macduff is in England talking to Malcolm. Malcolm says “let us seek out ... Good vs. Evil? At the end of the play Macbeth, Macduff kills Macbeth in a scene easily read as the victory of good over ... evil, but is this accurate? Is Macbeth completely evil? Is Macduff completely ...
