Act 4 Summary And Analysis.pptx

The story so far • At the end of Act 3, Lennox walks with another lord, discussing what has happened to the kingdom. Banquo’s murder has been officially blamed on Fleance, who has fled. Nevertheless, both men suspect Macbeth, whom they call a “tyrant,” in the murders of Duncan and Banquo. The lord tells Lennox that Macduff has gone to England, where he will join Malcolm in pleading with England’s King Edward for aid. News of these plots has prompted Macbeth to prepare for war. Lennox and the lord express their hope that Malcolm and Macduff will be successful and that their actions can save Scotland from Macbeth.

Wednesday, 03 April 2019

DELUSIONS OF FATE Act 4, Scenes 1 – 3

ACT 4, SCENE 1 • The Three Witches • Macbeth • Hecate • The Three Apparitions • Lennox

Macbeth meets the three witches • Macbeth insists on talking to the three witches and learning what has happened

AMBITIOUS MACBETH I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howe'er you come to know it, answer me: Though you untie the winds and let them fight

Against the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up; Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces and pyramids do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature's germens tumble all together, Even till destruction sicken; answer me To what I ask you.

 Yesty = foamy, frothy  Lodged = stuck  Topple = collapse  Warders‘= guards’  Slope = drop  Germens = seeds

PROPHECIES What is the apparition of?

1st Apparition

2nd Apparition

3rd Apparition

What does Macbeth find out?

How does he react?

A head wearing a helmet

Be scared of Macduff

Macbeth thanks the spirit, and says he is more afraid of Macduff

A bloody child

Laugh at men, because no man born of woman can defeat Macbeth

Macbeth is not afraid of Macduff, but chooses to kill him anyway

A child wearing a crown, holding a tree/branch

Be brave, do not care about your enemies, because Macbeth will not be defeated until the forest of Great Birnam walks up to the castle

That can never happen, so Macbeth can never be defeated

Key words/ quotations

Fourth Apparition A show of Eight Kings, the last with a mirror in his hand; GHOST OF BANQUO following Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former. Filthy hags! Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more: And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more; and some I see That two-fold balls and treble scepters carry: Horrible sight! Now, I see, 'tis true; For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his.

 Sear = burn  Hags = old woman, witch  Two-fold balls = two orbs  Treble = triple, three  Blood-bolter'd = blood-clotted

Macbeth’s Soliloquy At the end of the scene, a messenger arrives to tell Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth has already decided to kill Macduff - what does he do now?

Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool. This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are.

 Anticipat’st = ruin  Exploits = plans  Flighty purpose = intention that escapes  O'ertook = fulfilled  Firstlings = very first decisions  Boasting = talking  Sights = visions

Act 4, Scene 2 • At Macduff’s castle, Lady Macduff confronts Ross, demanding to know why her husband has fled. She feels betrayed. Ross insists that she trust her husband’s judgment and then regretfully departs.

• Once he is gone, Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but the little boy wisely argues that he is not. Suddenly, a messenger hurries in, warning Lady Macduff that she is in danger and urging her to flee. Lady Macduff protests, arguing

that she has done no wrong. • A group of murderers then enters. When one of them criticises Macduff, Macduff’s son calls the murderer a liar, and

the murderer stabs him. Lady Macduff turns and runs, and the pack of killers chases after her.

Act 4, Scene 3 •

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Outside King Edward’s palace, Malcolm speaks with Macduff, telling him that he does not trust him since he has left his family in Scotland and may be secretly working for Macbeth. To determine whether Macduff is trustworthy, Malcolm rambles on about his own vices (faults). He admits that he wonders whether he is fit to be king, since he claims to be lustful, greedy, and violent. At first, Macduff politely disagrees with his future king, but eventually Macduff cannot keep himself from crying out, mourning Scotland’s doom. Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland leads him to agree that Malcolm is not fit to govern Scotland and perhaps not even to live.

But there's no bottom, none, In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up The cistern of my lust, and my desire All continent impediments would o'erbear That did oppose my will: Were I king, I should cut off the nobles for their lands, Desire his jewels and this other's house: And my more-having would be as a sauce To make me hunger more; that I should forge Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, Destroying them for wealth. But I have none: the king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them, but abound In the division of each several crime, Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, Uproar the universal peace, confound All unity on earth.

Verity = truth Temperance = soberness, restraint Stableness = stability Bounty = generosity Perseverance = determination Mercy Lowliness = humility Devotion Patience Courage Fortitude = bravery

Act 4, Scene 3 By voicing his disapproval, Macduff has passed Malcolm’s test of loyalty. Malcolm then takes back the lies about his faults and embraces Macduff as an ally. A doctor appears briefly and mentions that a “crew of wretched souls” waits for King Edward so they may be cured. When the doctor leaves, Malcolm explains to Macduff that King Edward has a miraculous power to cure disease.

 Only a genuine king gets his power from God, and can cure diseases and rule with an iron fist.  Scrofula (a form of tuberculosis that affects the lymph nodes and skin) was also called the "King's Evil" and it was thought to be cured by the "Royal Touch," a ceremony that was performed by monarchs in France and England as far back as the middle ages.  The healing ceremony was supposedly started in England by King Edward the Confessor, Macbeth's ideal king. In a book called The Royal Touch, historian Marc Bloch writes that King James I wasn't thrilled about performing this ceremony —he thought it was superstitious —but he did it anyway.

Act 4, Scene 3 Ross enters. He has just arrived from Scotland, and tells Macduff that his wife and children are well. He urges Malcolm to return to his country, listing the suffering of Scotland since Macbeth took the crown. Malcolm says that he will return with ten thousand soldiers lent him by the English king.

…down-fall'n birthdom: 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 yell'd out Like syllable of dolour.

Bleed, bleed, poor country!

…our country sinks beneath the yoke; It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash Is added to her wounds:

O Scotland, Scotland!

O nation miserable, With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again Alas, poor country! Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot Be call'd our mother, but our grave; where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air Are made, not mark'd; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy; the dead man's knell Is there scarce ask'd for who; and good men's lives Expire before the flowers in their caps, Dying or ere they sicken.

Act 4, Scene 3 …down-fall'n birthdom: 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 yell'd out Like syllable of dolour.

Bleed, bleed, poor country!

O Scotland, Scotland! …our country sinks beneath the yoke; It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash Is added to her wounds:

O nation miserable, With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again

Alas, poor country! Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot Be call'd our mother, but our grave; where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air Are made, not mark'd; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy; the dead man's knell Is there scarce ask'd for who; and good men's lives Expire before the flowers in their caps, Dying or ere they sicken.

Act 4, Scene 3 Then, breaking down, Ross confesses to Macduff that Macbeth has murdered his wife and children. Macduff is crushed with grief. Malcolm urges him to turn his grief to anger, and Macduff assures him that he will inflict revenge upon Macbeth.

My children too? […] My wife kill'd too? […] He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you say all? O hell-kite! All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam At one fell swoop? MALCOLM Dispute it like a man. MACDUFF I shall do so; But I must also feel it as a man: I cannot but remember such things were, That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, They were all struck for thee! naught that I am, Not for their own demerits, but for mine, Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now! O, I could play the woman with mine eyes And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, Cut short all intermission; front to front Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape, Heaven forgive him too!

Act 4, Scene 3 – Evil macbeth  “This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues”  “An angry god”  “Treacherous”  “Great tyranny!”  “Black Macbeth”  “Not in the legions Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn'd in evils to top Macbeth.”  “Untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd”  “Devilish Macbeth”  “Hell-kite”  “Fiend of Scotland”

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‘Bloody’ (murderous) ‘Luxurious’ (lecherous) ‘Avaricious’ (greedy) ‘False’ (fake) ‘Malicious’ (evil) ‘Sudden’ (violent) ‘Deceitful’ (sneaky and lying) ‘Every sin/ that has a name’ (a reference to the seven deadly sins: o Wrath o Greed o Sloth o Pride o Lust o Envy o Gluttony