MACBETH ACT 4 SUMMARY
1. Macbeth returns to the witches as the witches tell him three apparitions that if
they happen, he would lose his position as king- “Beware Macduff”, “For none of
woman born shall harm Macbeth”, “Macbeth shall never vanquished until Great
Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against them”.
2. He is then shown an image of eight kings, the last with a glass in his hand and he
is horrified as he feels threatened about his position because he has no infinite
descendants unlike Banquo- “Will the line stretch out to the crack of doom”.
3. Macbeth then tells Lennox that he has to murder the wife and children of
Macduff because he considers him a threat to the throne- “Give to the edge o’
the sword his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line”.
4. Scene of Lady Macduff where she questions him about him “flying the land” as
“he loves us not”. She questions his love for his family- “All is the fear and
nothing is the love.
5. Lady Macduff is informed by a messenger that “danger does approach you early”
and tells her to leave the castle but she doesn't listen - “whither should I fly? I
have done no harm”.
6. Scene of the murderers entering the castle and killing both Lady Macduff and her
son- “he has killed me, mother: Run away, I pray you”.
7. Conversation between Macduff and Malcolm; Duncan’s son- the idea that
Scotland is now vulnerable due to Macbeth rule and the idea that they have to
confront and defeat the tyrant - “Bleed, bleed, poor country! Great tyranny!”
8. Malcolm highlights his faults (his lustfulness)- “Your wives, your daughters, your
matrons and your maids, could not fill up the cistern of lust” but Macduff
convinces him that the fruitfulness of Scotland is decreasing- “yet do not fear;
Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will”.
9. Macduff is then informed that his wife and his children have been murdered-
“All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop”- Shows his
vulnerability as he mourns- “I shall do so; but I must also feel it as a man”.
1. Macbeth returns to the witches as the witches tell him three apparitions that if
they happen, he would lose his position as king- “Beware Macduff”, “For none of
woman born shall harm Macbeth”, “Macbeth shall never vanquished until Great
Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against them”.
2. He is then shown an image of eight kings, the last with a glass in his hand and he
is horrified as he feels threatened about his position because he has no infinite
descendants unlike Banquo- “Will the line stretch out to the crack of doom”.
3. Macbeth then tells Lennox that he has to murder the wife and children of
Macduff because he considers him a threat to the throne- “Give to the edge o’
the sword his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line”.
4. Scene of Lady Macduff where she questions him about him “flying the land” as
“he loves us not”. She questions his love for his family- “All is the fear and
nothing is the love.
5. Lady Macduff is informed by a messenger that “danger does approach you early”
and tells her to leave the castle but she doesn't listen - “whither should I fly? I
have done no harm”.
6. Scene of the murderers entering the castle and killing both Lady Macduff and her
son- “he has killed me, mother: Run away, I pray you”.
7. Conversation between Macduff and Malcolm; Duncan’s son- the idea that
Scotland is now vulnerable due to Macbeth rule and the idea that they have to
confront and defeat the tyrant - “Bleed, bleed, poor country! Great tyranny!”
8. Malcolm highlights his faults (his lustfulness)- “Your wives, your daughters, your
matrons and your maids, could not fill up the cistern of lust” but Macduff
convinces him that the fruitfulness of Scotland is decreasing- “yet do not fear;
Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will”.
9. Macduff is then informed that his wife and his children have been murdered-
“All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop”- Shows his
vulnerability as he mourns- “I shall do so; but I must also feel it as a man”.
