act 4, scene 1
Place: A dark cave in Acheron. In themiddleof the cavethere is a
Thunder, the witches enter and gather around the cauldron
Time: Morning after the banquet
Summary: The Witches are brewing up a spell. Macbeth goes
rudely orders them to disclose to him what the future holds fo
them to use their powers to tell him his future. They ask if he
see it in his visions. He asks to see it and three apparitions a
riddles. Macbeth chooses to believe that he is safe at least as k
know if Banquo’s heirs will inherit the crown. As the Witches
arrives and reports that Macduff has fled to England. Macbe
against Macduff’s family now.
Once again the witches lure Macbeth to his destruction by a num
They lead him to believe that he cannot be conquered. Apparition
into going ahead with his evil plans.
L1-46: "Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron b
The three witches dance around a boiling pot throwing in horrible
repulsive ingredients which emphasize poison. They repeat an ev
times while brewing their pot:
The meaning of this verse is: Let there be twice as much hardshi
the world there is
This "recipe of ingredients" like a snake's forked tongue and the
poisonous plant reminds us of the disorder, destruction and evil
,Metaphor: The winds are compared to dogs/ wild beasts that can
loose to cause destruction.
Characteristics (Macbeth): He proves how hard-
hearted/unfeeling/unsympathetic/ruthless he has become. Nothi
his own desires and well-being
The witches agree to answer, but ask Macbeth if he wants to hea
them or the evil spirits that control them. He asks for the last on
The witches now make Apparitions appear out of the pot. An app
of a dead person appearing in visible form. It cannot be touched
the apparition is to:
1.Mislead Macbeth to go ahead with his evil plans.
2.They lure Macbeth to his downfall/ruin by telling him half tr
to believe that he cannot be conquered.
There are THREE apparitions PLUS a fourth image. When each im
needs to make sure:
1.What does Macbeth see?
2.What does the apparition represent?
3.What does the apparition say?
4.What is Macbeth's reaction to the apparition?
L68-75
FIRST APPARITION:
A head wearing a protective helmet of armour. It covers his
Represents Macbeth’s own head which is destined to be cut o
It warns Macbeth that Macduff, the Thane of Fife, is a threa
, First he decides to let Macduff live and then changes his min
kill him so that he can live without fear.
L86-99
THIRD APPARITION:
A child wearing a crown and holding a small tree in his hand.
Represents the legitimate young king Malcolm who will take t
Macbeth and wear it.
It tells Macbeth to:
be brave like a lion.
ignore those who worry or irritate him like the conspirat
He will never be conquered/defeated until Birnam Wood c
Hill. The wood/forest is +- 20 km away from Macbeth's ot
hill.
Macbeth is overjoyed
The predictions are in his favour. None of his victims, like Banquo
threaten him until the wood moves and that is not possible. He is
live his whole natural life. He believes no one can hurt/harm him.
L99-110
There is however one thing that he is still curious about: Will the
Banquo come true? Will his sons rule over Scotland? The witches
satisfied with what he already knows. He however demands an an
to curse the witches. Actually Macbeth knows the answer to his o
the other predictions they made came true), but he wants the wi
the prophecy to suit him. He is never satisfied and wants the ass
kingship will extend into eternity.
, L132-134
He wants this awful moment in time to be remembered forever a
cursed with evil.
L135-142
Lennox who stood guard outside the cave comes in. He has not se
leave.
Irony: Macbeth curses/damns anybody who trusts the witches, BU
them, so he is cursing himself. Lennox reports that messengers h
that Macduff has fled to England.
Important here is to note: The witches showed Macbeth the app
him that Macduff was a threat. Then when he arrives outside th
news that Macduff has gone to England. This seems to co
predictions in this scene. This reminds us of the first time
predicted he would be The Thane of Cawdor. Right after the pred
and gives him the news that the king has given him the title
hears the prediction and then something happens to confirm tha
the truth. Macbeth thus believes them.
L143-156
Soliloquy - Personification: Time is personified as a person who k
wanted to do and so prevented him from killing Macduff. It allow
away to England.
Macbeth realises that unless one acts immediately, one's intentio
achieved. From now on, the first thing he feels will be acted upon
other words, his thoughts will immediately be put into action. He
what the thinks, there will be no hesitation. To demonstrate that
Place: A dark cave in Acheron. In themiddleof the cavethere is a
Thunder, the witches enter and gather around the cauldron
Time: Morning after the banquet
Summary: The Witches are brewing up a spell. Macbeth goes
rudely orders them to disclose to him what the future holds fo
them to use their powers to tell him his future. They ask if he
see it in his visions. He asks to see it and three apparitions a
riddles. Macbeth chooses to believe that he is safe at least as k
know if Banquo’s heirs will inherit the crown. As the Witches
arrives and reports that Macduff has fled to England. Macbe
against Macduff’s family now.
Once again the witches lure Macbeth to his destruction by a num
They lead him to believe that he cannot be conquered. Apparition
into going ahead with his evil plans.
L1-46: "Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron b
The three witches dance around a boiling pot throwing in horrible
repulsive ingredients which emphasize poison. They repeat an ev
times while brewing their pot:
The meaning of this verse is: Let there be twice as much hardshi
the world there is
This "recipe of ingredients" like a snake's forked tongue and the
poisonous plant reminds us of the disorder, destruction and evil
,Metaphor: The winds are compared to dogs/ wild beasts that can
loose to cause destruction.
Characteristics (Macbeth): He proves how hard-
hearted/unfeeling/unsympathetic/ruthless he has become. Nothi
his own desires and well-being
The witches agree to answer, but ask Macbeth if he wants to hea
them or the evil spirits that control them. He asks for the last on
The witches now make Apparitions appear out of the pot. An app
of a dead person appearing in visible form. It cannot be touched
the apparition is to:
1.Mislead Macbeth to go ahead with his evil plans.
2.They lure Macbeth to his downfall/ruin by telling him half tr
to believe that he cannot be conquered.
There are THREE apparitions PLUS a fourth image. When each im
needs to make sure:
1.What does Macbeth see?
2.What does the apparition represent?
3.What does the apparition say?
4.What is Macbeth's reaction to the apparition?
L68-75
FIRST APPARITION:
A head wearing a protective helmet of armour. It covers his
Represents Macbeth’s own head which is destined to be cut o
It warns Macbeth that Macduff, the Thane of Fife, is a threa
, First he decides to let Macduff live and then changes his min
kill him so that he can live without fear.
L86-99
THIRD APPARITION:
A child wearing a crown and holding a small tree in his hand.
Represents the legitimate young king Malcolm who will take t
Macbeth and wear it.
It tells Macbeth to:
be brave like a lion.
ignore those who worry or irritate him like the conspirat
He will never be conquered/defeated until Birnam Wood c
Hill. The wood/forest is +- 20 km away from Macbeth's ot
hill.
Macbeth is overjoyed
The predictions are in his favour. None of his victims, like Banquo
threaten him until the wood moves and that is not possible. He is
live his whole natural life. He believes no one can hurt/harm him.
L99-110
There is however one thing that he is still curious about: Will the
Banquo come true? Will his sons rule over Scotland? The witches
satisfied with what he already knows. He however demands an an
to curse the witches. Actually Macbeth knows the answer to his o
the other predictions they made came true), but he wants the wi
the prophecy to suit him. He is never satisfied and wants the ass
kingship will extend into eternity.
, L132-134
He wants this awful moment in time to be remembered forever a
cursed with evil.
L135-142
Lennox who stood guard outside the cave comes in. He has not se
leave.
Irony: Macbeth curses/damns anybody who trusts the witches, BU
them, so he is cursing himself. Lennox reports that messengers h
that Macduff has fled to England.
Important here is to note: The witches showed Macbeth the app
him that Macduff was a threat. Then when he arrives outside th
news that Macduff has gone to England. This seems to co
predictions in this scene. This reminds us of the first time
predicted he would be The Thane of Cawdor. Right after the pred
and gives him the news that the king has given him the title
hears the prediction and then something happens to confirm tha
the truth. Macbeth thus believes them.
L143-156
Soliloquy - Personification: Time is personified as a person who k
wanted to do and so prevented him from killing Macduff. It allow
away to England.
Macbeth realises that unless one acts immediately, one's intentio
achieved. From now on, the first thing he feels will be acted upon
other words, his thoughts will immediately be put into action. He
what the thinks, there will be no hesitation. To demonstrate that
