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Macbeth's Dark Encounters: Prophecies, Betrayal, and Bloodshed

Macbeth is confronted by the witches and receives prophecies that lead him to paranoia and violence. The play takes a dark turn as Macbeth's murderous rampage intensifies, leading to tragic consequences.

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Macbeth's Dark Encounters: Prophecies, Betrayal, and Bloodshed

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  1. Acts IV & V

  2. A Act Iv, Scene i “Double, double, toil, and trouble….. trouble…..” • Macbeth meets w/ 3 weird sisters and Hecate. • Note imagery of darkness and creepiness as seen in Act I, scene i. • Witches are brewing a potion to make apparitions (ghostly visions) appear to Macbeth who wants answers as to what his future holds. (He’s an insane mess).

  3. Act Iv, Scene i Macbeth to witches: “Show me something….!” 1st message/prediction: “Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife!” (lines 71,72) Witches show “Armed Head”- stage directions- symbol of Maduff (note he is in England preparing for war).

  4. Act Iv, Scene i Macbeth to witches: “Show me something….!” 2nd message/prediction: …For none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth” (lines 80,1) Witches show bloody child- stage directions….

  5. Act Iv, Scene i Arrogant Macbeth now thinks that no human being can hurt him- why?- we are all “born of woman”…. To make entirely sure no one can hurt him and get a guarantee of fate, he decides he will have to kill Macduff….. (Recall the first prediction- Beware Macduff…). “But yet I’ll make assurance double sure,/ And take a bond of fate. Thou shall not live.” (lines 83,4)

  6. Act Iv, Scene i 3rd message/prediction: “Macbeth shall never be vanquished until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him.” (lines 92,3) What does this mean in everyday language?..... [Macbeth can only be beaten by an army if the woods surrounding his castle actually move toward him, which seems to make no sense since a forest cannot move.]

  7. Act Iv, Scene i At this point, Macbeth feels confident he will always be king, but the prophecy of Banquo’s descendants becoming kings is still on his mind. He demands the witches answer:“Shall Banquo’s issue ever/ reign in this kingdom? (lines 102,3)- Is B still a threat? Witches show Macbeth an apparition of Banquo and his descendants holding “scepters” (a wand or staff that a king would hold, see pic in upper corner).

  8. Act Iv, Scene i Macbeth- horrified, enraged that Banquo’s descendants will be kings…. “Horrible sight! Now I see ‘tis true;” (line 122) Witches show Macbeth more than 8 kings, some hold 2 “scepters.” (More than 1 country will be ruled by all Banquo’s kids, or “issue”,- England, Ireland, & Scotland will unite in the future).

  9. Act Iv, Scene i Witches vanish into thin air…. Lennox (random nobleman from previous acts) enters…. - tells Macbeth Macduff “fled to England.” (line 142) Macbeth’s reaction: “The castle of Macduff I will surprise;/ Seize upon Fife’ give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword/ His wife, his babes,…” lines 150-3(He’s gone off deep end- decides to murder Macduff’s entire family in cold blood).

  10. Act Iv, Scene ii New character introduced- Lady Macduff, wife of Macduff She is upset that her husband has fled- she has no idea why he has left and gone to England. “His flight was madness.” (line 4) Ross and Lady Macduff’s son try to calm her down.

  11. Act Iv, Scene ii “What had he done to make him fly the land? (line the land?” (line 1) Imagery of birds is used throughout the first part of scene to describe how she feels trapped and abandoned like a teeny little bird in a nest. (This is also an extended metaphor; she also compares her ‘fatherless’ son to a hungry bird). Messenger come in- tries to warn her that she needs to run…. (We do not know how he knows Lady Macduff is in danger from Macbeth)…..

  12. Act Iv, Scene ii Irony of Macduff’s son speech: he is is a little boy trying to show an adult some common sense…. She is disgusted w/ Macduff; this little boy is a voice of wisdom as he tries to convince her that his father is not dead AND is not a cowardly traitor…

  13. Act Iv, Scene ii Lady Macbeth vs. Lady Macduff- Lady Macduff would not win “Wife o the of the Year Award”….Lady Macbeth defends Macbeth’s plans and desires at all costs…. Lady Macduff- quick to assume Macduff is a traitor who abandoned his family….

  14. Act Iv, Scene ii Murderers kill her son on stage- audience assumes they go on to kill entire family- bloodbath….. [Exit LADY MACDUFF crying “Murder!” followed by MURDERERS.] Where in the play had this been foreshadowed?....... Consider the murder of Macduff’s son- How is it a reversal of a previous plot point?

  15. Act Iv, Scene iiI Action shifts from Scotland to England. Macolm to Macduff: “This tyrant [Macbeth] ….you have loved him well;/He hath not touched you yet…” (lines 12,3)- shows his suspicion toward Macduff. (Malcom’s thoughts: You were once very close...Maybe you will hand me over to Macbeth….)

  16. Act Iv, Scene iiI “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell:/ line 22 Malcolm is using a metaphor here: Macduff could be a backstabber who appears to be an honest “angel”- just like Lucifer (God’s angel who turned into Satan himself) Malcolm’s thoughts: If Lucifer could betray God, why should I trust you?

  17. Act Iv, Scene iiI This is a very tricky scene… When Malcolm learns Macduff left his family behind unprotected (“in rawness”) in Scotland, he figures Macduff must be loyal to Macbeth. ….After all, how could he leave his family behind? If Macduff was disloyal to Macbeth, Macbeth would hunt down Macduff’s family as punishment….(lines 25-30)

  18. Act Iv, Scene iiI Malcolm goes on to test Macduff to see if he is still loyal to Macbeth… Malcolm’s words in lines 50-54 paraphrased: When I come to power, I will be even more evil than Macbeth….He will seem like a “lamb.” (I am capable of every sin there is- great greed for power, lust, etc…) Macduffsays Duncan (Malcolm’s father) “was a most sainted king”…. (line 109), talks kindly of the queen too

  19. Act Iv, Scene iiI Malcolm comes to trust Macduff, most likely b/c of his kind words about his late parents (esp his mom  ). Malcolm goes on to say he was only trying to mislead Macduffto test him with his “false speaking.” (line 130)

  20. Act Iv, Scene iii Macduff learns of the complete slaughter of his entire family from Ross; he blames himself. (see quote below) “And I must be from thence.” line 213 Malcolm to Macduff: Be a man! Now Macbeth’s time has come! Instead of focusing on grief at your family’s murder, be strong! Use your grief as a motivator to take Macbeth down….. Off to Scotland we go!

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