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Macbeth Act IV Study Guide
Answer each question in complete sentences, where appropriate.
Act IV Scene I
1. What types of things are the witches chanting about in their spell? Among them, which do you find most upsetting and why?
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The witches are chanting about bizarre, unnatural items, like poisoned entrails, swelt’red venom, fillet of a fenny snake, eye of newt, toe of frog,
lizard’s leg, howlet’s wing, gall of goat, slips of yew, witch’s mummy…
The most upsetting, to me, is “finger of birth-strangled babe ditch-delivered by a drab”
2. What are the three apparitions that appear to Macbeth? What does each one say to him?
What Macbeth sees
What the apparition says
(apparition)
an armed head – head wearing
helmet
“Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.”
A bloody child
“none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.”
A child crowned, with a tree in
his hand
“Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high
Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.”
3. Why do the witches show Macbeth a line of 8 kings? Whom do these kings resemble?
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The witches show Macbeth a line of eight kings because he has cursed them.
Each of the eight kings resembles Banquo, so they are his descendants. One holds a mirror in his hand which reflects a long line of kings
stemming from Banquo. Banquo also appears.
4. What does Macbeth order to be done when he hears that Macduff has fled to England?
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After learning that Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth orders that Macduff’s wife and children be killed.
5. What statement does Macbeth make that shows his opinions about murder have dramatically changed?
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“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!”
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Macbeth regrets hesitating and thinking about what to do. He believes this has caused him trouble, so now he vows to act right away on whatever
ideas he has. Thus, he instantly orders the death of Macduff’s family. He will not think about it before deciding.
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Act IV Scene II
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1. Reread around lines 1-15, approximately.
What has Ross told Lady Macduff about her
husband?
 Lady Macduff is angry that her husband has left
the country. She says his flight makes him look
like a traitor. She also says he left out of fear
and has deserted his family. “All is the fear, and
nothing is the love,”
 Ross reminds her that her husband is “noble,
wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o’ the
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season” (what is going on in the country). He
would not have left if there were not a good
reason.
2. How does Lady Macduff react?
 She is upset, disappointed and angry.
3. What do Lady Macduff and her son talk about?
 Lady Macduff and her son talk about Macduff;
Lady Macduff says he is dead, even though the
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boy knows his father is alive. The two banter
back and forth, talking about how each will or
will not replace her/his husband/father. Lady
Macduff says he is a traitor, but the son knows
she is not really serious. The son says, “…for
there are liars and swearers enow to beat the
honest men and hang up them.” (saying that
there are so many evil people that they could
overtake and kill all the good people).
4. A messenger enters around line 70. What does
he tell Lady Macduff to do?
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 The messenger tells Lady Macduff to leave her
home; he worries for her safety, saying “If you
will take a homely man’s advice, Be not found
here.” Theme: Fair is foul and foul is fair.
Innocent people, like Lady Macduff and her son,
are being killed.
5. What happens? How do these murders
compare to earlier ones?
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 The son and the mother are killed.
 The murder of the son happens onstage; Lady
Macbeth flees, chased by murderers. Her death
is assumed. The earlier murders happened
offstage. These victims, too, are completely
innocent and uninvolved with Macbeth.
Act IV Scene III
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1. Why has Macduff sought Malcolm?
 Macduff has sought out Malcolm to convince
him to join him in attacking Macbeth and saving
Scotland – “Let us rather Hold fast the moral
sword and, like good men, Bestride our
downfall’n birthdom.”
2. Does Malcolm trust Macduff? Why or why
not?
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 Malcolm does not trust Macduff; Malcolm
knows that Macduff was a friend of Macbeth’s
and worries that Macduff will offer Malcolm to
Macbeth as “a weak, poor, innocent lamb T’
appease an angry god.”
3. In lines 61-115, what character faults does
Malcolm claim to have?
 Malcolm claims the following character faults:
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 lusting after all women (“Your wives, your
daughters, Your matrons, your maids could
not fill up The cistern of my lust”),
 greed (“A stanchless avarice that, were I King,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
Desire his jewels, and this other’s house,”),
 lack of all graces: (“Nay, had I pow’r, I should
Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,
Uproar the universal peace, confound All
unity on earth.”) – would disturb the peace of
the country.
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4. How does Macduff react?
 At first, Macduff says that Malcolm would still
be able to serve as a ruler, but when he says he
would uproar the peace and destroy unity,
Macduff loses hope, and he says farewell to
Malcolm. He says the evils are too much.
5. Is what Malcolm tells Macduff true? Why does
Malcolm say such things?
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 Malcolm is not telling the truth. He is testing
Macduff to see whether Macduff is trying to
trick him for Macbeth.
6. What news about the condition of Scotland
does Ross bring?
 Ross tells of the terrible conditions in Scotland –
o “Where sighs and groans, and shrieks that
rent the air, Are made, not marked; where
violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy.”
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People are screaming so much, no one notices
them.
o “The dead man’s knell is there scarce asked
for who:” So many are dying that no one asks
for the names.
7. What personal news for Macduff does Ross
bring?
 Ross finally tells Macduff that his wife, children,
and servants have been killed.
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8. What does Malcolm tell Macduff at the end of
the scene?
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Malcolm tells Macduff that Macbeth is ready to
be overthrown (“Macbeth is rip
e for shaking”)