MACBETH STUDY GUIDE
Act 4 Scene 1
The witches prepare a new spell full of grotesque and ghastly ingredients. Macbeth greets
them and demands to be shown what the future holds for him. Three apparitions make
prophecies.
Questions:
1.
What do the apparitions symbolise?
2.
What are the three prophecies?
A.
B.
C.
3.
How does this make Macbeth feel about the future?
Finally Macbeth is shown a line of eight kings, symbolising the line of kings that will
come from Banquo.
The witches disappear and Macbeth asks Lennox if he saw them but he did not. Macbeth
ironically says 'damn'd [be] all those who trust them' (4, 1, 138).
Macbeth intends to act now without thinking about the consequences. He will have the
family of Macduff killed:
From this moment,
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. (4, 1, 145-7)
Scene 2 - The murder of the Macduffs
At Macduff's castle Lady Macduff and her son are talking about the absent husband and
father. They are murdered, as are the whole household. It is a pitiful scene showing how
the innocent are victims of the violence and brutality of Macbeth.
Question:
1. Do you think this is the worst of Macbeth's actions?
Scene 3
Macduff and Malcolm speak in England about the terror Macbeth is creating in Scotland.
'Bleed, bleed, poorCountry!' (4, 3, 32)
Malcolm tests Macduff by stating that he would be a worse king than Macbeth. Malcolm
outlines his faults - lechery, greed, deceitfulness - and Macduff finally says that he is a
man not fit to live, let alone govern. When Macduff shows that he was loyal to Duncan,
Malcolm tells Macduff that he had been lying as a test of Macduff. A Doctor enters,
telling the two men about the miracles of the English king, Edward. This scene shows the
audience what a good king should be like.
Ross comes with bad news for Macduff: his family has been murdered.
Question:
1. How does Macduff respond to this terrible news?