The Witches & Prophecies
Who does Macbeth visit at the start of Act 4?
The Witches
What does Macbeth decide to do to Macduff's family?
Kill them
Who is speaking with Lady Macduff in Act 4, Scene 2?
Her son
What do the witches' cauldron and ingredients symbolise?
Evil and chaos
The danger of ambition or temptation
What does the first apparition warn Macbeth to "beware" of?
Macduff
Why does Macbeth want to kill Macduff's family?
Out of fear and anger, he wants to destroy any threat
What does Lady Macduff think about her husband fleeing to England?
She feels he has abandoned his family
What famous line is said by the witches as they make their potion?
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble."
What theme is shown through Macduff's reaction to his family's murder?
Justice and revenge
What does the second apparition say about "none of woman born"?
No one born of a woman can harm Macbeth
What line shows Macbeth's impulsive nature here?
"The very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand."
How does Lady Macduff describe Macduff's flight?
"His flight was madness."
What image do the apparitions create around fate?
The show visions that twist the truth, symbolising false security
How does Act 4 explore fate vs. free will?
Macbeth chooses to act on prophecies rather than wait for fate
What does the third apparition say about when Macbeth will be defeated?
He will not be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill
How has Macbeth changed since the start of the play?
He acts without thinking, has lost all morality
What happens to Lady Macduff and her son?
They are murdered on Macbeth's orders
How does the image of "Birnam Wood" symbolise fate catching up?
Nature itself turns against Macbeth. Fate is unavoidable
What abstract idea does the line "something wicked this way comes" suggest?
Macbeth has become truly evil, he is now the "wicked" one
What do these prophecies make Macbeth feel: confident or cautious? Why?
Confident, he feels invincible because the prophecies sound impossible
What abstract idea is shown through Macbeth's violence here?
The corrupting power of ambition/moral decay
What theme does this scene highlight about Macbeth's rule?
Tyranny and the loss of innocence
What abstract idea does the cauldron scene represent?
The blurring of reality and illusion. Deception and destiny
How does Act 4 prepare us for Macbeth's downfall?
It shows how his overconfidence and cruelty will lead to his destruction