Act 3
Act 4
Plot Points
Quote Sign.
Huh?
100
Why does Banquo begin to suspect Macbeth in Act 3, even though Macbeth appears generous and welcoming?
Banquo realizes the witches’ prophecies have come true for Macbeth and fears Macbeth may have acted dishonestly to become king.
100
What three prophecies are given to Macbeth?
Beware Macduff
None of woman born shall harm Macbeth
Macbeth is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
100
Why does Banquo’s murder mark a turning point in Macbeth’s approach to maintaining power?
It is the first crime Macbeth plans and carries out without Lady Macbeth’s influence, showing his growing independence and moral decay.
100
“O Scotland, Scotland!”
Act & Scene: Act 4, Scene 3
Speaker: Macduff
Listener: Malcolm
Significance:
This line expresses Macduff’s grief and despair over Scotland’s suffering under Macbeth’s tyranny. It shows Macduff’s patriotism and emotional connection to his country, helping Malcolm realize that Macduff’s loyalty is genuine.
100
who is this
Fleance
200
How does Macbeth become more like his wife in Act 3 Scene 1?
He convinces the Murderers that Banquo is responsible for their misfortune and questions their manhood, exploiting their anger and insecurity. Very similar to LM's manipulation of Macbeth
200
What extra vision is given to Macbeth by his demand?
The vision of Banquo's children being greater kings than him
200
How does Fleance’s escape affect the direction of the play?
It keeps the witches’ prophecy alive and increases Macbeth’s paranoia, pushing him toward greater violence and desperation.
200
“I must feel it as a man.”
Act & Scene: Act 4, Scene 3
Speaker: Macduff
Listener: Malcolm
Significance:
Macduff rejects the idea that manhood means suppressing emotion. This quote challenges Macbeth’s earlier belief that masculinity equals violence, showing a healthier, more moral definition of manhood based on grief, love, and justice.
200
Which character accidentally becomes the most powerful threat to Macbeth without saying a single word in Acts 3–4?
Fleance
300
Why is Fleance’s escape more significant than Banquo’s death?
Fleance represents the continuation of the witches’ prophecy and proves that Macbeth’s attempts to control fate are incomplete.
300
How does Act 4 redefine the theme of manhood through the contrast between Macbeth and Macduff?
Macbeth equates manhood with violence and power, while Macduff shows that true manhood includes emotional honesty, justice, and moral responsibility.
300
Why is the banquet scene more damaging to Macbeth than Banquo’s survival would have been?
Macbeth publicly exposes his guilt and instability, causing the nobles to question his fitness to rule.
300
"What, you egg?"
Act & Scene: Act 4, Scene 2
Speaker: One of Macbeth’s murderers
Listener: Macduff’s son
Significance:
This line highlights the brutality and cruelty of Macbeth’s rule. Calling the child an “egg” emphasizes his innocence and helplessness, making the murder of Macduff’s son one of the most shocking and emotionally powerful moments in the play.
300
We can tell that Macduff's son is clearly his child because:
He embodies his father's honesty and wisdom
400
Explain the power shift between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. What has changed?
Macbeth now takes control of violent planning and excludes Lady Macbeth, reversing their earlier power dynamic and showing his growing independence and moral decline.
Masc. and fem. traits return where they belong
400
Why must Macduff "feel it like a man" before acting on his anger?
A proper man, to Macduff, does not bottle up his emotions and let his impulses control him. He must grieve before taking action.
400
How do the witches’ prophecies in Act 4 directly lead to the murder of Macduff’s family?
Macbeth feels invincible due to the prophecies and decides to act immediately on perceived threats, leading to impulsive cruelty.
400
“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth.”
Act & Scene: Act 4, Scene 1
Speaker: Second Apparition (the Bloody Child)
Listener: Macbeth
Significance:
This prophecy gives Macbeth a dangerous sense of invincibility. He interprets it literally and believes he cannot be defeated, which leads to overconfidence and reckless decisions. The prophecy is intentionally misleading, of course.
400
The main cause of Lady Macduff's anger, and why she doesn't flee Fife, is that:
She assumes her husband must be a traitor for fleeing
500
How many times does Macbeth see the Ghost of Banquo? How does the banquet scene show the flaws in Macbeth?
Macbeth sees him twice
The fact that Banquo sits on his seat both times shows that Macbeth is not worthy to be king.
Banquo’s ghost exposes Macbeth’s guilt and instability, symbolizing a reign built on fear, secrecy, and inner chaos.
500
Who delivers the news that Macduff's family has been murdered? How is this reflecting how other characters are following Macbeth's rule?
Ross tells Macduff is family has been murdered, but at first, he tries to keep it under wraps. It shows that most characters disagree with Macbeth's cruelty and tyranny.
500
Explain how the events of Acts 3 and 4 transform Macbeth from a cautious schemer into a tyrant.
Macbeth moves from carefully planned murders to reckless violence, relying on fear and prophecy rather than reason to maintain control.
500
“Father’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.”
Act & Scene: Act 4, Scene 2
Speaker: Lady Macduff
Listener: Ross
Significance:
This line criticizes Macduff for fleeing to England and leaving his family unprotected. It highlights the personal cost of resisting tyranny and deepens the tragedy of the scene. The quote also foreshadows the murder of Macduff’s family, emphasizing the innocence of the victims and the cruelty of Macbeth’s rule.
500
If Macbeth had simply ignored THIS warning in Act 4, which tragedy would not have happened?
If he ignored "Beware Macduff," he would avoid the murder of Macduff’s family