![]() The second round of prophecies has a profound affect on Macbeth. This act marks another development in Macbeth's character. As a result, he vows that he will take revenge on Macbeth. Macduff is shocked, angered, and filled with grief at this news. Ross breaks down at this point and tells Macduff that his wife and children have been slaughtered by Macbeth. Malcolm assures him he will be returning soon with troops lent to him from the English king, Edward. He tells Malcolm about the problems that Scotland has been having since Macbeth took the throne, and he urges Malcolm to return. Ross then enters the scene, having just arrived in England from Scotland. ![]() Malcolm then explains that everything he has just said is a lie and was actually a test. He thereby proves himself to Malcolm by showing his loyalty to Scotland and his desire to do right for the country. Eventually, Macduff is so overwhelmed with Malcolm's list of flaws that he agrees Malcolm would make a terrible king. Claiming to be lustful, violent, and greedy, he explains to Macduff that he would make a terrible king. To test his trustworthiness, Malcolm begins to tell Macduff a series of lies about his own vices. Malcolm does not trust Macduff, feeling as though Macbeth may have sent him as a spy. The last scene of the act moves to Macduff, who has now fled to England to meet with Malcolm. The audience is left to assume that they kill her as well. Lady Macduff flees, and the murderers pursue her. A group of murderers then bursts onto the scene, killing the young son. However, Lady Macduff refuses, feeling she has done no wrong and should not be chased out of her home. A messenger suddenly comes onto the scene, warning Lady Macduff to flee. The mother then tells her son that his father is actually is a traitor, showing how she feels betrayed and abandoned. However, the boy says that, if this were the case, surely his mother would weep for him. ![]() The young son wonders where his father is, to which his mother replies that he is dead. The next acts shifts to Macduff's castle in Fife, showing his wife and one of his sons. In response to this, Macbeth decides that he will invade Macduff's castle, killing his wife and children. Shortly, Lennox enters to tell Macbeth news about Macduff and how he has fled to England. Macbeth demands to know from the witches what this final vision means however, the witches vanish into thin air, just as they have before. Macbeth is startled to see this, recalling the final prophecy which dictated Banquo's heirs would be kings. He sees eight kings in a line, the last holding a mirror and, at the end of the line, Banquo's ghost walks. After all, how can a forest possibly get up and move?Īfter the three apparitions have delivered their messages, a final image appears to Macbeth. Again, Macbeth's confidence is bolstered by this, as he thinks he cannot be defeated. It tells Macbeth that he cannot be defeated until Birnam Wood moves toward Dunsinane Hill. The final apparition is a child wearing a crown and holding a tree. The second is the image of a bloody child, who tells Macbeth that "none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth." This seems to imply that, since all people are born from a woman, Macbeth cannot be defeated by anyone. The first apparition, a floating armored head, bids Macbeth to beware of Macduff. In response to his questions, the witches summon several apparitions out of their spell, all of whom deliver a message to Macbeth. Macbeth soon enters the scene, and he demands to know how much the witches' prophecies hold truth. ![]() They have in front of them a cauldron and, together, they are casting a spell by creating a concoction of some rather strange ingredients, including entrails, a newt's eye, a frog's toe, and a lizard's leg to name a few. Act IV opens with the witches in a cavern.
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