| One irony in the witches’ statement lies in their own wickedness. … The major irony, which is a dramatic irony known to the Witches and to us but not to Macbeth, in this line is that immediately after the second witch says “something wicked” comes, Macbeth has his entrance. | Discuss the irony of the witches’ statement that “Something wicked this way comes” |
| ??? | What further evidence is there in this scene that Macbeth has become totally wicked? |
| -A toad that sat under a cold rock for a month, oozing poison from its pores-Slice of swamp snake-Newt’s eye-Frog’s tongue-Fur from a bat-Dog’s tongue | The ingredients of the witches’ cauldron consist of what was considered vile and repugnant during the Elizabethan period. Write a period of their speech. Include ingredients that modern-day audience would find equally disgusting. This will be done with a partner and state in class. Do on a separate sheet of paper. |
| -A head with an armored helmet-Bloody child-Child with a crown on his head and a tree in his hand | What are the Apparitions? |
| -1st: Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife-2nd: Be violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at the power of other men, because nobody bon from a woman will ever harm Macbeth-3rd: Macbeth to be brave like the lion and proud. Don’t even worry about who hates you, who resents you, and who conspires against you. Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill | What is the messages of the Apparitions? |
| -1st: Macbeth thanks the apparition for his advice and has guessed what Macbeth feared-2nd: Macbeth states that he does not have to kill Macduff and no need to fear him but just in case, he is going to kill MacduffHe can conquer his own fear and sleep easy at night-3rd: Macbeth is pleased because he knows that no one can command the forest and make the trees pull their roots out of the earthHis murders will never come back to threaten him until forest of Birnam gets up and moves | How does Macbeth react to the Apparitions? |
| Eight kings from Banquo will rule Scotland | What does the last apparition indicate? |
| -The air on which they ride is infected. Damn all those who trust them!-Witches are such terrible, sick creatures that even the air becomes infected. He is damning all those who trust the witches. This is ironic because Macbeth trusted the witches | Explain the irony in the following lines of Macbeth: “Infected be the air whereon they ride, and damned all those that trust them!” |
| Macduff has fled to England | What message does Lennox bring Macbeth? |
| -He is now going to act on impulse rather than thinking things through-Before, he hated murdering Duncan because he was innocent. Now he is going to murder Macduff and his family-No more foolish talk. I will do this deed before I lose my sense of purpose; he has already become crazy and lost his mind | What does Macbeth’s final speech reveal about his degeneration of character? |
| -No; Left his wife, children, hose, titles in place unsafe that he flees from itLacks natural instinct to protect his familyRunning away means fear and nothing with love or wisdom-YesUnderstands what the times requireHe was being denounced as a traitor and frightened rumours | Was Macduff justified in leaving his family in Scotland? Give both sides of this |
| -Domestic scene, provides stark contrast to Lady Macbeth who lacks all qualities of a mother-Shows that Macbeth is cold-blood and desperate because sent murderers to an innocent family-Shows how Lady Macduff feels about husband being in England-Loving and intimate relationship | What dramatic purpose is served by the short scene between Lady Macduff and her son? |
| -He orders the murder of a defenseless woman and her children in order to terrorize Macduff-This one does not serve his ambition for Lady Macduff and her children are not his adversaries | In what significant ways does the murder of Macduff’s family differ from Macbeth’s previous crimes? |
| Something dangerous is coming towards the castle and they need to leave before it arrives | What warning does the messenger bring to Lady Macduff? |
| -The murderers arrive looking for Macduff-They did not find Macduff and the Son calls the first murderer a traitor-The son is then stabbed by the first murderer | What happens at the end of scene 2 |
| -If Macduff is planning to win Macbeth’s favor, it would be smart to offer someone poor and innocent like Malcolm as a sacrificial lamb-Begs for Macduff’s pardon | What advice does Malcolm give Macduff? |
| -Malcolm tells Macduff that he is full of lust that cannot be quenched; Macduff tells him that he can satisfy his desires in secret while appearing virtuous-Malcolm then tells Macduff that he is incredibly greedy and would steal from everyone that he could, including his subjects; Macduff says not to worry, Scotland has enough treasures to satisfy the King, bad qualities are bearable when balanced against his good sides-Malcolm then tells Macduff that he does not have any good sides and would take world peace and throw it down to hell; Macduff finally bursts and says that he is not fit to rule-Macduff compares Duncan as a virtuous king | How does Malcolm test Macduff’s loyalty? This action of Malcolm’s serves to contrast him with his father. How so? What other comparisons can be made between Malcolm and Duncan? |
| -Malcolm suggests that they should take revenge on Macbeth after Macduff learns his children and wife were killed; Macduff responds by saying he (Macbeth) does not have any children of his own-Malcolm suggests that they should take revenge on Macbeth;Macduff says that Malcolm does not understand what it is like to have a child taken away from him because he has no children | It is unclear as to whom Macduff’s comment “He has no children” (line 248) refers. What arguments can be offered to justify the opinion that it refers to Macbeth? To Malcolm? |
| With the help from King Edward, Siward, and a great army, Macduff and Malcolm are going to attack Macbeth | What do Malcolm and Macduff resolve to do? |
| -Witches | Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble. |
| -Second Witch | By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes: |
| -Macbeth | How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is’t you do? |
| -Macbeth | Infected by the air whereon they ride, And damned all those that trust them! |
| -Macbeth | 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: The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. |
| -Malcolm | It is myself I mean, in who I know All the particulars of vice so grafted That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state Esteem him as a lamb, being compared With my confineless harms. |
| -Ross | No; they were well at peace when I did leave ’em. |
| -Macduff | Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief Covert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it. |
AP: Macbeth Act IV
January 5, 2020