| What did the things that the three witches threw into the cauldron have to do with? What was one of them? What does that thing represent? | The things they threw in the cauldron are the prejudices that existed during that time. The liver of a blaspheming Jew or disobedient Jew.This represents Antisemitism. |
| Which scene is the most famous witch scene? | The three witches around the cauldron |
| What are the 3 images and apparitions the witches give to Macbeth? | 1. A helmeted head: Beware the Thane of Fife (Macduff)2. A bloody child: nobody born from a woman will ever harm Macbeth3. A child with a crown and tree branch in hand: Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight him at Dunsinane Hill. |
| Macbeth asks the witches:” shall Banquo’s issue everReign in this kingdom? ” or ” will Banquo’s sons ever reign in this kingdom? “What happens? Basically, what do the witches show Macbeth? | Eight kings march, the last one with a mirror in his hand, followed by the GHOST OF BANQUO.* They are Banquo’s descendants.* So the answer is YES |
| What is the dumb show that occurs? | A line of 8 kings |
| What does Macbeth learn from Lennox? | That Macduff has fled to England. |
| Who says this and meaning?” The flighty purpose never is o’ertookUnless the deed go with it. From this momentThe very firstlings of my heart shall beThe firstlings of my hand. “ | MacbethMeaning: Unless a person does something the second he thinks of it, he’ll never get a chance to do it. From now on, as soon as I decide to do something I’m going to act immediately. |
| Once Macbeth hears that Macduff has fled to England, what is he planning to do? | He’s going to raid Macduff’s castle, seize the town of Fife, and kill his wife, his children, and anyone else unfortunate enough to stand in line for his inheritance. |
| Who says this and meaning?” This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool.” | MacbethMeaning: I will do this deed (kill Macduff’s family) before my temper cools. |
| Lady Macduff is the cousin of…. | Ross |
| Why is Lady Macduff mad? | Because her husband fled to England, putting his country over his family. |
| Who says this, meaning, and lit device?” He wants the natural touch. For the poor wren,The most diminutive of birds, will fight,Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. “ | Lady MacduffMeaning: He lacks the natural instinct to protect his family. Even the fragile wren, the smallest of birds, will fight against the owl when it threatens her young ones in the nest. Lit Device: Comparison |
| What is Ross trying to convince to Lady Macduff? | He is trying to convince her that Macduff is a good guy and there is probably a good reason as to why he fled. |
| Who says this, meaning, and theme?”Fathered he is, and yet he’s fatherless.” | Lady MacduffMeaning: He has a father, and yet he is fatherless.Theme: Equivocation |
| Who says this and meaning?”Thou speak’st with all thy wit; and yet, i’ faith,With wit enough for thee.” | Lady MacduffMeaning: You talk like a child, but you’re very clever anyway. |
| Explain the equivocation that is displayed in the conversation between Lady Macduff and her son in regards to traitors? | Lady Macduff states that whoever lies is a traitor and must be hanged (referring to her husband). Yet, she is lying to her son, saying his father is dead. |
| Who says this and meaning?”If he were dead, you’d weep for him. If you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.” | Lady Macduff’s sonMeaning: If he were dead, you’d be weeping for him. If you aren’t weeping, it’s a good sign that I’ll soon have a new father. |
| The Lady Macduff Scene establishes the fact that… | the son WOULD be a good heir to Macduff.* Too bad he dies |
| A messenger warns Lady Macduff that… | danger is coming to her castle and that she should flee with her children asap. |
| Who says this and meaning?”I am in this earthly world, where to do harmIs often laudable, to do good sometimeAccounted dangerous folly. “ | Lady MacduffMeaning: I’m here on Earth, where doing evil is often praised, and doing good is sometimes a stupid and dangerous mistake. |
| Macduff appears at… | King Edward’s castle |
| Who says this, meaning, and lit device?” new sorrows strike heaven on the face “ | MacduffMeaning: new sorrows slap heaven in the faceLit Device: Personification |
| Who is the evil tyrant in Scotland? | Macbeth |
| Who says this, meaning, and lit device?”I am young, but something you may deserve of him through me; and wisdom to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb, t’appease an angry god. “ | MacduffMeaning: I’m inexperienced, but maybe you’re planning to win Macbeth’s favor by betraying me to him. It would be smart to offer someone poor and innocent like me as a sacrificial lamb to satisfy an angry god like Macbeth.Lit Device: Comparison of lamb to Malcolm and angry god to Macbeth |
| Who says this and meaning?” A good and virtuous nature may recoil in an imperial charge. “ | MalcolmMeaning: Even someone with a good and virtuous nature might give way to a royal command. |
| Who says this and meaning?” Though all things fool would wear the brows of grace, yet grace must still look so. “ | MalcolmMeaning: Even though every evil thing tries to look virtuous, virtue’s appearance won’t change. |
| Malcolm wonders and finds it suspicious that Macduff… | left his wife and child unprotected and with no goodbye. |
| Who says this and meaning?” Why in that rawness left you wife and child, those precious motives, those strong knots of love, without leave-taking? “ | MalcolmMeaning: Why did you leave your wife and child unprotected—the most precious things in your life, those strong bonds of love? How could you leave them behind? |
| Who says this and meaning?”I would not be the villain that thou think’st for the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp, and the rich East to boot. “ | MacduffMeaning: I wouldn’t be the villain you think I am even if I were offered all of Macbeth’s kingdom and the riches of the East too. |
| Who says this and meaning?” That, when they (the vices) 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. “ | MalcolmMeaning: that when people see all of the vices exposed, evil Macbeth will seem as pure as snow in comparison, and poor Scotland will call him a sweet lamb when they compare him to me and my infinite evils. |
| What are Malcolm’s 3 pretend vices? | 1. Lusty2. Avarice3. Bellicouse nature |
| How does Macduff justify these vices? | 1. You can find a way to satisfy your desires in secret, while still appearing virtuous.2. Scotland has plenty to satisfy your wants within your own royal possessions.3. Fit to be king? You’re not fit to live! |
| Who says this and meaning?” The taints and blames I laid upon myself, for strangers to my nature. “ | MalcolmMeaning: The vices I said about myself are foreign to my nature. |
| Malcolm’s really is… | 1. A virgin2. Faithful3. Never jealous4. Keeps his word5. Does not betray6. Does not lie (except just now) |
| Malcolm tells Macduff that General Siward has gotten together… | ten thousand men for the war against Macbeth |
| What is King’s Evil Disease? | A scrofula or tuberculosis. |
| King Edward can heal people who have King’s Evil by | hanging a golden coin around the person’s neck and praying. |
| King Edward can do 2 things: | 1. Heal with his touch2. Tell prophecies |
| Who says this and theme?” No, they were at peace when I did leave’em. “ | RossTheme: Equivocation |
| Who says this and meaning?”Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever “ | RossMeaning: I hope you won’t hate me forever after I say these things (the slaughter) |
| Why does Macduff say:” Heaven forgive him too! “ | ” Heaven might as well forgive Macbeth for his sins because I am so freaking guilty! “ |
Macbeth Notes Act IV (4)
January 5, 2020