Download Act IV

Act I:
First Witch- leader of the witches, she seems to be a fortune teller
Second Witch- Very mysterious and spooky, follows the first witch, sort of like her
right hand man
Third Witch- Also seems to be a fortune teller, and also follows the first witch
Kind Duncan- Very honest King, who according to Macbeth has not done anything
wrong.
Malcom (king’s son)- Very smart, heir to the throne.
Captain- Loves violence and war, thinks courage is an honorable thing
Lennox- Doesn’t trust the King’s servants
Ross- Devoted to the King, like his servant
Banquo- Thinks that he is equal with Macbeth, seems arrogant, shows when witches
are talking to Macbeth and he butts in and wants to know about his future.
Macbeth- Honorable fighter, he is told a prophecy by the three witches, very
ambitious but nervous.
Angus- Messenger of the King, tells Macbeth the news about what has happened
with Banquo.
Lady Macbeth- Power hungry, has a cold heart, she wants Macbeth to kill Duncan,
but she won’t do it because he looks like her father.
Messenger- Only wants to know the news of the King.
Analysis
In the space below each question write the page number, the act number and the
scene number of the quotation asked for. Then copy the key lines of the quotation
and write your own summary of the whole quotation.
Theme:
1. Find a quotation that expresses the theme of deceit and betrayal. P.46
“And shalt be what thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’ th’
milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great; art thou
not without ambition”
Lady Macbeth is trying to make Macbeth realize that he needs to be more power
hungry, and she is trying to convince him to kill Duncan.
2. Find four quotations that express paradox.
“Look like the innocent flower” Lady Macbeth
She is saying that Macbeth should look innocent even though he is killing someone
“Foul is fair, fair is foul” Macbeth
He is saying that what may be good for some people can be bad for others.
“And nothing is but what is not” Macbeth
Things aren’t what they seem to be
“ If it were done, when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly” Macbeth
He is saying what he did was bad, but if they don’t get caught, the quicker the better
Macbeth’s Character
1. Find a quotation that shows Macbeth’s courage that he is a well-respected
warrior.
“For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—disdaining fortune, with his
brandish’d steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valour’s minion
carved out his passage till he faced the slave;”
Shows how Macbeth fought so hard and never gave up fighting, and eventually
he got victory because of it.
2. Find a quotation that shows Macbeth’s ambition, that he wants to be king of
Scotland.
“ Mark, king of Scotland, mark: No sooner justice had with valour arm’d
compell’d these skipping kerns to trust their heels.”
Macbeth is showing that he actually does want to become the King of Scotland, and
that he is willing to do whatever it takes.
3. Find a quotation that shows Macbeth’s honor, that he would prefer to
become king by honorable means.
“If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me, Without my stir”
He shows that he wants to be King, but that he doesn’t want it to create a stir and
make people suspicious
4. Find the quotation where Macbeth shows that he realizes that killing the
king will have innumerable, uncontrollable negative consequences.
“False faces must hide what the false heart doth know.”
This quote shows that Macbeth has to murder Duncan, even though it is wrong,
because he wants the power.
Banquo’s Character:
1. Find the quotation where Banquo warns Macbeth not to pay too much
attention to the Witches because they may intend to lead the men into evil.
Lady Macbeth’s Character:
Find a quotation showing that Lady Macbeth is ambitious, and thinks her husband
is too “good” to commit murder.
“Look like the innocent flower,”
She is stating the Macbeth looks innocent when in fact he will do the killing.
Find the quotation showing that Lady Macbeth is ruthless, where Lady Macbeth
calls on the spirits of evil to make her capable of murder.
“Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,”
She is trying to have the spirits give her some power of strength and take away her
conscience in order for her to conduct the murder.
Find the quotation showing that Lady Macbeth is deceitful, where she advises
Macbeth to put on a “false face.”
“Their drenched natures lie as in a death,
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?”
She says that it will be dark, so no one will see him, so all he has to do is believe in
himself and the plan will work without failure.
Find the quotation showing that Lady Macbeth is manipulative, where she goads
Macbeth by challenging his manhood.
“When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And, to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:”
She questions his manhood to mentally pump Macbeth up for the task.
Find a second quotation showing that Lady Macbeth is ruthless, pitiless, even
savage.
“Who dares receive it other,
As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
Upon his death?”
She is trying to say that the king is the bad one and deserves his murder as a
punishment.
Act II
Banquo- Macbeth's friend gives Macbeth a diamond at the beginning of the Act in
order to signify their friendship and to pay respect.
Fleance- This is Banquo's son who briefly talks during the beginning of this act and
accompanies his father to the feast.
Macbeth- During the act, Macbeth experiences doubt and uncertainty on whether
or not he should kill the king and immediately comes to regret commiting regicide.
He is also often haunted by the Weird Sisters' prophecies and what will happen to
him.
Lady Macbeth- She at first convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan, but she too later
comes to feel remorse and faints, but not on the same level as Macbeth
Porter- He allows in Macduff and Lennox in Scene 3, he is drunk and acts as a door
keeper to the gates of the underworld.
Macduff- A Scottish nobleman who owns a castle called the Fife, he is the one who
first uncovers Duncan's death and tells it to everyone else at Inverness.
Lennox- Another Scottish nobleman who serves as a reminder to the audience as to
what is happening in the story.
Donalbain (son of King Duncan)- One of the King's sons, immediately following his
fathers murder, he runs towards Ireland to avoid being murdered as well.
Malcolm (son of King Duncan)- The other one of Duncna's sons, he also leaves
Scotland for England as soon as his father is murdered.
Old Man- Merely a commentator in Macbeth, who offers a recap of the play up
until Act 2, Scene 4.
Ross- Another Scottish Nobleman, he converses with the old man and Macduff and
decides to travel to Scone.
Analysis:
In the space below each question, write the page number, the act number, and the
scene number of the quotation asked for. Then copy the key lines of the quotation
and write your own summary of the whole quotation.
Theme:
1. Find one quotation that expresses the theme of appearance versus reality.
"Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me
clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" Scene 1, Pages 51,53. In this excerpt
Macbeth is dealing with his imagination while he is contemplating whether or not he
should kill is own king, Duncan. Macbeth imagines seeing the dagger in his hand,
and how it is capable of killing the king.
2. Find a quotation or a scene that expresses the theme of timing versus action.
Scene 3, Page 61: "Whos there in the devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator
that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason
enough for God's sake yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in equivacator."
In this quote the drunken porter is calling in Macduff and Lennox. The timing is
that since he committed murder, Macbeth has not slept at all.
Macbeth’s Character:
1. Find a quotation showing what Macbeth feels right before committing the
murder.
Scene 1, Page 53: "Hear not my steps, which walk, for fear Thy very stones prate
of my whereabouts And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits
with it. Whiles I threat, he lives. Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives."
Macbeth is showing fear right before he is supposed to murder Duncan, he is
experiencing second thoughts on if he should kill the king in order to become it
himself.
2. Find a quotation showing what Macbeth feels immediately after killing
Duncan.
Scene 2, Page 59: "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my
and? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the
green one red." When Macbeth says this following his murder of Duncan, he feels
horrible remorse and sadness at what he has done, and desperately wishes that he
could take it back if possible.
3. Find Macbeth’s first public statement after the discovery of the murder.
What is he feeling? Is he sincere?
Scene 3, Page 69: "Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed
time; for from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality. All is but toys.
Renown and grace is dead. . the wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this
vault to brag of." In this Macbeth is wondering what would have happened if he
had the opportunity to go back in time and not kill Duncan. He believes his life
would be much better off that way. He is only partly sincere when talking to
everyone, as he is putting on a public scene the death of Duncan.
Lady Macbeth’s Character:
1. Find two contrasting quotations showing what Lady Macbeth feels right
before the murder is committed.
Scene 2 Page 55.
"That which had made them drunk hath made me bold. What hath quenched
them hath given me fire."
"Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't"
These two quotes are contrasting because in the first she proclaims her power and
readiness to murder in order to achieve power. While in the second she says she was
too afraid to murder Duncan.
2. Find a quotation showing Lady Macbeth’s reaction immediately after the
murder.
Scene 2, Page 59: "Go get some water And wash this filthy witness from your
hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? tThey must lie there. Go,
carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood." Lady Macbeth quickly
dismisses the king's death and says that Macbeth should immediately frame the two
guards of the king.
3. Find a quotation that shows what Lady Macbeth believes about the dead.
Scene 2, Page 59: "The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. 'tis the eye of
childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms
withal." Here Lady Macbeth is dismissing the dead, and thinks of them as regular
objects.
Banquo’s Character:
1. Find a quotation showing Banquo’s honor.
Scene 3, Page 71: "And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in
exposure, let us meet And question this most bloody piece of work To know it
further. Fears and scruples shake us." Here Banquo is saying that without the king
or something stable, that life should be much harder to live, and that the king is the
headstone of their lives. He is putting them above himself.
Macduff’s Character:
1. Find the quotation showing Macduff’s reaction to Macbeth’s becoming king.
Scene 4, Page 75, 77: "Carried to Colmekill, The sacred storehouse of his
predecessors And the guardian of their bones. .... No cousin ill go to Fife." Macduff
is not excited about Macbeth becoming king and said he'd rather go to his home
than watch the crowning.
Act III:
Banquo- still is honorable and suspects Macbeth that he committed the murder.
Macbeth – The feelings of the killing still hurt him, but he continues to kill people
and he gets paranoid.
Lady Macbeth – Temptress and still trying to convince Macbeth to do everything
that he does bad.
Attendant – Servant who serves Macbeth.
First Murderer – Macbeth hires him to kill Banquo and his son and he seems very
willing to kill them.
Second Murderer – Not much is said about him and he is just another murderer.
Third Murderer – He knows a lot about Banquo and Macbeth and he seems very
suspicious.
Servant – Not much is said about him either except that he tells when Banquo will
arrive and depart.
Lords – These are Macbeth’s friends and formal guests at his party. Noblemen and
higher ranking people in society.
Lennox – He tells how Malcom is going to overthrow Macbeth and he is suspicious
of Macbeth.
Ross – He wants to leave once Macbeth starts acting strangely
First Witch – She is the only one who speaks and her name is Hectate.
Hecate (Queen of Witches) – An angry witch that does not want Macbeth’s fortune
predestined by the other witches.
Analysis
Analysis
In the space below each question write the page number, the act number and the
scene number of the quotation asked for. Then copy the key lines of the quotation
and write your own summary of the whole quotation.
Theme:
1.
Find a quotation that reflects the theme of timing versus action.
Page 95-97 Act III scene 3 "But who did bid thee join us? Macbeth. He needs not
our mistrust, since he delivers..."
The third murder shows up and claims that Macbeth sent him, which was not
discussed in the original plans. The timing was perfect in that he came right before
the murderers were going to kill.
2.
Find a quotation that reflects the theme of appearance versus reality.
“Avaut and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee. Thy bones are marrowless; they
blood is cold; thou hast no speculation in those eyes which though dost glare with.”
This quote comes in scene 4 when Banquo’s ghost, which only Macbeth can see,
enters. Pg. 105
Macbeth’s Character:
1.
Find a quotation showing that Macebth does not feel secure in his
power as king.
“Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect, whole as the marble, founded as
the rock, as broad and general as the casing air. But now I am cabined, cribbed,
confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears. –But Banquo’s safe?” this quote
comes during scene 3, and expresses that Macbeth does not feel safe and secure in
his position and is encompassed by fear and doubt from what he has done. Pg. 99
2.
Find the quotation that indicates that Macbeth is having nightmares.
“Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep in the affliction of these terrible
dreams that shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, whome we, to gain our peace,
have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy.” In scene
2, Macbeth explicitly comes out and says he is shaken by bad dreams every night.
Pg. 93
3.
Find the quotation where in contrast to the beginning of the play,
Macbeth is now the initiator of violence and evil.
“It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood. Stones have been known to
move, and trees to speak; Augurs and understood relations have by maggot pies and
choughs and rocks brought forth the secret’st man of blood.” Pg. 109
4.
Find the quotation where Macbeth expresses his fear that now
murdered men come back from the grave to haunt the murderers.
“We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll close and be herself whilst our
poor malice remains in danger of her former tooth.” “Thou know’st that Banquo
and his Fleance lives.” 93
5.
Find the quotation where Macbeth plans to revisit the Witches and
shows his ruthless determination to hold the power.
“I will tomorrow (and betimes I will) to the Weird Sisters. More shall they speak,
for now I am bent to know by the worst means the worst. For mine own good, all
causes shall give way. I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in head, that will to hand,
which must be acted ere they may be scanned.” Pg. 109
Lady Macbeth’s Character:
1.
Find the quotation showing that Lady Macbeth is unhappy and
beginning to realize that killing the king has lead to unforeseen negative
consequences.
“Naught’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is got without content. ‘Tis safer to be
that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
” This quote expresses that Lady Macbeth is realizing there are consequences in
how they gained such power. She believes that it is better to be a part of what they
are destroying rather then living and pretending to be happy with what they have
accomplished. Pg. 91
2.
Describe how Lady Macbeth reacts to her husband’s visions of the
murdered Banquo at the dinner table.
“You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting with most admired
disorder…I pray you, speak not. He grows worse and worse. Question enrages him.
At once, good night. Stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once.” Lady
Macbeth insists that the people around the table do not waste time in exiting
properly, but just leave so that they do not hear Macbeth’s ranting. She blames his
talk on an illness. Pg. 107
Banquo’s Character:
1.
Find the quotation showing that Banquo is suspicious that Macbeth
killed Duncan.
“…all as the Weird Women promised, and I fear though played’st most foully for
‘t. yet it was said it should not stand in thy posterity, but that myself should be the
root and father of many kings. If there come truth from them (As upon thee,
Macbeth, their speeches shine) why, by the verities on thee made good, may they not
be my oracles as well, and set me up in hope? But hush, no more.” Banquo realizes
that Macbeth has killed Duncan, as the Weird Sisters previously proclaimed, but
cannot reveal this. Pg. 81
Act IV
Act IV
First Witch- Talks directly to Macbeth. Plants the seed of ambition in him.
Second Witch- Foresees Macbeth’s coming.
Third Witch- Follows the other witches. Chants around the caldron
Macbeth -Determined to stay in power at any means necessary. Bloodthirsty,
arranges for the Macduff family’s murder
First Apparition- Tells to beware of Macduff
Second Apparition- Tells that no man born from a woman will harm Macbeth.
Third Apparition- Tells that Macbeth will be dethroned when trees move to
Dunsinane Hill.
Lennox- Tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England
Lady Macduff- Angry at Macduff for leaving her. Feels betrayed by her husband.
Ross- Tries to explain to Lady Macduff why he had to leave her. Sympathizes with
her.
Son (of Lady Macduff) Wise beyond his years. Dies from the murders. Believes that
his father did not betray them.
Messenger- Tries to warn Lady Macduff that her life is in danger.Warns them to
leave immediately.
Murderer- Calls Macduff a traitor so the family becomes angry at him. Goes and
kills Lady Macduff and her son.
Malcolm- Lives in England. Believes that Macbeth is trying to lure him back so he
can kill him.
Macduff- Goes to convince Malcolm to come back and take over kingdom. Feels his
search is useless when Malcolm says he is evil.
Doctor- Tells Malcolm of a deadly disease spreading through England.
Analysis:
In the space below each question write the page number, the act number and the
scene number of the quotation asked for. Then copy the key lines of the quotation
and write your own summary of the whole quotation.
Macbeth:
Find the quotation that shows Macbeth is willing to use any means to gain his desire
for power.
“Thought castles topple on their warder’s heads, thought palaces and pyramids do
slope their heads to their foundations, through the treasure of nature’s germends
tumble all together even till destruction sicken.” [Act IV Scene I] (Macbeth) 123
Macbeth is willing to risk everything or do anything to become king and stay in
power. He becomes obsessed with power.
Summarize what Macbeth is told by each of the three apparitions and one vision.
What is the paradox contained in what each apparition says?
1. The first apparition states that he should be aware of the Thane of Fife who is
Macduff. Macbeth decides that if he should be aware of him, he will immediately go
and kill him before he can cause any trouble for him. The paradox is that Macbeth
does not know that Macduff is with Malcolm plotting his undermine.
2. The second apparition states that no man born from a woman can harm him and
his success to the throne. Macbeth decides that if no man can hurt him, he won’t
have to waste his time on Macduff. The paradox is that not all men are born the
same way, some are born in ways not considered to be natural birth.
3. The third apparition states that Macbeth will be dethroned when trees start to
grow on Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth knows that no trees have or will ever grow up
there, so he has nothing to worry about. The paradox is that trees can be cut down
and replanted or moved up on top the hill unnaturally.
4. The vision is of the eight kings shows the succession kings which includes
Macbeth and Banquo’s son after him. Macbeth becomes angry that even though he
killed Banquo, his son will still succeed him on the throne. The paradox is just that,
Macbeth tried to prevent Banquo’s son from becoming the successor, but failed
anyway because it was prophesied to happen a certain way.
Find the quotation that shows Macbeth has abandoned reason in favor of acting on
impulse to gain power.
“From this moment the very firstlings of y heart shall be the firstlings of my hand.
And even now, to crown my thoughts with acts, but it thought and done.” [Act IV
Scene I] (Macbeth) 131
He has given up looking to his head and will resort to his hand in killing. He has lost
control of himself and only knows how to kill to get power instead of thinking it
through.
Macduff:
Find the quotation where Malcolm lies to Macduff in order to test his honesty.
“I should cut off the nobles for their lands, desire his jewels, and this other’s house.”
[Act IV Scene III] (Malcolm) 145
Malcolm says that if he was king, he would take away everything from the nobles
including their land for his own pleasure and leave the nobles like peasants. He is
trying to see what Macduff’s reaction would be.
Find the quotation where Macduff refuses to support Malcolm as king unless he is
sure that Malcolm will be a reasonably honest king.
“Fare thee well. These evils thou repeat’st upon thyself hath banished me from
Scotland.” [Act IV Scene III] (Macduff) 147
Macduff gives up and says that Malcolm is as bad as Macbeth is he is going to take
away his land, so he says he will return home.
Find the quotation where Malcolm reassures Macduff that he is truly virtuous and
will be a fit king.
“Child of integrity, hath from my soul wiped the black scruples, reconciled my
thoughts to thy good truth and honor.” [Act IV Scene III] (Malcolm) 147
Malcolm comes out and tells Macduff that his good intentions have rid the evils in
his body and he is ready to become king. He has now becomes pure and honorable
like a king must be. Malcolm never really reveals that it was a trick, but rather as
Macduff helped him become good.
Find the quotation where Macduff shows that he can both feel deeply and act
strongly.
“O, I could play the woman with mine eyes and braggart with my tongue! But,
gentle heavens, cut short all intermission! Front to front bring thou this fiend of
Scotland and myself. Within my sword’s length set him.” [Act IV Scene III]
(Macduff) 155
Macduff is in deep sorrow from the loss of his family, but with Malcolm’s words, he
decides to take out his anger on Macbeth, who caused the death of his family.