1. What three things does Macbeth learn from the witches and apparitions and how does he react to them?
2. How does Macbeth react to Macduff's departure? (use concrete details)
3. What action is taken by Macduff and Malcolm in Act IV? (use concrete details)
Allegra Post 1
ReplyDelete1. They tell him to beware Macduff and that he cannot be harmed by anyone born form a woman. Then, they say “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (Act 4 Scene 1, lines 92-94). This means that Macbeth should not worry about people betraying him and killing him unless the Birnam Wood moves.
3. It starts off with Malcom testing the loyalty of Macduff. Then, they plan a revolt.
Allegra Post 2
ReplyDelete1. The first thing they tell him is to beware Macduff. The first apparition exclaims, "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff, beware the Thane of Fife" (Act 4 Scene 1, Lines 71-72). For once, they are straightforward with what they're saying. In addition, the second thing they tell him is that he cannot be harmed by someone born from a woman's womb. The second apparition says, "Be bloody bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." Macbeth does not know that Macduff was "torn out" of his dead mother, so now the first thing they told him is obsolete to him. Then, they say “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (Act 4 Scene 1, lines 92-94). This means that Macbeth should not worry about people betraying him and killing him unless the Birnam Wood moves.
3. Malcom tests Macduff’s loyalty when he says, “But I have none. The king-becoming graces as justice, verity, temperance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them but abound In the division of each several crime, acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproar the universal peace, confound all unity on earth.” (Act 4 Scene 3, Lines 93-100). When he says “none”, he means he doesn’t have any good sides. After Macduff has a passionate outburst, Malcom knows he can trust him and Macduff is loyal and not deceitful.
Allegra Post 3
ReplyDelete1. I would like to add that Macbeth is seen to be very narrow minded in this scene. He takes everything the witches say literally rather than figuratively. I think this will be part of his downfall. Also, this scene reinforces the theme about what’s real and what’s not. When Lennox arrives after Macbeth has seemingly been talking to the witches, Lennox did not see them. This is up to the audience to decide whether it was real or fake. The witches have gotten into his mind figuratively, in my opinion. They have mastered the art of making him paranoid. Others may think that they have gotten into his mind literally.
Grigg- 1st analysis
ReplyDelete1.Macbeth demands answers from the three witches. They give him answers in the form of apparitions. The first apparition says, “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff, beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough” (IV.i.71-72). This tells Macbeth that Macduff has evil ambitions. From this apparition Macbeth should know to beware of the evil desires of Macduff. The second apparition says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh and scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.79-81).This gives Macbeth a false notion that he is safe from all men, because everyone is born unto a women. However it is apparent that Macduff was born by cesarean section. This is not considered as being “born” from a woman. He was ripped from the womb so he is not included in the people that cannot harm Macbeth. When they tell Macbeth this hell feels invincible. The third apparition says, “Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him” (IV.i.90-94). He is basically saying that Macbeth will never be harmed until the Great Birnam tree walks. He again is given a false sense of security. It is evident that Macduff’s armies will camouflage themselves with the limbs of the Birnam Wood. They will be capable of harming Macbeth.
2.Macbeth is not really concerned that Macduff has departed. He decides that it might be just as effective to slaughter is children and family. He first hears of Macduff’s departure when Lenox says, “Macduff is fled to England” (IV.i.142). This is when he starts to reevaluate his course of action since killing Macduff is now out of the question. At first he thinks his plans are ruined and he says, “Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o’ertook unless the deed go with it” (IV.i.145-146). He is saying that his plans are basically thwarted. He also says how nowadays unless you act upon an idea as soon as you think of it you will never get a chance. He feels like he is too late. But then he comes up with the idea of killing his whole family, who he left unguarded. He says, “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” (IV.i.149-153). He comes up with this new plan and knows that he must act on it immediately. He has realized that time spoils all plans. So he is ready to murder everyone in Fife, Macduff’s kingdom.
3.Macduff and Malcolm in act 4 scene 3 plan an attack on Macbeth. In this act Macduff goes to Malcolm to gain support in an attack against Macbeth. He wants the support of King Edward of England, as they have strong armies. At first Malcolm does not trust Macbeth, but evidentially they become friends with a common goal, to restore Scotland. Macduff says, “Let us rather hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men bestride our downfall’n birthdom” (IV.iii.2-3). It is clear that his lone ambition is to protect his country from the Macbeth the evil tyrant, who is suppressing Scotland. Malcolm says, “Come, go we to the King. Our power is ready; our lack is nothing but our leave” (IV.iii.238-239). He is saying that King Edward’s powerful army is ready and all they need to do is leave. They are planning a bloody attack on King Macbeth. They are unhappy with what is currently happening in Scotland. Malcolm says, “Old Siward with ten thousand warlike men, already at point, was setting forth” (IV.iii.135-136). This states how the army, led by Siward, is very strong and ready. They are prepared to fight, and win, over Macbeth’s evil oppression.
Grigg- 2nd analysis
ReplyDelete1.Macbeth treats the witches like they are his inferiors. This is ironic because it is evident that the true power lies in their hands. He does not acknowledge their true power. He does not interpret the apparitions correctly either. HE takes a very literal approach and does not think about the true meaning. The third apparition talks about how Macbeth will be attacked only when “Birnam Wood” walks to “Dunsinane Hill.” Of course Macbeth thinks nothing of it because his mind cannot comprehend any possible way for a true to walk. This apparition foreshadows how Macduff and his army will camouflage themselves in the branched of Birnam wood when they ambush him.
2.At first Macbeth is very annoyed that Macduff has fled. He doesn’t see a way to protect himself. It is his belief that he must kill Macduff to stay safe. He is very paranoid as king, not wanting to lose the throne. I think that Macbeth knows his nobles are turning against him. So when Macduff flees all he can think about is the fact that he doesn’t know where he is and he could be plotting his death at the very moment. He is afraid of the unknown. Instead he decides to send an emotional blow to Macduff by killing his entire family. His motive behind this is to make him so weakened by the death of his family that he would be petrified. Unable to commit murder against Macbeth.
3.Macduff and Malcolm are already planning to follow through with the murder when they hear about the bloody murder of Macduff’s kids, “Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes savagely slaughtered” (IV.iii.205-206). This only enrages Macduff and gives him more ambition. He is seeking revenge. He is now solely motivated to have Macbeth’s head on the end of his sword. This also rallies Malcolm to help gain revenge for his friend Macduff.
Grigg 3rd analysis
ReplyDelete1.Macbeth’s reaction to the three apparitions is very confident. At the end of the act the viewer is left with a very cool and confident Macbeth. What they have said seems to have perpetuated the idea that he is invincible. Macbeth is so ignorant to the true meaning that he has made it very easy to attack him. He knows exactly who, how and where he will be attacked so defense should be easy, but he doesn’t get it. Although he is supremely confident it is apparent he is still a little paranoid because he wants Macduff killed nonetheless.
2.Macbeth is ready to kill Macduff’s family because he has fled the country. He feels that waiting will make him lose his purpose and his chance. He says, “No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool” (IV.i.153-154). He is extremely rash in this decision and does not give it much thought. He does not think that killing Macduff’s family will only enrage him more. He has perpetuated his fight by angering Macduff. He should have thought about the reaction before he committed this evil deed.
3.When Ross brings the bad news that Macduff’s wife and kids were savagely murdered he also paints a dark picture of the current condition of the kingdom. He says, “Alas, poor country, almost afraid to know itself. It cannot be called our mother, but our grave; where nothing but who knows nothing is once seen to smile” (IV.iii.165-167). He makes it apparent that Macbeth has made the country unrecognizable. Only those that are ignorant to the changes are caught smiling. The country is a very dark and depressing place now. He says, “The dead man’s knell is there scarce asked for who, and good men’s lives expire before the flowers in their caps, dying or ere they sicken” (IV.iii.171-174). He depicts a land where everyone is dying young, without even becoming sick. This makes it apparent to both Macduff and Malcolm that change is needed. They cannot keep hiding. They are motivated to seek change and rally an army to regain the Scotland they once knew.
Arianna Amini
ReplyDeletePost #1
1. In the first scene of Act 4 Macbeth is reunited with the 3 witches and with them comes 8 apparitions that tell him about him future. He finds out three main things from the prophecies these people give to him. From the first apparition he finds out that Macduff is someone he should be afraid of. “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; beware the thane of Fife.”(Act 4, Scene 1 44-46). The apparitions predict that Macduff will have something to do with his ultimate demise and is planning to bring him down. He is now aware of this after they warn him. The second thing he finds out is from the 2nd apparition. “Be bloody, be bold and resolute; laugh to scorn. The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm you”(Act 4, Scene 1 51-54). Macbeth finds out that no person who was born from the womb of their mother can ever harm him. What Macbeth doesn’t know is that that someone who had a C section doesn’t count. In our footnotes we find out that Macduff was ripped from his mother’s womb after she died during childbirth. So technically Macduff can still harm him. The third apparition then says, “Who chafers, who fretes, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hll shall come against him”(Act 4 Scene 1 61-63). The last prophecy says that Macbeth will stay into power until Birnam wood reaches the castle. It is impossible for Birnam wood to be moved to the castle which is good for Macbeth, but he doesn’t understand the whole prophecy. The Birnam wood can be moved in parts and can be hidden. They can camouflage it without Macbeth ever knowing.
2. At first Macbeth is a little worried. “Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o’ertook unless the deed go with it” (Act 4 scene 1 44-45). He thinks his plan being king is ruined but he stops and thinks about it after a while. He now knows that all his friends are plotting against him and he must kill them before they get to him. He knows that h must go against him friends because if he doesn’t they will act first and kill him.
3. They plan their attack on Macbeth. They are sick and tired of his ways and feel that he is not suitable to be king. He is a liar and committed treason and they want nothing to do with him. At first both Macduff and Malcolm are unaware they they are both anti- Macbeth but after figuring out they are on the same team they plan to take him down. “Devilish Macbeth, by many of these trains hath sought to win me into his power; and modest wisdom plucks me from over credulous haste; but god above deal between thee and me!”(Act 4, Scene 3 33-36). They have so much hate for Macbeth they are comparing him to the devil and they want to overthrow him. They plan on going to the King of England where Duncan’s children are and telling them of Macbeth. They plan of sqaying his opinions to be against Macbeth so he will lend them an army to attach. “Come, go we to the King. Our power is ready; our lack is nothing but our leave”(Act 4, Scene 3 50-53). They feel like they have no power unless they contact the king because then they will have what it takes to overthrow Macbeth.
Arianna Amini
ReplyDeletePost #2
1. These three prophecies the witches bring to Macbeth are a lot for him to handle and a lot of things have been put on his plate. He doesn’t even know if these things are true because after the witches dissapear Lennox walks in and has no recall of seeing any of the witches or apparitions. “Saw you the weird sisters. No my lord”(Act 4 , Scene 1 88-89). Macbeth is left with no understanding of if these prophecies are real or are just his imagination. He is also left confused with some of the prophecies and he is alarmed that 2 of them have to do with Macduff. He is still in a daze over the whole thing.
2. Even though Macbeth has heard all these prophecies about Macduff wanting to kill him and over throw him, he is not concerned that Macduff has left for England. “Macduff has fled to England, fled to England!”(Act 4, 1 20-21). Lennox is very alarmed and worried about how Macduff has fled to England. He knows he is down there with Duncan’s children and they are seeking help from the King of England. They need an ary to overthrow Macbeth, but Macbeth seems very settle about the whole situation. “The flightly purpose never is o’ertook unless the deed go with it, from this moment the very firstlings of my hand”(Act 4 Scene 1 32-33). He knows that Macduff and his other friends and turning on him, but he is confident in the fact that he will stay king forever.
3.Malcolm and Macduff do not want Macbeth to be king anymore. They know that they need help from the king of England and they will be able to overthrow him. They flee to England without telling anyone so no one will question where they are until they get there. Malcolm and Macduff know that Macbeth has the power to kill them and they want nothing to do with his reign anymore. They flee the country and try beg the King of England to help them get an army. With this army they will overthrow Macbeth and take back whats rightfully their land
Arianna Amini
ReplyDeletePost #3
1. Macbeth has a lot of his plate being king and at any moment people can turn on him. He doesn’t know who to trust and is elft to rely on the witches, magicly creatures who are far less reliable than any of his kingmen for advice and guidense. Macbeth has never felt so alone and even though he knows he is superior to the witches he I unaware of the fact that they control his fate. The witches have brought him here and they can easily take his power away.
2. Macbeth never thought that all these people would be plotting against him and now he is left feelings alone and uncertain. He knows he has to kill Macduff and his army in order to stay king and as we know he will do anything to be king. He knows if he just waits around and does nothing Macduff will get an army from the King of England and take Macbeth down.
3. Macbeth and Malcolm do not like Macbeth for many reasons. They feel he is cheap and they do not think he is able to lead their country. They know what he did to Duncan and they want nothing more than to avenge him. They get out of the country and away from Macbeth so they can plan their revolt.
Allegra
ReplyDelete2. Macbeth is surprised at Macduff’s departure. He says,” Time, thou anticipa’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o’ertook unless the deed go with it. From this moment 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. No boasting like a fool; this deed I’ll do before this purpose cool” (IV.i.144-154). Macbeth makes the decision to kill Macduff because he is a threat. This is similar to what he did with Banquo. He wants to kill everyone who could be in his way of power. If he waits, he could loose his chance at getting the power he desires. Lady Macduff is warned of the plan when the messenger tells her, “To fright you this, methinks, I am too savage; to do worse to you were fell cruelty, which is too nigh your person.” However, she has a stubborn reaction to this attempt to save her and does not listen.
Later in the story, they talk about how Macbeth would not understand the feelings after someone killed his family because he has none. This is like how Lady Macbeth could not sympathize with Macbeth after killing Duncan because she did not know what it was like to take someone’s life.