Macbeth Act IV Questions

Macbeth

Scene 1

1) What are the four visions that Macbeth sees?

            -A person who declares that Macbeth should fear Macduff

            -A person who declares that Macbeth cannot be harmed by any born man

            -A child who declares that Macbeth shall not perish until Great Birnam Wood to high Dusinane Hill actually rise up and get him

            -Banquo and eight Kings parading in front of him

2) Which visions does he misread or misunderstand and why?

            -Although it doesn’t say he misinterprets vision 2 & 3

3) What news does Lennox bring Macbeth?

            -Macduff has fled to England

4) What does Macbeth decide from Lennox’s news?

            -Macbeth will seize Macduff’s castle and kill all of his kin and servants as a lesson

5) How might this scene be a possible climax for the play?

            -Macbeth sees his own downfall, whether he realizes it or not

            -The height of Macbeth’s madness, he plans to kill everyone without reason or reasoning. He plans to do what he feels like doing, without thought.
       

Scene 2

1) Why does Shakespeare include a scene with Lady Macduff and her son?

-To show the true victims and extent of cruelty/bloodlust/tyranny and madness of Macbeth's reign
-Lady Macduff is completely innocent, she has done nothing
-Shows what Macduff is loosing

2) What is important about this scene?

            -Shows that Macduff has had to make difficult decisions regarding family
            -It show the extent of Macbeths cruelty and how it is/ has/ will effect the Kingdom

3) List one motif or symbol from this scene?

            -The wren and the owl; wren symbolizing Lady Macduff and owl symbolizing Macbeth

Scene 3

1) Why has Macduff come to England?

         -To convince Malcolm & King of England to support him in displacing Macbeth on the throne

2) What is Malcolm’s fear in lines 10-19?

         -He would be given as a sacrifice to Macbeth from Macduff; ie beytrayed

3) Who does the lamb represent in these lines?
         -A sacrifice and Malcolm
         -Purity

4) What is significant in the lines “Angles are bright still, though the brightest fell./Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,/ yet grace must still look so.”

         -Lucifer was the best angel
         -Macbeth is being compared to Lucifer
         -He still tempts mankind as the beautiful devil
         -Relates to the theme of appearance vs reality

5) What is significant in the line, “Bleed, bleed, pour country!”

         -The country is going to ruin under Macbeth
         -The bloodshed within the country is profuse
         -It needs a helper (Macduff) to staunch the bleeding

6) What does Malcolm call Macbeth?  What list of adjectives does he use?

-Bloody
-Luxurious
-Avarcarious
-False
-Deceitful
-Sudden
-Malicious
-He calls him a devil and thus evil

7) How has Malcolm changed since Act II?

         -He has become more cynical, grown up, and selfish
         -He has become a bad person ie a coward

8) What is the atmosphere of this scene?  Why is this important?

        -Tense
        -Somber
        -Resolute
        -In that order, the atmosphere and the actions and news that causes those to arise. It shows how now everyone is resolute in their desire to dethrone Macbeth and bring Scotland to power again.

9) What news does the doctor bring?  How is this symbolic to the scene, especially to

Malcolm?
        -The Doctor tells Malcolm & Macduff that King Edward of England is curing some ill people
        -The symbolism is that England is going to be/ has been the cure for Malcolm's resistance to follow Macduff. It also means that England will help heal Scotland with an army to right the throne.
        -Also, Malcolm is going to be cured of his lust, greed, and all that good stuff

10) How many men did England lend Macduff?

        -10,000 and Lord Siward to command them

11) What does Macduff mean when he says, “But I must also feel it as a man.”
        -He may be a Lord, but he still loved his wife and children
        -This is another thing for Macduff to use as fuel in felling Macbeth


What excuses did Malcolm give to Macduff?
        -Thinks Macduff might betray him
        -Too Lustfull
        -He is greedy (murder people for their stuff ie lands)
        -Too Young