Macbeth+Acts+Three+and+Four

Act 3 Questions
1. What does Macbeth mean when he says "If charnel houses and our graves must send/ Those that we bury back, our monuments/ Shall be the maws of kites" (3.4.85 - 88) //It means: If the dead are going to return from their graves, then there's nothing to stop the birds from eating the bodies. So there's no point in our burying people. Ka wai, it's quite literal, no deep metaphor here. However, there are repeated references to birds. The owl killing the falcon is one of the signs that evil has taken over Scotland and this is reflected in a reversal of natural order. If a bird ate a human body it would also signify desecration of natural order, so this image does perhaps contribute to the growing sense in Act 3 that Scotland is not as it should be - consumed as it is in political turmoil and tyranny//.

2. Assuming that 3.5 was not written by Shakespeare, why would another writer want to add that scene in the play? Is Hecate really a key character in the play? //It is assumed that Middleton wrote it, and there are several reasons why it may have been included. The most likely one is that the scene was used to add spectacle to the play - with, for example, a flying Hecate and fireworks. This scene would provide a break from the tension similar to comic relief, and entertain the members of the audience not interested in the tragic plot unfolding. Remember the versions of the plays we have are from 'Folios' put together years after Shakespeare's death, so he had less control over them than the publishers.//

2. Why would Macbeth openly talk to the Banquo ghost in 3.4? Wouldn't that be risky and sort of give him away? //I think the guilt is driving him mad - what do you think? He's not so clear thinking at this point.//

3. Why doesn't the Banquo ghost talk at all? //The focus stays on Macbeth and other's reactions to him; he is imaginary; he is dead - take your pick!//

4. Are there some similarities between Anglo-Saxon society and Scottish society? //Yes - we'll look at this in more detail when we get onto researching the context.// Block A Questions From Act 3:

 1. How do we know the ghost is Barquo? //The stage directions tell us!//

 2. Is Macbeth Schizophrenic? //Possibly! Check with a psych teacher? The psychoanalytic criticisms of the play are numerous. Freud thought that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth may be two halves of the same 'psychic individuality'. Other psychoanalysts explore the following ideas: - the play dramatises a fear of female coercion - the play is an exploration of manhood and manliness in a male culture - the play as an exploration of a male culture that demonises unnatural behaviour (symbolised by the witches) - the play as an exploration of Macbeth's oedipal wish to kill Duncan as a father figure Psychoanalytic criticism can add interest to your interpretation of the play but do remember the most important thing is the text and your responses to it.//

 3. What causes Macbeth to have hallucinations?

  //His guilt? Madness? The witches? You pick!// 4.   Why is there a third murderer? //Lots of critics think Macbeth has sent him to spy on the other two, showing his paranoia.//

 5. Scene 5 in Act 3 seems to be random. What was Shakespeare's point of including it? //See above. Spectacle. Change in pace and tone.//

 6. How does Scene 5 fit into the rest of the play? //See above. It doesn't really, it's an anolmaly - that's why lots of directors choose to but it.//

 7. How many more people die before Macbeth dies? //You'll find out!//

 8. How does Scene 6 foreshadow what's to follow? //It shows two things - how people have to watch what they say under the tyrrany of Macbeth (Lennox is very careful to criticise Macbeth using irony and sarcasm, in case anyone is listening or spying) and how many people are unhappy under Macbeth's rule and willing to plot rebellion. This makes the rebellion seem logical rather than unexpected at the end of the play, adding to the believability of the plot.//

 9. Does Lady Macbeth have control now? //No - she is less unstable than Macbeth at this point but not in control of him.//

 10. What is different about Lady Macbeth in this act? //Lady Macbeth has spent Act 3 trying to reach out to Macbeth as he retreats into his private tortured world. They both expected the Kingship to being security, but it hasn't. By the end of the act Lady Macbeth is fatigued and dispirited, unable to help him.//

Act 4 Critical Notes & Summaries
Summary: Ka-Wai Act IV Summary The witches start off Act IV by performing a ritual around their cauldron. They stir in body parts of animals associated with black magic, such as reptiles, wolves, and baboons. Hecate appears into the scene and approves the witches’ work. Hecate disappears and Macbeth enters the scene. Macbeth demands the witches to answer his questions, regardless of any consequence. The witches introduce their “masters,” who are represented as apparitions, to Macbeth to answer his questions. The first apparition, an armed Head, informs Macbeth to beware Macduff. The second apparition, a blood Child, tells Macbeth that anyone born of a woman cannot harm him. This statement relieves Macbeth, who thinks that Macduff cannot hurt him. However, Macbeth decides that he will guarantee this fate by continuing to seek for Macduff’s death. The third apparition, a child with a crown on his head and a tree in his hand, tells Macbeth that he will never be killed until Birnam Wood attacks him at Dunsinane Hill. This prediction reassures Macbeth for his safety again. The witches perform a dance and disappear. Lennox appears into the scene and reports that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth concludes Scene I by expressing how he needs to act quickly and also to kill everybody in Macduff’s castle, even Macduff’s family. Ross and Lady Macduff talk at the beginning of Scene II. Lady Macduff expresses her anger by her husband running away, claiming that he’s a traitor for being fearful. Ross persuades Lady Macduff to trust in her husband’s wisdom and that things would only get better from now on. Ross exits the scene, leaving Lady Macduff with her son. Lady Macduff and her son talk about their state of affairs; the son is now fatherless, Lady Macduff talks about living a life of buying husbands. Her son ends the conversation by telling his mother that honest men in the world are overrun by liars and swearers. Immediately, a messenger rushes in and warns the two of danger. Lady Macbeth speaks about being helpless, and instantly the murderers who Macbeth has sent come into the house. The murderers kill the son, with Lady Macbeth exiting while yelling “Murder.” Scene III starts with Malcolm having a conversation with Macduff. Macduff sounds reckless and asks Malcolm to join him in taking Scotland back from Macbeth. Malcolm, however, is suspicious that Macduff is a spy for Macbeth, showing his cautiousness to Macduff. Malcolm admits that he doesn’t know the truth of the matter, that he can’t read Macduff’s mind, and he may be offending Macduff with his uncertainties. Adding even more chaos to the scene, Malcolm tells Macduff that the next king succeeding Macbeth will be worse. Macduff is confused by this; Malcolm then tells Macduff about all his vices and why he wouldn’t be fit for a king. Finally, Macduff declares that Malcolm, even with all his vices, is better than Macbeth. Macduff passionately cries out about Malcolm; it is at this point that Malcolm realizes that Macduff is genuinely a rebel against Macbeth. Malcolm informs Macduff that Old Siward is ready with his army to fight Scotland. A doctor enters and exits the scene asking for King Edward, as he has a healing touch. Ross then enters the scene. Macduff asks about his family and Ross equivocates, giving a false sense of comfort for Macduff. After, Ross assures Malcolm that his presence in Scotland will bring hope to the people. Lastly, Ross decides to tell Macduff the truth about his family, and does so bluntly. Macduff initially reacts by questioning the statement. Ross repeats again, and Macduff immediately blames himself for his family’s death. Malcolm tells him that Macduff can covert his anger to revenge like a man, which Macduff agrees to without hesitation.

Summary: Stephen In Act 4 scene one Macbeth goes to see the witches. The witches’ apparitions are “an armed head” and “a bloody child”. An armed head means that Macbeth should beware of Macduff, but Macbeth chooses not to be afraid. This is because second apparition means that he cannot be harmed by anyone born of a woman. Macbeth then decides to have the murderers go to Macduff’s Castle to take care of Macduff. During this time Lady Macduff speaks to Ross about how Macduff should not have left. Ross also acknowledges Macbeths effect on the integrity of the people of Scotland. Then, after Ross leaves, the murderers come and kill Macduff’s son right in front of Lady Macduff. After this, they kill Lady Macduff. Macduff goes to Malcolm telling him that they must attack Macbeth, but Malcolm is not sure if Macduff is an “agent of Macbeth”. Macduff was previously very close to Macbeth, so Malcolm is not sure if Macduff can be trusted. Malcolm goes into a fifty lined soliloquy about how he would be a worse king than Macbeth. He confesses of his vices of lust and financial greed. This was something that Macduff wishes he did not hear. Then Macduff hears of his family being killed by Macbeth. Macduff wants revenge on Macbeth for what he has done. At the end of the scene, Macduff hopes for the chance to fight one on one with Macbeth. Later, Macduff takes leave of King Edward and takes his army into Scotland.

Summary: Patrick Act IV Summary __Scene 1__ The witches are doing a ritual. Macbeth arrives and demands information. He is prepared to tolerate natural disasters as long as he gets an answer. Apparitions appear and foretell his death but also say that he can’t be harmed by anyone born of a woman and that he can never be vanquished until Birnam Wood moves towards his castle. Macbeth plans to attack Macduff’s castle and kill everyone. __Scene 2__ Lady Macduff is having a conversation with Ross and is appalled that her husband had left. Ross leaves Lady Macduff alone with her youngest son. A messenger arrives and warns that danger is very close. Murderers then arrive and kill her son. __Scene 3__ Malcolm is in England speaking with Macduff. Macduff wants Malcolm to reclaim Scotland. Ironically Malcolm says that Macbeth has been loyal to Macbeth so he and his family remain unharmed. Malcolm thinks that Macduff might be one of Macbeth’s agents who is just trying to lure him back to Scotland. Malcolm finally believes that Macduff wasn’t a spy and tells him that an army is ready to advance. Ross arrives and tells Macduff that his wife, kids and servants were all killed. Macduff wants to kill Macbeth. __All of Act IV in summary__ These scenes no longer focus on Macbeth but rather focus on how his actions affect others. These scenes show violence and also show that suffering, uncertainty and insecurity pervade the country. This causes the audience to see Macbeth as a tyrant who needs to be overthrown.

Henry: Macbeth finds the witches and demands they give him information. The witches agree to the demand and begin to reveal some apparitions. These apparitions tell Macbeth to be aware of Macduff, that he cannot be kill by anyone born of a woman and that he will not be vanquished unless Birnam Wood moves to his castle. This information reassures Macbeth but he is still deeply threatened by Macduff. Macbeth, in his final speech, tells of his plan to attack Macduff’s castle to kill everyone who can be found there. In the next scene, Ross and Lady Macduff talk about Macduff’s flight to Scotland. It seems that Lady Macduff believes her husband has joined the destruction of nature. Ross leaves the castle, leaving Lady Macduff and her son behind. They had a dialogue about liars and honest men. A messenger comes in to warn Lady Macduff of the danger but left immediately. The murderers came and killed her son and presumably Lady Macduff. The next scene is set in England where Malcolm and Macduff are. They are not in harmony with one another. Malcolm initially suspects Macduff of espionage and he tells Macduff of his sins and vices that make him unfit for king. Macduff then furiously speak to Malcolm. This assures Malcolm that Macduff is not a spy and work to regain Macduff’s trust. Ross appears and tells Macduff of the slaughters in his castle. Macduff sinks into grief but recovers when Malcolm asks for guidance. The scene ends with them agreeing to attack Scotland. Scene One

Tania: The witches are stirring a mixture with fragments that all are associated with black magic. Inside the recipe they have human body parts that are considered racist. An example of this is when they are discussing putting in a "nose of a turk." When Macbeth enters the scene we learned that he is determined to take a bond of fate and is welcomed with sexual signs by the witches. Macbeth ends the scene by discussing his plan to attack Macduff's castle and kill all who can be found there.

Scene Two Tania: In scene two the scene shows Lady Macbeth talking with Ross saying that her husband doesn't love them anymore (including her son). Malcolm is scared since he suspects that Macduff may be one of Macbeth's agents, pretending to oppose the tyrant, while trying to lure Malcolm back to destroy Scotland. This shows the suffering under Macbeth's regime. Malcolm at this point really doesn't trust Macbeth. The scene then has a doctor announce that a group of sick people are waiting for King Edward. This shows a constrast between the two kings - Macbeth being evil and Edward to be healing or good. Malcolm gets protection from King Edward and sees him as a father figure.The purpose of this scene is to show the ability of two different leaders, Malcolm and Macduff, invading Scotland. Macduff is preparing for combat against Macbeth. Macbeth is still protected by the witches' prophecies but Malcom at the end of the scene threatens that security.