Macbeth Notes Act IV

Scene I

- Witches brewing a potion
- "Double, double, toil and trouble." So that's where that came from!
- The lead witch, Hecate, arrives to watch the show unfold
- Macbeth enters the cave and confronts the witches
- Three apparitions appear (reference towards A Christmas Carol)
- First apparition: an armed head
- Second apparition: a bloody child
- Third apparition: a crowned child holding a tree
- Eight ghosts appear along with the ghost of Banquo
- Macbeth, in horror, flees to England before Lennox arrives at the cave and the witches vanish

Scene II

- Lady Macduff, Ross, and son discuss why Macduff would leave his family like he did
- Lady Macduff asks her son how he will continue on without his father around
- Because Macduff fled, Lady Macduff is suspicious that he committed a crime that he is guilty of
- Three murderers suddenly enter and call Macduff a traitor, which upsets the son
- "What, you egg!" "He has kill'd me, mother! Run away, I pray you!" (Monty Python just because)
- Son is killed by the murderers

Scene III

- Malcolm and Macduff begin talking to each other about Macbeth and the tyranny he's causing in Scotland
- Malcolm understands how bloodlust can be, but Macduff opposes to such a thing
- "Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn'd in evils to top Macbeth"
- (Rather tedious scene) A doctor arrives
- Doctor refers to the disease that Macbeth has: EVIL
- Ross gives Macduff the sad news about his entire family and servants being killed at his castle
- This causes a wave of guilt to hit Macduff as he realizes that it was his fault they lost their lives
- They agree to push forward and move on to deal with Macbeth