Macbeth Act 4

ACT 4

Scene 1

31.       List the four apparitions and the message each one brings.

1) Armed head: it gives the message to Macbeth to beware of Macduff.

2) Bloody child: it symbolizes Macduff as an infant. It gives the message that Macbeth will not be harmed from any man of woman born.

3) Child crowned bearing a tree in it hand: It symbolizes Macduff. It gives the message to Macbeth that he will not be defeated before Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill.

4) Apparitions of a line of kings: It all resembles Banquo, which brings the message that Banquo’s son will be the next king and Macbeth will be killed.

Scene 2

32.       Why does Macbeth having Macduff’s wife, son and household killed?

Macbeth’s hired assassins to kill Macduff’s family because his suspicion toward Macduff grows immensely and he tries to get rid of any threat that could be posed on him. Also Macbeth finds out that Macduff turned against him by joining with Malcolm and does the heinous act.

Scene 3

33.       What state is Scotland in with Macbeth as king? How does this compare to England under Edward?

Scotland with Macbeth in king is very bad and chaotic. As shown in “But cruel are the times, when we are traitors/ And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumour / From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, / But float upon a wild and violent sea / Each way and move”, Scotland has changed for the worse. However it compares to the peace and good state that England is in under Edward. This difference shows the divine right of the King as the person who was not supposedly appointed to be the king (Macbeth) makes the country go wrong and the person who was appointed to be the king (Edward) rules the country in peace.

34.       How does Malcolm test Macduff’s loyalty? Why is this important?

Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty by asking him questions and challenging him with weird suggestions. Malcolm says that he will do tyrannical acts when he becomes the king. However Malcolm answers that he will still help Malcolm to be the king, but would be sad for Scotland. This is important because it shows Macduff’s eagerness to be against Macbeth. Also it shows Macduff’s patriotism and loyalty to Scotland over self motivations.

Macbeth Act3

ACT 3

Scene 1

26.       What are Macbeth’s reasons for having Banquo assassinated?

Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan and all the titles that he gained were not gained fairly. Then Macbeth thinks that he needs to assassinate Banquo in order to keep his title. However he tells the assassinators that because the prophecy told that Banquo’s sons will be kings; it could have been that Banquo was the killer of Duncan. Also he mentions to the assassinators how Banquo was the one that made their lives miserable.

Scene 2

27.  What changes can you notice in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth since the beginning of the play?

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are full of guilt and their confidence is lost. Also they are fearful of everything and suspects of a lot of things. Macbeth says things that indicates that he regrets as “Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy” indicates that he even wants to be dead because he is full of pressure by fear.
Also their power positions change as Macbeth becomes more morbid and confident, but Lady Macbeth actually tries to stop Macbeth from doing the misdeed.

Scene 4

28.              What impression do you have of Macbeth in this scene?

Macbeth is too fearful that it is deriving him to hallucinate. He sees the bloody ghost and frightens it. All the horrible acts that he did is becoming karma and coming back to him. Since he is responsible for all these irrationalities; he must take care of it.  

Scene 6

29.        Why is Lennox suspicious of Macbeth?

Macbeth seems suspicious as so many strange things evolved around him. Duncan died and after he pities Duncan and even kills the two guards. Also he suspects that Macbeth could have been evolved when Banquo was killed.

30.        Where has Macduff gone and why?

Macduff went to the English court where Malcolm was staying to gain help from King Edward. He hopes that King Edward forms an alliance with him so that he can regain the throne that was meant for him from the first time.