Deception! Treason! Lies!
A short scene, culminating in yet another murder. Macbeth becomes a true villain here, paying off a team of killers to murder Macduff's wife. There is a sort of irony here, as the scene opens with Macduff's wife bemoaning her husband, telling their child that he is a terrible father and a bad, bad person. Bad luck, Lady M.
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One of Shakespeare's most famous scenes, Act 4 Scene 1 returns us to the Weird Sisters as we see them creating a potion in their cauldron.
Delivered in trochaic tetrameter, as all of Shakespeare's supernatural speeches are, we are party to a creepy, unsettling scene that shows us just what the Weird Sisters are capable of. This is an interesting scene, as Macbeth arrives demanding answers but leaves with a little less than he hoped for - a series of vague predictions, unclear ideas and an ultimate warning that he may or may not choose to heed.
BBC Bitesize is here to save the day! Refresh your knowledge of Macbeth with this short video that outlines all of the key plot points.
Why should Macbeth "beware Macduff"? This scene explains a little more about that.
In terms of stagecraft, this is a really interesting scene. Shakespeare has used it to manipulate the audience, to a degree:
Oh, Hecate. This is the scene that has been widely debated over the years - did Shakespeare write it, or was it included as an afterthought by another writer, in order to further the plot/help it all make sense?
Whatever side of the argument you're on, it's worth noting this scene as many others won't have studied it. It shows Hecate chastising the witches for toying with Macbeth, and vowing to make Macbeth see his destiny through a set of illusions. It's interesting to see the power and control being ripped from the witches' hands here - ultimately, they hold a lot of control over Macbeth in that they direct him towards different choices. However, here we see that even the Weird Sisters have a chain of command, and at times even supernatural beings can break the rules.
This is an important scene! Banquo is dead and Macbeth assumes he has got away with it - but who is that, sitting at the dinner table?
This scene is key in that it plays an important role in displaying Macbeth's destruction. At the start, he is satisfied that he has squashed any potential threats to his Kingship by getting rid of the final, suspicious person (Banquo), but as the scene goes on, Macbeth's real feelings come to the fore as he hallucinates (or does he?) Banquo's ghost sitting at the table, and realises that Fleance's escape means that there are still threats out there. He hasn't fully got rid of the 'snakes' yet, and he can't handle it. Notice in this scene how Lady Macbeth fervently tries to hide her husband's breakdown by making excuses and pulling him away to the side to give him a scolding. He doesn't listen - he is too far gone to take care of her words. His jovial, kingly facade was in place for all of a few lines before it started to become undone. Macbeth thinks he is strong. We know otherwise. This is reinforced by his wife, who brushes off his visions: This is the very painting of your fear. This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan. People are finally starting to see the king for who he really is - and that in itself leads to more destruction. Macbeth can't be seen as weak - and so this event is where his reign of tyranny really begins.
Incorporating quotes into your responses is great because it shows the examiner that your response is well thought-out and grounded in evidence. You must try to embed key quotes in your response to the whole text question as it shows that you know the play well.
This video shows you some more key quotes.
Although he is dead before the end of the third act, Banquo is a very important character. He has (almost) the same initial experience as Macbeth, but the way he uses the information he receives is entirely different.
Banquo's character provides a clear point for comparison - his responses and actions juxtapose Macbeth's and often serve to emphasise just how bad things get. It's often easy to forget Banquo when talking about the play as a whole, but this would be a mistake. Banquo's role is a key one.
Lady Macbeth is a particular favourite of exam boards, probably because she's so complex. This video explores her character in detail:
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In a Nutshell...After returning from war, Macbeth meets three witches who tell him that he is to become King. His wife persuades him to kill the existing King in order to win the throne - but this comes with a whole heap of problems, as Macbeth has to continually kill people - including his best friend - in order to hide the truth. ArchivesCategories
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