Act 4 Response
Act 4 begins with an important part of the play, that is the four apparitions. After the witches cast a spell, Macbeth hallucinates and sees apparitions that each give him a prophecy. The first apparition he sees is "an armed head", which tells him to beware of Macduff. The second apparition, looking like a bloody child, tells him that no one born of a woman will harm him. The third apparition, looking like a crowned child with a tree in his hand, tells Macbeth that he will never be defeated until the Birnam Woods reach the castle. The last apparition Macbeth sees is 8 kings marching across, with the last one holding a mirror, followed by the ghost of Banquo. The mirror held by the last king shows many more kings in its reflection, suggesting a lineage of kings. Macbeth discovers that these kings are descendants of Banquo and that the prophecy about Banquo's descendants coming to throne is true.
After the witches disappear, Lennox enters and informs Macbeth of Macduff's whereabouts. He has discreetly fled to England, an action that leads Macbeth to believe that he is a traitor. With his paranoia, he would think that anyone who does anything suspicious is challenging his throne. He just decides to massacre Macduff's household without even knowing Macduff's true intentions of going to England (which were, fair to say, seditious intentions).
Under Macbeth's rule, Scotland is in utter turmoil. As Ross describes it, "Alas, poor country! / Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot / Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing, / But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; / Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air / Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems / A modern ecstasy" (IV.iii.185-191). Things have completely shifted since Duncan's rule, with Macbeth killing anyone who dares to challenge his throne or whom he suspects of planning to challenge his throne. With such a paranoid ruler, Scotland has become an unstable nation of hardships and fear.
Meanwhile, circumstances in England are the complete opposite. Instead of a malicious, paranoid tyrant, England has an altruistic king who uses his supernatural and sacrosanct powers to heal his sick people. This king, King Edward, is loved and respected by his people, while the Scottish people suffer from the deeds of their violent tyrant.
Scene 3 begins with a conversation between Malcolm and Macduff. Macduff is trying to persuade Malcolm into invading Scotland with the English army and overthrowing Macbeth to retrieve his original position. Malcolm, however, does not trust Macduff and believes that Macduff is luring him into Scotland to have him killed by Macbeth. Therefore, Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty to his country by claiming false traits about himself. He says that his sexual desires are uncontrollable, his greed is incessant, and he simply does not have the characteristics of a king. After Macduff begins mourning for his country, Malcolm sees the truthfulness and loyalty in him and decides to help him.
After the witches disappear, Lennox enters and informs Macbeth of Macduff's whereabouts. He has discreetly fled to England, an action that leads Macbeth to believe that he is a traitor. With his paranoia, he would think that anyone who does anything suspicious is challenging his throne. He just decides to massacre Macduff's household without even knowing Macduff's true intentions of going to England (which were, fair to say, seditious intentions).
Under Macbeth's rule, Scotland is in utter turmoil. As Ross describes it, "Alas, poor country! / Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot / Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing, / But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; / Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air / Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems / A modern ecstasy" (IV.iii.185-191). Things have completely shifted since Duncan's rule, with Macbeth killing anyone who dares to challenge his throne or whom he suspects of planning to challenge his throne. With such a paranoid ruler, Scotland has become an unstable nation of hardships and fear.
Meanwhile, circumstances in England are the complete opposite. Instead of a malicious, paranoid tyrant, England has an altruistic king who uses his supernatural and sacrosanct powers to heal his sick people. This king, King Edward, is loved and respected by his people, while the Scottish people suffer from the deeds of their violent tyrant.
Scene 3 begins with a conversation between Malcolm and Macduff. Macduff is trying to persuade Malcolm into invading Scotland with the English army and overthrowing Macbeth to retrieve his original position. Malcolm, however, does not trust Macduff and believes that Macduff is luring him into Scotland to have him killed by Macbeth. Therefore, Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty to his country by claiming false traits about himself. He says that his sexual desires are uncontrollable, his greed is incessant, and he simply does not have the characteristics of a king. After Macduff begins mourning for his country, Malcolm sees the truthfulness and loyalty in him and decides to help him.