1. law, govt and politics

Macbeth
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
What is Macbeth’s attitude
toward the Witches in the
beginning of this act?
How is this different from Act I?
Scene 1
He demands to know the future that
they can see.
In Act I he is surprised and
skeptical of what they say; in Act IV
he seems to rely on them completely
and deem what they say is true.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Scene 1
The Witches conjure up three
apparitions. What are these three
apparitions, what warning does
each give, and how does Macbeth
react to each one?
Armed head, “beware Macduff,” he
says, “for thy good fortune,
thanks.”
Bloody child, “none of woman born
shall harm Macbeth,” he says,
“Then live Macduff; what need I
fear of thee?”
A child crowned, “Macbeth shall
never vanquished be until Great
Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane
Hill shall come against him,” he
says, “that will never be.”
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
What is the fourth apparition?
Scene 1
Eight kings, the last of whom seems
to be Banquo’s ghost.
Why is that one especially terrible
to Macbeth?
Macbeth is responsible for his
death, and it seems that many of
his offspring will rule not only in
England but also Scotland (as
some of the kings carry 2
scepters).
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Scene 1
The last king in the line holds a
mirror showing more. What does
this mean?
He holds a mirror up that
symbolizes an unending reign of his
family.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Compare the Macduff household
and the Macbeth household.
How are Lady Macduff and Lady
Macbeth alike?
How are they different?
Scene 1
Unlike Lady Macbeth,
Lady Macduff knows
nothing of her husband’s
affairs.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Scene 1
Why does Macbeth have
Macduff’s wife and
children killed?
He wants no chance that any
of the offspring (or future
offspring) survives to be able
to take over the throne.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Scene 2
What does Ross’s speech in the
beginning of Scene 2 tell us about
conditions in Scotland?
It is in brutal disorder: division of families,
anxiety, dismay, slaughter, violence, etc.
It also feels as if they are living in a sort of
“police state.”
He says that Macduff is noble, wise,
judicious, best knows what to do in this time
of violence in Scotland.
What justification does Ross give
for Macduff’s action?
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Scene 3
Scene 3 is the only scene in
the entire play that does not
take place in Scotland. What
is the setting for this scene?
In England at court
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Scene 3
While Malcolm and Macduff
are talking, Malcolm speaks
at great length about his
own vices to Macduff.
He young and lacks
experience; he will be an even
more tyrannical leader than
Macbeth is; he is lustful and
greedy (in many ways).
What are some of the faults
he names?
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
Why does he list them for
Macduff?
Scene 3
He wants to prove
Macduff’s loyalty and
love for his country as
well as whether he
has integrity.
Malcolm is concerned
that Macduff might
be Macbeth’s agent to
lure Malcolm back to
Scotland and his
death.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
When Ross joins them later in
Scene 3 and he is first asked by
Macduff about his wife and
children, why doesn’t Ross tell
him the truth?
Scene 3
It is almost too horrible for him to
face. He says that they are “at
peace,” which is technically true if
one considers death to be peaceful.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
What is Macduff’s reaction to the
news about his wife and children?
Scene 3
He is dumbfounded
and shocked.
I have to be
courageous and
own up to what I
have done. They
were killed not for
their misdeeds but
for my own (that is,
he left them
unprotected; they
did nothing to
cause their own
deaths.)
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
What does Macduff mean when
he says, “But I must also feel it as
a man”?
Macbeth
Act 4
What does Macduff vow to
do by the end of Act IV?
Scene 1
He will join forces with
Malcolm and overthrow
Macbeth; however, he
could never exact
complete revenge because
Macbeth has no children
(and therefore could not
suffer the same agony as
Macduff has at the loss of
them).
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 4
How do Malcolm’s
comments about Macbeth
again bring to mind the “fair
is foul” theme?
Discuss
It is impossible to tell by a
man’s appearance whether
he is good or evil.
Macbeth was once thought
to be honest, and he was
loved by Macduff. Macduff
now looks honest, but he
might not be.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.