Act 4

Question 1

Act 4 Scene 1
“None of women born shhall harm Macbeth”

Answer 1

• Irony - This prophecy gives Macbeth a false sense of security, as he interprets it to mean that he is invincible.
• Theme: Ambition and Hubris - Macbeth’s reliance on this prophecy demonstrates his overconfidence. Rather than questioning the wording, he chooses to believe he’s untouchable.
• The audience knows that this prophecy might have a double meaning, setting up dramatic irony when Macduff ultimately reveals he was born by Caesarean section.

Question 2

Act 4 Scene 1
“Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble”

Answer 2

• Rhyming Couplets and Trochaic Tetrameter - The witches speak in a rhythmic, chant-like structure that sets them apart from other characters, giving an eerie quality to their lines.
• Symbolism: The cauldron and “toil and trouble” represent chaos and the corruption that Macbeth brings to Scotland.
• Theme: Supernatural - The witches’ spell creates an ominous atmosphere and reinforces their association with dark, supernatural forces.