act 4 scene 1 events and quotes Flashcards
“double, double…
toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble”
“then the charm..
is firm and good”
“By the pricking of my thumbs…
something wicked this way comes”
what is significant about Macbeth entering after the witches say “by the pricking of the thumbs something wicked this way comes”?
Macbeth fulfils the witches prediction- he is the something “wicked” the witches were talking about
“How now, you secret…(Macbeth)
black, and midnight hags!”
Macbeth speaks to the witches in what kind of manner?
a very dominant and assertive way as opposed to the submission at the beginning of the play
“Even till destruction…(Macbeth)
sicken; answer me To what I ask you
an example of a quote where Macbeth is dominant and demanding towards the witches?
“Call ‘em; let me see ‘em
what is the first apparition?
an armed head
what do the witches mean when they say the first apparition?
- the witches tell Macbeth to be wary of Macduff
- Macbeth is now going to be paranoid of Macduff
- Macduff will be suspicious of Macbeth
what do the witches say about the first apparition?
“Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.”
what is the significance of the first apparition being an armed head?
highlights how Macduff is going to fight Macbeth- that will result in his death
what is Macbeth’s reaction to the first apparition?
- he already knew Macduff would be a problem- he wants another prophecy
- “for thy good caution, thanks… but one word more”
what is the second apparition?
a bloody child
what do the witches say for the second apparition?
- “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!”
- Be bloody, bold and resolute, laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”
what does the second apparition mean?
the person who kills Macbeth will have a c- section- Macduff
what quote links to Macbeth’s hubris and extreme confidence?
“Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?”
what does the quote “Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee” highlight about Macbeth’s character?
- he thinks he is invincible- he does not regard Macduff as a threat due to his extreme arrogance
what is the third apparition?
a child crowned, with a tree in his hand
what do the witches say about the third apparition?
“Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”
what do the witches third apparition foreshadow?
Malcolm’s attack (the rebellion)
what does the witches third apparition symbolise?
the whole of Scotland will turn against Macbeth- leads to his tragic hero status- his ambition has got him into this predicament
what does Macbeth say that highlights he is not satisfied with the prophecies and he is too cocky/arrogant?
“Yet my heart throbs to know one thing”
“Can tell so much…(Macbeth)
shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom?”
what does Macbeth ask the witches- the third apparition?
he asks the witches if Banquo’s children will ever be King- he’s very frantic and desperate to know
what is Macbeth’s reaction to the witches if they do not tell him the third apparition?
“deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you!”
what does Macbeth mean by “deny me this and an eternal curse fall on you”?
- he will ruin the witches’ lives if they don’t tell him
- he is extremely bold and audacious
- ironic as he is begging as he is the king- he should seemingly have all the power
what do the witches show Macbeth after his begging?
a show of eight kings- the last with a glass in his hand- Banquo’s lineage
what is Macbeth’s reaction to seeing Banquo’s lineage?
- “Filthy hags”
- “Why do you show me this?”
- “Horrible sight!”
what technique shows his franticness and paranoia as he does not have an heir?
exclamatory mode
Macbeth now has nothing left to lose- what is he going to do now?
- going to harm everyone in his way
- his reputation is already tarnished
- he does not have much time left as he does not have an heir
what is Macbeth’s reaction when the witches leave?
he is very angry- in comparison to at the start of the play where he was curious about the prophecies
what motif keeps recurring?
the eye, the hand and the heart
what is Macbeth angry about?
time is ruining his conquests- he is short of time and he is trying to control time- time is fleeting
what is ironic about Macbeth trying to control time?
he is trying to be dominant which is ironic as he is being controlled by the witches
the words “seize” and “surprise” show what?
- Macbeth is extremely determined
- he is very spontaneous, impulsive, impetuous
- almost fed up- he needs to take action on it- taking it by force- taking fate into his own hands
the words “in his line” ,”castle” and “sword” link to what?
royal words- link to kingship, royalty, the throne
“his wife, his babes and…(Macbeth)
all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line”
what does the quote “his wife, his babes….” mean?
Macbeth is going to kill Macduff and his family and all the people that get in his way of Macduff- or anyone that ruins his plan
what does the quote “But no more sights!” show?
he is trying to gain control- no more apparitions, no more prophecies, no more seeing Banquo’s ghost
what has Macbeth become obsessed with?
the prophecies- he is very direct and aggressive- extremely arrogant- links to his hubris
“give to the edge…(Macbeth)
o’ the sword”
what does the quote “give to the edge o’ the sword” foreshadow?
foreshadows the violence- the brutal, bloody battle
what does the word “surprise” show?
Macbeth is going to ambush Macduff and his family- malicious intent- unsolicited- they are unprepared- it is sinister
