... of England, Lenox supports the cause of Malcolm to wrest the throne from the murderous Macbeth. (Jump to the text of Act III, Scene vi) Act IV Scene i In a cave, the weird sisters and Hecate cast spells on Macbeth over a boiling cauldron, chanting "double, double, toil and trouble" before ... them to flee. Before they can escape, Macbeth's murderers arrive, slay Macduff's young son and chase his wife off stage. (Jump to the text of Act IV, Scene ii) Scene iii: In England, Malcolm puts Macduff's loyalty to the test. He "confesses" to a depraved crime, and when Macduff mourns that a ... b...

• Word Count: 2387
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... other hand, expresses a feeling that Macbeth is the tyrant in the situation. He declares that his country, Scotland, is suffering under "a hand accursed" (III.iv.49). The hand that he is talking about is the power of Macbeth. Lennox means that not just sickness and plague torture the country, but also the omnipotent ... . The king of England supposedly had the power to heal people with scrofula by touching them with his hands. A brief referral to this in Act IV symbolizes that hands can also be a source of gentleness and goodness; just the opposite of the references in Act III show. The d...

• Word Count: 1653
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Nature vs. Nurture Sociological views of evil in Shakespearean and current society "Company, villainous company, has been the spoil of me." This quote in William Shakespeare's play Henry IV (3.3.11) showcases one of the common themes in many of William Shakespeare's plays: the role of the villain. For any storyline to be interesting, it must have some type of ... ...

• Word Count: 1501
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... his cousin. He is just letting her know that everything is okay and that Macduff will be back soon. When Ross says, "you must have patience, Madam"(IV,II,I), that's when its seems that he just wants to tell her that everything is okay. It is a different situation though when Ross lets Macduff know ... his wife and son are dead. When Macduff asks the two questions, " how does my wife, and all my children?" (IV,III,17 and 18) Ross says they are well, but they are dead. Ross tells Macduff that the people he loves most have been murdered slowly so he ... dinner banquet, Macbeth sees banqous...

• Word Count: 1486
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... relies on her to protect him so that she has to ask the guests at the feast to "feed and regard him not" (III.IV.69) when Macbeth is disturbed by the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth's weaknesses are once again covered up by Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth may have had ... Macbeth. Immediately after the episode involving Banquo's ghost, Macbeth regains his sanity as he mentions "strange things I [Macbeth] have in head" (III.IV.171). Lady Macbeth discourages these plans which scare her, as she tells him to go to sleep, thinking Macbeth "lacks the season of all natures, sleep& ... to one consumed by a...

• Word Count: 1877
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... when Macbeth numbly confronts the success of the two murderers he sent to kill Banquo, "Tis better thee without than he within" (III, iv, 16) In this scene, Macbeth describes the blood of Banquo and the fact that it is vital that his blood is not inside of him flowing through ... the winds and let them fightAgainst the churches, though the yeasty wavesConfound and swallow navigation up, Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down" (IV, I, 51-64) Macbeth is determined to get the "answer" he wants from the witches and he will do anything to get these desired ... speaks to Lennox in...

• Word Count: 1890
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... an armed head, Macbeth should have taken great heed of, "beware Macduff, beware the thane of fife" (IV, I). But after the second apparition he arrogantly dismisses it "Macduff, what need I fear of thee?" (IV, I) The second apparition a bloody child, "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" (IV, I) held a hidden clue which Macbeth missed. The third a child crowned with a tree in his hand, "Macbeth ... shall never vanquish"d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him" (IV, I) also held a hidden clue, and was vague, it did not say how the wood would move. After...

• Word Count: 1441
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... ; Let not light see my black and deep desires; The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see." (I.iv. 48-53) Macbeth is perturbed and confused to why he is not chosen to be heir to the throne. His mind fills with thoughts that suggest killing Malcolm to clear ... Banquo's ghost to appear. Macbeth is petrified and acts out, making his guests suspicious. "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake/ Thy gory locks at me." (III,iv, 54-55) Although nobody else can see Banquo's ghost, Macbeth is furious and cries that he can not be blamed for his best fri...

• Word Count: 1455
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... in all worldly and royal matters. A strong central government was needed to maintain order and provided a stable atmosphere in which trade could flourish. Productive leadership qualities were very noticeable in Henry the VIII, and even more so in his daughter, Elizabeth (Rowse 226-263). Furthermore, "There is no doubt that she regarded herself as appointed by God to rule over her ... subjects- (Rowse 264). Henry the VIII inherited a kingdom from Henry the VII which lacked natural recourses yet it was surrounded on three sides by water. Even though Henry's kingdom was protected by water,...

• Word Count: 1801
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... this situation is a result of her impulsiveness and instability. Lady Macbeth imagines that she has ability to hide her true emotions, though her mind is as frail as an "egg" (IV-iii 83). She claims that she can act to "look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent under't" (I-v, 64-65). When Macbeth starts to hallucinate and go crazy at ... to make it seem as if it is nothing to be worried about. She uses a half-witted lie, calling this outburst "But as a thing of custom: "tis no other" (III-iv, 96). The only contribution she has made throughout the book is to worsen their situation...

• Word Count: 2456
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... this is a characteristic that Lady MacDuff possesses as she has five children that she loves. She lets one of her sons know that she cares when she calls himpoor monkey? (IV.ii.57) which is a term of endearment. Lady MacDuff is so loving towards her children that they in return love her a great deal. This is best shown when her son ... is stabbed and with his last breath he calls out to his mother:He has kill?d me, / mother: Run away, I pray you!? (IV.iii.86-87). This maternal bond with her son is an important aspect of the family life that Lady Macbeth values. She is enraged when her h...

• Word Count: 1394
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... shows a desire to do so, saying to himself, "That is a step/On which I must fall down or else o'erleap...Let not light see my black and deep desires." (Act I. Scene iv). Although he already holds two high titles, Macbeth still lusts for more. His newly appointed position of "Thane of Cawdor" is afterthought to his possible future kingship. Macbeth's ambition ends ... nothing to fear from anyone who is born of a woman, and that he will never "vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him." (Act IV. Scene i). Macbeth ignores the first prophecy, favori...

• Word Count: 1512
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... will be found out? * Despair? - When he announces, "I am in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er" (Act III, Sc.iv) he is making a deliberate decision to commit himself to evil. He has full knowledge of what he is doing. Has he fallen into despair because he considers that his people ... turning point? When he visits the Witches again he decides to murder all Macduff's relatives. Is this a sign of his brutality or is it a sense of self - preservation? In Act IV, Sc.iii, Malcolm describes Macbeth as 'treacherous' and Macduff refers to h...

• Word Count: 1792
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... paying attention? Does he already have other things on his mind: "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me / Without my stir." Sounds ominous to me. scene iv The revolution is over. Macdonwald is dead, Norway has sued for peace, and Cawdor has been executed. Duncan is happy but disappointed for "There's no art / To find the mind ... serpent under "t." Notice the irony in the comment "He (Duncan) that's coming / Must be provided for." He's coming for a rest, too bad it's going to be his final rest. scene iv Short scene. Duncan comments on how nice and peaceful Macbeth's castl...

• Word Count: 1879
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... scorpions is my mind, dear wife!"(Act III, Scene ii) During the banquet in honor of Banquo, Macbeth tells everyone, "You know your own degrees; sit down."(Act III, Scene iv) In doing this, Macbeth tries to act as if he has control over the throne, and ultimately, his life. He makes an attempt, in vain, to mask his plight, but ... is his intention. The witches themselves are also an aspect of the underlying theme of appearance over reality. "By the pricking of my thumbs, /Something wicked this way come ." (Act IV Scene i) Although the witches may appear to be in consensus with Macbeths y...

• Word Count: 1772
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... madness are being sown. The last time Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are together is when they have put together a banquet to which lots of important people are to attend.(III. IV) The appearance of Banquos ghost just after the murder threatens to spoil the banquet completely. Only Macbeth can see this apparition so not knowing what Macbeth is seeing because she ... ghost of Banquo. She tells him that it is rubbish and that it is just the same as the "air-drawn dagger which, you said, led you to Duncan"(III. IV 63). The ghost then disappears. Not long after things are beginning to return to n...

• Word Count: 1578
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan, but the lady vocalizes her doubts " Yet I do fear thy nature,? I is too full o'th' milk of human kindness/ To catch the nearest way " ( I.iv.16-18). Lady Macbeth worries that Macbeth is too much of a coward to deliberately get anything done. Near the end she sees that peace of mind will never come again ... ...

• Word Count: 1978
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... of his own free will, committed the physical act of murder. Macbeth's fall is great. He understands that "...stepped in blood so far that he can wade no more"" (III, iv, 137). Macbeth thinks before he acts, and he is acutely aware of the consequences of his actions. Macbeth shows that he will be king by any means, and while victim ... ...

• Word Count: 1315
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... . The imagery of darkness plays an important role in Macbeth's character development. The language used Act I that described Macbeth has changed from "noble" and "kind" to the diction of Act IV in which Macbeth is described as "black Macbeth", "tyrant" an "devilish and dark". The castle in which Macbeth lives, Dunsanine, is also indicative of darkness. He is beginning to be ... ...

• Word Count: 1976
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... second apparition appears which is a bloody child, and says: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." (Act IV, Scene I,ll.85-87). This apparition informs Macbeth that no man born from a woman can harm him. Finally, the last apparition appears and is a child crowned, with a tree in his ... ...

• Word Count: 1522
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... if she would take the opportunity whenever it arose. Lady Macbeth imagines that she has ability to hide her true emotions, though her mind is as frail as an "egg- (IV.III.83). She claims that she can act to "look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent under't-. Lady Macbeth imagines that she has the capability to be a merciless ... ...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... issue, which also lead to the fear of Banquo's honesty. He feared Banquo would tell about Macbeth if he detected anything. After the death of Duncan, in Act III, Scene IV, Lady Macbeth once again undermines his masculinity by saying; 'Are you a man?' Macbeth has become deeply involved in the game. Macduff, because he did not turn up to the feast ... ...

• Word Count: 2124
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... . The witches were believed to have Satan's powers. In this play, they use their powers on Macbeth. Odd things happen after King Duncan's death. An old man (Act II Scene IV) describes many of these things. He says he sees strange things on that night OLD MAN: "Withing the volume of which time I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange; but ... ...

• Word Count: 1494
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... at the table. "Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bone are marrow less, thy blood is cold; thou has no speculation in those eyes" (III, iv, 93-97). Banquo's ghost haunts Macbeth, and Macbeth is unable to face it. Macbeth's evil ambition usually leaves Macbeth feeling at peace or safe, but now his ambition has left ... ...

• Word Count: 1850
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... be provided for: and you shall put this night's great business into my dispatch which shall to all our nights and days to come give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. (I.iv.72-77) The way that Lady Macbeth presents the plan to her husband demonstrates the effect that her drive for power has on her. The way she stoops to manipulating ... ...

• Word Count: 1406
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School