Act 4

Test out your knowledge of the events and characters in Act 4 by answering these questions:

• How do the witches lull Macbeth into a false sense of security?
• How does Macbeth feel after his second meeting with the witches? What things might reassure him, and what things might trouble him?
• When Macbeth says (Act 4, scene 1) that “the flighty purpose never is o'ertook/Unless the deed go with it”, what does he mean in general, and in the particular situation in which he says it?
• How does Lady Macduff feel about her husband's leaving her alone? Why has he done this?
• When Ross comes to see Lady Macduff, how does he behave and why?
• Briefly explain Macduff's description to Malcolm of the state of affairs in Scotland (Act 4, scene 3). What does the audience know which makes Macduff's account even more painful?
• Why might Malcolm be suspicious of Macduff? Does he know as much as the audience does about why Macbeth and Macduff are enemies?
• Malcolm pretends to be even more evil than Macbeth. Why does he do this? What does he discover by doing so?
• In Act 4, scene 3, there is an account of the miraculous healing powers of the English king - what is the purpose of this? What effect does it have on the audience?
• When Macduff asks Ross about his family, Ross replies, “...they were well at peace when I did leave 'em”. Explain why he gives this answer and what it might mean.