Macbeth Act III-IV Flashcards

Macbeth Act III-IV Study Notes

• Macbeth views Banquo as a threat due to the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will rule. He persuades murderers to kill Banquo, framing him as their common enemy. Lady Macbeth does not participate in this murder.

• Banquo suspects that Macbeth is responsible for Duncan's murder but chooses to keep his suspicions to himself.

• During a gathering with Ross, Lennox, and other lords, Macbeth encounters Banquo’s ghost, which unnerves him. Lady Macbeth intervenes and asks the lords to leave to avoid further embarrassment.

• Macbeth’s decision to not kill Banquo himself and instead hire murderers indicates a shift in his character; he becomes more strategic and manipulative in his approach to murder.

• The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth becomes strained and filled with distrust as they navigate their rule over Scotland.

• Fleance's escape is a significant turning point, raising Macbeth’s fears that he will eventually challenge his power.

• The witches concoct a grisly potion containing the liver of a blasphemous Jew, the nose of a Turk, and other morbid ingredients, symbolizing their evil nature.

• Macbeth consults the witches about his fate, particularly whether he will remain in power and the future of Banquo's heirs. The apparitions, rather than the witches themselves, provide answers.

• The three apparitions deliver crucial warnings: beware of Macduff, no man born of a woman can defeat Macbeth, and he will remain king until Birnam Wood approaches Dunsinane Hill.

• Macbeth vows to kill Macduff’s family after learning of Macduff's absence. Consequentially, Lady Macduff and her child, along with household servants, are murdered.

• Malcolm and Macduff discuss Scotland’s dire condition, filled with grief-stricken widows and orphans under Macbeth’s reign.

• Macbeth's moral integrity declines as he increasingly resorts to violence and deceit to ensure his power.

• The witches' influence on Macbeth is debated; some see their prophecies as catalysts for his actions, while others argue he acts on his free will.

• The murderer's perspective labels Macduff a traitor to Macbeth, while Lady Macduff considers him a traitor to his family for abandoning them.

• Malcolm's deceptive behavior during his conversation with Macduff highlights his prudence and strategic thinking as he tests Macduff's loyalty.

• According to the doctor, Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking is a manifestation of her deep guilt and mental turmoil following the events of the murders.

• Scottish lords grow increasingly disillusioned with Macbeth, viewing him as tyrannical and oppressive.

• Macbeth reflects on a changed demeanor, revealing he is now fearless and unconcerned about the threats to his power.

• The famous line "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow..." depicts life as meaningless and filled with monotony, using metaphors of time’s relentless, dull march.

• The apparitions’ prophecies are fulfilled in Act V: Macduff kills Macbeth, who was not harmed by any man born of a woman, and Malcolm's army uses branches to create the illusion of Birnam Wood moving towards Dunsinane.

• Shakespeare invents Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene to emphasize her overwhelming guilt, paralleling Macbeth's earlier reflections on the impact of their deeds on their ability to find peace in sleep.

• In her sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth reveals her haunted psyche, alluding to her guilt over blood on her hands, their deceptive appearances, and the bloodshed from Duncan’s murder.

• The climax of the play is marked by Macbeth’s death, resolving the central conflict of tyranny versus rightful leadership.

• Describing Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as "the dead butcher and his fiendlike queen" encapsulates their moral decay and murderous ambition, fittingly reflecting their transformation throughout the play.

Dive into the complexities of Macbeth in Act III and IV with these flashcards. Explore key themes like ambition, betrayal, and the unfolding of Macbeth's tyranny. Test your understanding of character motivations and pivotal moments in these dark acts of Shakespeare's iconic tragedy.