Macbeth Act III-IV Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

How does Macbeth arrange Banquo's murder and why?

Macbeth does not arrange for Banquo's murder.

Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat and hires murderers. (correct)

Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Banquo.

Macbeth decides to confront Banquo himself.

What does Banquo reveal that he knows about Macbeth?

Banquo suspects that Macbeth murdered Duncan.

What happens when Ross, Lennox, and the other lords invite Macbeth to share their table?

He sees Banquo's ghost and Lady Macbeth tells the lords to leave the table.

What can we infer about Macbeth's changing character after arranging Banquo's murder?

He is growing more accustomed to murder and is becoming more devious in his planning. Signup and view all the answers

How has the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth changed since they became rulers of Scotland?

They have become more suspicious of each other. Signup and view all the answers

How is Fleance's escape a turning point in the play?

Macbeth is worried that Fleance will come back. Signup and view all the answers

What ingredients go into the witches' stew?

Liver of a blasphemous Jew, nose of a Turk, the finger of a bay strangled at birth. Signup and view all the answers

What does Macbeth come to ask the witches?

He wants to know if he will remain in power and if Banquo's heirs will rule. Signup and view all the answers

What do the three apparitions tell Macbeth?

Beware Macduff, no man born of a woman can harm Macbeth, Macbeth will reign until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Signup and view all the answers

At the end of Scene 1, what does Macbeth vow?

He plans to kill Macduff's family. Signup and view all the answers

According to Malcolm and Macduff, what has happened to Scotland during Macbeth's reign?

Scotland has fallen on hard times, with many widows, orphans, and sorrows. Signup and view all the answers

How has Macbeth's moral character deteriorated?

His ambition drives him to commit acts of murder and tyranny. Signup and view all the answers

Do the witches have any role in the changes in Macbeth's character?

Yes, they set a chain of events in motion, but Macbeth also chooses his actions. Signup and view all the answers

In what sense do the murderer and Lady Macduff call Macduff a traitor?

The murderer sees Macduff as a traitor to Macbeth, while Lady Macduff thinks he is a traitor to his family. Signup and view all the answers

What does Malcolm's deliberate lying to Macduff reveal about him?

It shows Malcolm's cautiousness and strategic thinking. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Lady Macbeth walking in her sleep, according to the doctor?

Her sleepwalking reveals her guilt and mental instability. Signup and view all the answers

What opinion do the Scottish lords hold about Macbeth now?

They see him as a tyrant and a threat to Scotland. Signup and view all the answers

What changes in personality does Macbeth describe in Scene 5?

He is no longer afraid; nothing scares him. Signup and view all the answers

How does Macbeth describe life in the famous 'Tomorrow' soliloquy?

He describes life as meaningless. Signup and view all the answers

How are the prophecies from the three apparitions fulfilled?

Macduff kills Macbeth, who is born from a woman, and the woods move towards Dunsinane. Signup and view all the answers

Why do you suppose Shakespeare has Lady Macbeth walk in her sleep?

It symbolizes her guilt and the psychological consequences of their actions. Signup and view all the answers

What experiences does Lady Macbeth refer to while sleepwalking?

She tries to wash the blood from her hands and recalls the violence of Duncan's murder. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of Act V do you consider to be the climax?

Macbeth is killed. Signup and view all the answers

Are 'the dead butcher and his fiendlike queen' accurate descriptions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

Yes, they reflect their moral decline and ruthless ambition. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.

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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.