Act4: Macbeth

Act 4, Scene 1: At the witches’ haunt, the weird sisters and Hecate are busy preparing the potion that will bring about Macbeth’s ruin. Macbeth enters and asks to speak to the witches’ masters about the future. An apparition takes the form of a helmeted head and tells Macbeth to beware the Thane of Fife (Macduff). A second specter appears in the form of a bloody child. It tells Macbeth to be brave because “none of woman born” can kill him. (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 80) Then, a third spirit emerges in the form of a crowned child with a tree in its hand. It tells Macbeth that he shall never be vanquished until the Great Birnam Wood travels to high Dunsinane Hill (part of Inverness). Macbeth becomes relieved, because he laughs at the idea of trees moving. As a final question, Macbeth asks the witches if Banquo’s sons will ever reign in Scotland.
Eight ghosts with crowns emerge, who represent the future sons of Banquo. Banquo himself appears at the end of the line with a ...