Act 4

• What does Macbeth vow after discovering Macduff has fled to England?

  To stop procrastinating and act on his desires
• What does the quotation "the very firstlings of my heart shall be / The firstlings of my hand" signify about Macbeth's character?

  It shows his moral decline and corruption
• What is the irony in the noun "firstlings" as used in Macbeth's quotation?

  It evokes images of children, contrasting with murder
• How does the alliteration of "heart" and "hand" function in the context of Macbeth's character?

  It represents desires and actions, highlighting irony
• How has Macbeth changed from Act 1 Scene 7 to Act 4?

  He has shifted from reasoned thought to pure instinct
• What themes are relevant to Macbeth's character in the play?

  • Power and corruption
  • Greed and ambition
  • Good and evil
  • Free will and control
• What does Macbeth's character represent in the play?

  His moral nadir and corruption
• What is Macduff's reaction upon learning of his family's slaughter?

  He is overcome by grief and disbelief
• What does Macduff mean by “All my pretty ones?”


  He refers to his family, expressing deep sorrow
• How does the repetition of the word 'all' affect the audience's perception of Macduff's loss?

  It emphasizes the extent of his loss
• What do the repeated interrogatives in Macduff's speech indicate?

  His disbelief and inability to accept reality
• How do the short sentences in Macduff's speech contribute to the portrayal of his emotions?

  They convey his frantic mental state
• What does the final metaphor in Macduff's speech reveal about his feelings for his family?

  It shows his paternal affection and sorrow
• What imagery does Macduff use to describe his family?

  He compares them to fragile chickens
• What does the metaphor of the kite represent in Macduff's speech?

  A predatory villain, specifically Macbeth
• Why is this scene crucial for the audience's sympathy towards Macduff?

  • It highlights his profound loss
  • It evokes empathy for his grief
  • It positions him as a sympathetic character
• What are the relevant characters and themes in this scene?

  • Characters: Macbeth, Macduff
  • Themes: masculinity and femininity, guilt and remorse, good and evil