Witches Act 4

• Macbeth's hubris

  Macbeth's hubris is explicit as he enters, he speaks with imperative phrases such as "tell me" and "call em", he is driven by greed and hungry for power. He threatens the witches with an "eternal curse", which is ironic as we have seen their overt supernatural power, yet he believes he can supersede this.
• Equivocations

  Each of the prophecies are equivocal. The second is particularly pertinent (important) in revealing "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth," which is ambiguous, and Macbeth's hubris denies him from being able to read into their deception. The prophecies give Macbeth an ephemeral (temporary) sense of security and invincibility, yet he still plots to kill Macduff ("thou shalt not live"), exposing how he is now driven by a thirst for blood and violence rather than fear or ambition.
• Deceitful predictions

  The Witches amplify the theme of deception and equivocation within this act. It begins with them speaking in proverbial (common) supernatural phrases, such as "eye of newt", "fire burn and cauldron bubble", and "hell - broth boil and bubble", to conform to the archetype of witches that the audience would fear. The allusions to heat and hell epitomise their evil nature.
• Deceitful predictions 2

  The Witches summon 3 apparitions which are manifestations of the threats Macbeth faces:

  • "an armed head" warns Macbeth of Macduff - it is emblematic of the violence of battle and foreshadows Macbeth's decapitation
  • "a bloody child" serves to represent Macduff who was born by c section.
  • "a child crowned with a tree in his hand" which could represent the rightful heir to the throne, Malcolm. The tree could either be emblematic of Birnam Wood where Macbeth lives, or the natural imagery could suggest Scotland would flourish under Malcom's rule.
• Comparison of reactions

  Macbeth's reaction to the Witches is wholly selfish. In act one, when hearing of prophecies that he would be King, he refers to them as "imperfect speakers", yet as they portray Banquo's descendants as kings seen in the stage directions "enter a show of eight kings... Banquo's ghost following" he is angered and insults them as "filthy hags". It appears Macbeth only hears what appeals to him and rejects information he doesn't like.
• Summary

  The theme of equivocation is epitomised by the witches' three apparitions which lull Macbeth into a false sense of security and elevate his hubris - it is this overconfidence which then leads to his murder.

  Macbeth's hubris prevents him from seeing the ephemeral sense of security and invincibility the Witches prophecies has provided him. The witches, the embodiment of evil, show their over supernatural powers, yet Macbeth believes he can supersede this.