Macbeth - Act 4 summary

• Witches cast a spell around a cauldron


  Hecate congratulates them
• Apparitions shown to Macbeth

  • Armed head saying 'beware Macduff'
  • Bloody child saying 'none of woman born shall harm Macbeth'
  • Crowned child holding a tree saying he will never be defeated 'until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him'
• Macbeth asks if Banquo's descendants will ever reign


  Witches advise against his question, but he demands they answer
• An apparition of eight kings appears following Banquo's ghost
• Macbeth is terrified and angry, but the witches disappear
• Lennox arrives with word that Macduff has fled to England
• Macbeth vows to kill all of Macduff's family including 'his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line'
• Lady Macduff worries about why her husband has fled to England
• Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead and was a traitor, but he teases her and knows it is not true
• A messenger advises Lady Macduff to flee with her family, but she does not go, saying she has 'done no harm'
• Murderers arrive seeking Macduff and, finding him gone, they kill both his son and wife
• Macduff tells Malcolm of how Scotland is suffering under the 'tyrant' Macbeth
• Malcolm is suspicious of Macduff and tests his loyalty
• Macduff excuses several of Malcolm's flaws
• When Malcolm claims that he will bring chaos on Scotland were he to rule, Macduff condemns him, saying his 'hope ends here'
• Malcolm's suspicions are gone and he tells Macduff that he was 'false speaking' and is in fact devoted to his country and people
• Malcolm is ready with Old Siward and 10,000 men to invade Scotland
• A doctor tells how King Edward cures people through touch, which is a gift bestowed on true kings
• Ross arrives to tell Macduff the terrible news about the death of his wife and children
• Malcolm comforts Macduff, advising that they 'make us medicines of our great revenge to cure this deadly grief'