Macbeth. At about 2. Macbeth is Shakespeares shortest tragedy and among the briefest of his plays. Macbeth Act 1 Summary ParagraphScholars generally agree that the drama was written around 1. Many also believe that it was composed for a performance before King James I, who had a deep interest in witchcraft. Quite possibly the play was one of the court entertainments offered to King Christian. Study Guide. Need help with Act 1, scene 2 in William Shakespeares Macbeth Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Macbeth study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary. Summary of Act 4, Scene 1. Page Index Thunder. Enter the three Witches. Chanting Double, double, toil and trouble, the three Witches stir the cauldron. Enter Macbeth. The witches call up apparitions which give Macbeth warnings, promises, and prophecies beware Macduff fear none of woman born fear nothing until Birnam wood come to Dunsinane Banquos issue shall be kings. The witches dance and then vanish. The Witches vanish and Macbeth calls in Lennox, who tells him that Macduff has fled to England, whereupon Macbeth determines to murder Macduffs wife and children. Act+1+Scene+4+King+Duncan+learns+of+the+thane+of+Cawdor%E2%80%99s+noble+execution+-+confessed+sins.+Macbeth+and+Banquo+enter..jpg' alt='Macbeth Act 1 Summary' title='Macbeth Act 1 Summary' />Enter the three Witches Most editions of Macbeth say that this scene takes place in a cave, around a boiling cauldron. Thats reasonable, even though Shakespeare didnt write any such stage direction. A cave is a dark place that could remind us of hell, and the Witches certainly intend to summon up the powers of hell. As for the cauldron, the Witches chant of making a sickening stew in a cauldron, and it would seem right for the Witches apparitions to rise like steam out of that stew. Thunder announces the entrance of the Witches. A summary of Act 4, scenes 13 in William Shakespeares Macbeth. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Macbeth and what it means. Macbeth Act 1 Summary Spark NotesAs another reminder that they are acting at the behest of evil powers, they tell each other about the voices they are hearing, beginning with First Witch crying, Thrice the brinded cat hath mewd 4. A hedgehog has spoken to the Second Witch, and the Third Witch is taking orders from Harpier 4. Now the Witches chant about what they are putting into the cauldron to make the magic potion. First theres a toad, chosen because it has been sweating poison for a month. After that, the ingredients are all mutilated body parts, beginning with Fillet slice of a fenny swamp dwelling snake 4. Lizards leg and owlets wing 4. Its as though the witches had gone dumpster diving at some ghastly slaughter house. After this, the stew gets ever more foul as human parts start to go into the pot, the last one being, Finger of birth strangled babe Ditch deliverd by a drab 4. A drab is a prostitute, and in the real world of Shakespeares time it did happen that prostitutes, with no money, no family, and no friends, delivered their babies in hiding, then killed and disposed of them. This should remind us that these Witches are not cute old ladies in pointy hats. Finally, the mixture in the cauldron is cooled with baboons blood, Then the charm is firm and good 4. At this point, Hecate enters, to congratulate the witches on their work, and to lead them in a song which we know was not written by Shakespeare. All editors agree that Shakespeare never intended for Hecate or her song to get into his play, which is a good thing, because her song is pretty boring. Now the Witches are ready for Macbeth, and the Second Witch, sensing his approach, says, By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes 4. Macbeth It seems that the cave has a door, and that the door opens by Witches magic, because when Second Witch says, Open, locks, Whoever knocks 4. Macbeth. He asks them what theyre doing, and they answer mysteriously, A deed without a name 4. Macbeth doesnt seem to be listening. He immediately demands that they answer his questions, saying I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howeer you come to know it, answer me 4. What they profess are the arts of black magic, but Macbeth cares about nothing except himself. He wants answers, even if it means that winds knock down churches, waves swallow ships, crops are lost, or though the treasure Of natures germains tumble all together, Even till destruction sicken 4. Natures germains are the seeds of all nature we might call them the building blocks of life, and destruction is imagined as a person who would destroy so much that he would become sick of himself. In short, Macbeth wants his answers, even if the whole world goes to hell. Wu Tang The Swarm Rarity on this page. The Witches tell Macbeth that they will answer his questions, and ask if he would like to hear the answers from them or from their masters. Macbeth boldly replies that he wants to see the masters. Hearing this, the First Witch throws the final ingredients into the cauldron, saying, Pour in sows blood, that hath eaten Her nine farrow grease thats sweaten From the murderers gibbet throw Into the flame 4. These images are both horrifying and prophetic. The gruesome picture of a sow eating all nine of her own piglets represents what Macbeth is doing to Scotland. A sow should nurture and protect her babies, and a king should nurture and protect his people, but by the end of this scene Macbeth will order the murder of the innocent wife and children of Macduff. As for the murders gibbet, it is the gallows where the murderer is hanged by the neck until dead, and sweaten means sweated. How can a gallows sweatHere, thanks to Ed Friedlander, M. D, is the explanation Im an autopsy pathologist. I am very familiar with how human bodies decompose. The bodies of murderers were left hanging on the gallows gibbet until they were skeletonized, which takes weeks. At about ten days in suitable weather, there are enough weak points in the skin that the bodyfat, which has liquified, can start dripping through. There will be a puddle of oil underneath the body. Macbeth is a murderer who will leave a stain on Scotland. At the end of the play, the last thing we will see is his head on a pole. Now come the apparitions. Each is an illusion created by the Witches to lure Macbeth to his destruction, but they can only do so with the help of Macbeth himself. As with horoscopes, everything depends on the interpretation, and we tend to interpret by the light of our own hope and fears. The first apparition is an an armed Head 4. The head apparently represents Macduff, who will come to Scotland at the head of an army. Macbeth tries to question it, but First Witch tells him that the apparition knows what hes thinking, so he should be quiet and just listen. Shes right about the apparition knowing Macbeths thoughts it cries, Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macduff Beware the thane of Fife 4. This is exactly what Macbeth was thinking even before he saw the apparition. The second apparition is a bloody child which tells Macbeth to Be bloody, bold, and resolute laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth 4. This is an equivocation. It sounds like it means that no man can harm Macbeth, because every man is born of woman. Except Macduff. At the end of the play, in his last battle, Macbeth learns that Macduff was from his mothers womb Untimely rippd 5. Cesarean section doesnt count. Rippd isnt born. After the second apparition disappears, Macbeth notices that the first two apparitions have contradicted each other. If none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth, then he doesnt need to beware Macduff. Then live, Macduff, Macbeth says to himself, what need I fear of thee 4. But in the next breath he changes his tune, saying, yet Ill make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate thou shalt not live That I may tell pale hearted fear it lies 4. His reasoning contradicts itself. If fate isnt a sure thing, then it isnt fate, but Macbeth is going to murder Macduff, to make sure that fate keeps its promises. In addition, Macbeth is afraid of being afraid, and is going to kill Macduff to prove that hes courageous. The third apparition is a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand 4. The child must represent Malcolm, child of King Duncan, and the tree in his hand shows how his army will camouflage itself as it approaches Macbeths castle. However, this significance is lost on Macbeth, and he believes he is safe when the apparition says that Macbeth shall never vanquishd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him 4. He is exultant because hes sure that trees cant walk, but he still wants to know if Banquos descendants will become kings of Scotland.