Scene 1:  Describe the three apparitions in detail and give the exact words of each.

        Upon visiting the three witches, Macbeth is confronted by three apparitions. The first apparition is an armed head, appearing after the sound of thunder.  It calls for Macbeth three times and tells him "beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough." The second apparition is a bloody child.  Once again he calls Macbeth's name three times and tells him these words:  "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn - The power of man, for none of woman born - Shall harm Macbeth." The final apparition is a child crowned with a tree in his hand.    He tells Macbeth  "Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care-Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: -Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until-Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill -Shall come against him."

1. venom: the poisonous liquid in the bile or sting of a snake

2.  blaspheming:  to swear or curse using the name of god

3.  commend:  to praise or recommend

4.  conjure:  to make something appear suddenly or unexpectedly, as if by ,magic

5.  confound:  destroy

6.  topple:  to move from side to side and fall

7.  apparition:  a ghost or an image of a person who is dead

8.  harp:  a large upright musical instrument with strings stretched on a frame. played with fingers

9.  sovereignty:  fully independent and with complete freedom to govern itself

10.  chafe:  to become irritated or impatient

11.  vanquish:  to defeat an opponent, to overcome

12.  sear:  to burn a surface

13.  pernicious:  having a very harmful effect on something in a gradual way

Act 4, Scene 1:  Imagine you were the director, how would you use the modern day equipment available to create effectively the mood of the scene?

 This particular scene of the play is very descriptive.  Macbeth confronts the three witches as they prepare their spells.  In this scene, Macbeth is presented with a series of apparitions each telling of his future,  If I were the play director, I would use the modern equipment available to effectively create the mood of the scene.

 To open the scene, I would create a dark setting with purple and black lights flickering on and off.  A bright yellow spotlight would be on the witches and their cauldron.  Each of the ingredients they use would be vividly shown.  The witches would be short, slightly hunchback with gray hair framing their long, thin faces.  The cauldron would be extremely large with smoke rising from it.  The weather outside resembles the dreary mood inside as wolves howl, the moon casts a full shadow, the leaves rustle with the brisk wind, and thunder drums the air.

 Before the first apparition appears, thunder and lightning occurs.  Suddenly a light shines on the helmeted man.  He tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff, smoke surrounding him, and vanishes into thin air.  The second apparition appears, the red lights flicker rapidly.  Spotlight shines on the floor where bloody footsteps can be seen.  Whails are heard and a bloody child comes out onto the stage.  He warns Macbeth as the apparition before had done and flies into darkness.  The third apparition is a child crowned with a tree in his hand.  He slowly descends from the top of the stage and speaks in a very low, calm voice.

 Basically, if I were the play director,  I would create a very mysterious set.  The lights would be very dim with a spotlight on the key elements.  The witches spell would be vividly illustrated as well as Macbeth’s reaction to each of the apparitions.  Smoke effects would constantly be used to hide and reappear the ghosts.  with modern equipment I would reenact Shakespeare’s play to entice the audience and to let them “live” the play.

Act 4, Scene 2:  Think of a situation where a husband has to keep a secret what he does and when he leaves, he cannot tell his family where he will be and he promises he is not doing anything wrong to his family.

 A situation where a husband has to keep a secret of what he does and when he leaves would be if he were a spy for the government.  He can not tell his family where he will be and promises he is not doing anything wrong.  In such a situation, the husband must keep all of his information confidential as his job and life may depend on it.  For example, a husband hired to spy on a foreign drug smuggler must leave his family as to not endanger their well being.  If he tells his family where he is going or what he is doing, his performance may be affected.  Although he promises that he is not doing anything wrong to hi family, it may be very hard for them to understand as they cannot even imagine what he is really doing.  Therefore, such a case would be of a husband who has to keep a secret from his wife and children.

1.  Why is Ross present at Macduff’s castle?  How does hi appearance here show a weakening of Macbeth’s position?

 Ross is present at Macduff’s castle to give Lady Macbeth the breaking news of Macduff’s departure to England.  He tries to explain to her the reasons for Macduff’s departure but finds it impossible.  His appearance here shows a weakening of Macbeth’s position because Macduff has gone to England to plan Macbeth’s overthrow of the throne.  Macbeth’s position is now being threatened.

2.  Explain who the stranger might be who came to warn Lady Macduff to flee.  Who could have sent him?

 The stranger who came to warn Lady Macduff to flee is an anonymous messenger.  He risks his own life to warn them of danger.  I am not too certain of who sent the messenger.  Perhaps it was lady Macbeth who sent the messenger after finding out about Macbeth’s plans.  Unfortunately, it was too late.

 “Ross has just come upon us to tell of the horrible news.  My husband has fled to England.  Macduff has left no warning, reason, or goodbye.  How dare he leave us?  He is a traitor to us all - his wife and children as well as Scotland.  He has left all he has to value for a mission I do not understand.  Does he not love us?  It appears not as he has left us defenseless with no protection but the four walls that surround us.  He did not think of us, he only thought of his fears.  His fears have outweighed his love for us.  Oh how I love you Macduff.  Why did you leave without consulting me?

Scene 3:  What evidence of opposition to Macbeth have been developing at home and abroad?  Why?  Had Macbeth taken the council of Lady Macbeth at every move after the initial murder of Duncan, would this opposition have developed? Describe.

    Opposition to Macbeth had been developed at home and abroad.  The people of Scotland all suffer from Macbeth’s mistakes as the entire nation is in chaos.  They all resent him and await for some sort of savior.  Macduff has fled to England, fearing for Scotland.  He joins Malcolm in the plot to overthrow Macbeth from the throne and Scotland.  Abroad in England, King Edward had provided a commander and ten thousand troops for the invasion of Scotland.  Everyone knows that Macbeth is a murderer, traitor, and the lowest of all human beings.  Had Macbeth taken the council of Lady Macbeth at every move after the initial murder of Duncan, this opposition would never have developed,  They had erased all of the evidence pointing to them as the murderers of Duncan.  Lady Macbeth wanted to kill no more but Macbeth continued secretly.  If he had listened to his wife, his state of mind would not have deteriorated and he would not have twice as much guilt from killing Banquo and Macduff’s family.  However, he could never have escaped his inner thoughts of guilt and fear as he would have to live with the murder of his fellow people.