act 4•how has shakespeare presened scene 1?

Question 1

Setting and Witches’ spells

Answer 1

Isolated, vague setting creates a sense of secrecy. “An isolated place.” and ‘Thunder’ shows risk, danger, pathetic fallacy and foreshadows chaos and unsettling scenes to come. Stereotypical witchcraft, forceful and influential. They are ruthless and Macbeth is outnumbered which would make his paranoid and in a state of great influence.

Question 2

Expectations based on previous scenes

Answer 2

Lord and Lennox having discovered Macbeth’s sins, now have a hold over him. Macduff has gone to England to gather an army. “He’s a tyrant.” - Macbeth is now in danger and not in control.

Question 3

Prophecies & their presentations

Answer 3

By having hallucinations it gives an eerie feel to the scene. When Macbeth speaks he rhymes which shows how he is under the influence of the Witches, which adds to the paranoia and Macbeth’s views towards them - “Weird sisters.”

Question 4

Macbeth’s reactions

Answer 4

Macbeth is in shock as he was so secure and now he is unstable. Which shows he has taken a real effect from the prophecies. “How now, you secret, black and midnight hags!” “What is’t you do?” Shows his shock and paranoia.

Question 5

Proccesion of Kings & Banquo’s ghost

Answer 5

Banquo’s ghost is open to interpretation, his actions are subtle but have a large effect on Macbeth’s paranoia and his conscience. Banquo’s ghost enters Sits in Macbeth’s place - Shows How Macbeth betrayed Banquo and now Banquo is out for revenge.