The Role of Macbeth and the Witches: Chapter 4 Summary, Analysis, and All Question Answers

In this blog post, we summarize and analyze chapter 4 of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, which introduces the three witches and their prophecies. We discuss the conflict between Macbeth’s ambition and fate, as well as the skepticism of Banquo. Besides it I have shared many chapters of this book you check it out here

BuzzWord Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

Summary of Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

In the chapter of William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” Macbeth and Banquo encounter three witches on their way back from the battlefield. The witches prophesize that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king, while Banquo will father a line of kings. Macbeth is initially skeptical of the witches’ prophecy, but his skepticism turns to wonder and excitement as he learns that he has been named Thane of Cawdor.

Macbeth is later appointed Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan, as the previous Thane of Cawdor had betrayed the king and been executed. This realization convinces Macbeth that the witches prophecies are true, and he becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea of becoming king.

Meanwhile, Banquo is wary of the witches and their prophecies and warns Macbeth to be careful of their promises. He believes that the witches are evil and are trying to trick Macbeth into taking actions that will lead to his downfall.

As Macbeth considers the witches’ prophecies, he begins to have conflicting thoughts and feelings about his future. He is both fearful and secretly pleased about the third prophecy, which predicts that he will become king. Macbeth becomes increasingly preoccupied with the idea of becoming king and begins to consider taking actions that will help him achieve his goal.

Overall, the chapter “Macbeth” sets the stage for the play’s central conflict: Macbeth’s ambition and his willingness to do whatever it takes to become king. The chapter also introduces the idea of fate and destiny, as the witches’ prophecies suggest that Macbeth’s future is predetermined.

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Reading 

A. Answer these questions. of Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. Why is Banquo not sure if the witches are women? 

2. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? 

3. Why did the Thane of Cawdor lose his title? What had happened to him?

 4. What do the witches tell Banquo? 

5. Which sentences tell us that Macbeth is fearful yet secretly pleased about 

the third prophecy? List them. 

Answers: Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. Banquo is not sure if the witches are women because they have beards and look like they could be men in disguise.
2. The witches greet Macbeth with three titles: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King hereafter.
3. The Thane of Cawdor lost his title because he was a traitor who had allied with the enemies of Scotland. He was caught and sentenced to death.
4. The witches tell Banquo that he will not be king, but his descendants will be kings.
5. The sentences that tell us that Macbeth is fearful yet secretly pleased about the third prophecy are:

• “Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?” – Banquo
• “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” – Macbeth
• “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man that function is smothered in surmise, and nothing is but what is not.” – Macbeth

B. Read these lines from the play and answer these questions. Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. “Is it possible for such things to happen? 

Or have we eaten some poisonous root 

That destroys one’s reason?” 

a. Who says these lines? 

b. What is the speaker referring to? 

c. Why does the speaker feel that he might have lost his reason? 

Answers:Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

a. Banquo says these lines.

 b. Banquo is questioning the reality of the witches’ prophecies and wonders if they could be the result of eating a poisonous plant that affects one’s sanity.

c. Banquo feels that he might have lost his reason because he cannot believe the strange things the witches have said.

2. “Two truths have been told, but that is only the beginning, 

The crowning promise, which is yet to be fulfilled. 

Concerns the matter of kingship!” 

a. Who says these lines? 

b. What are the ‘two truths’ is speaker is referring to? 

C. What is the crowning promise? 

Answers; Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

a. Macbeth says these lines.

b. The ‘two truths’ Macbeth is referring to are the prophecies of becoming Thane of Cawdor and king.

c. The crowning promise is the prophecy that Macbeth will become king.

C. Answer in detail.  Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. Why does Macbeth think it is not possible for him to be the Thane 

of Cawdor? 

2. How did the King react on hearing Macbeth’s brave deeds in the battlefield? 

3. How do the evil powers win our trust, according to Banquo? 

4. Why does Macbeth feel that he is being helped by some invisible power?

5. Why does Macbeth fear the fulfillment of the third prophecy? 

Answers: Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. Macbeth thinks it is not possible for him to be the Thane of Cawdor because the current Thane of Cawdor is still alive and holding the title. He assumes that he cannot be the Thane of Cawdor until the current Thane dies or is removed from his position.
2. The King is impressed by Macbeth’s bravery in the battlefield and praises him for his courage. He rewards Macbeth by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor, which was previously held by the traitor who fought against the King’s army.
3. According to Banquo, the evil powers win our trust by appearing to us in forms that we find trustworthy, such as the witches who appear to Macbeth and Banquo as women. Banquo warns Macbeth that these powers may be trying to deceive him and lead him down a path of destruction.
4. Macbeth feels that he is being helped by some invisible power because the first two prophecies made by the witches have already come true, and he has been given the title of Thane of Cawdor. He believes that these events are not merely coincidences and that some supernatural power is guiding his destiny.
5. Macbeth fears the fulfillment of the third prophecy because it states that he will become king, which he realizes may require him to commit murder. He is both afraid of the idea of killing someone and afraid of the consequences that may come from committing such an act. Additionally, he is unsure if he can trust the witches and fears that they may be leading him down a path of destruction.

D. Think and answer.  Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. How does Banquo react to the prophecies? What does this say about him?

2. Do you think Macbeth will wait for the fulfillment of the third prophecy? Or will 

he take steps to make it happen? 

Answers: Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

1. Banquo reacts to the prophecies with curiosity but also with caution. He is skeptical and does not fully believe in the witches’ words. This shows that he is a rational thinker who is not easily swayed by supernatural beliefs.
2. It is difficult to predict with certainty what Macbeth will do, but based on his reaction to the first two prophecies, he may take steps to make the third prophecy come true. He is already contemplating regicide and his ambition may drive him to take action to become king.

E. Know your values.  Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

In the play, Macbeth seems to be impatient to know about his future. This impatience is what ultimately leads to his downfall and tragic end. We need to have patience and wait for things to happen in their own time.

Answers: Chapter 4 Macbeth and the Witches

In the play, Macbeth’s impatience to know about his future is portrayed as a negative trait that leads to his downfall and tragic end. This highlights the importance of having patience and waiting for things to happen in their own time. This value of patience is important in our lives as well, as rushing into things or making impulsive decisions can often have negative consequences. It is important to trust the process and have faith that things will happen when the time is right. Practicing patience can also help us develop better decision-making skills and avoid making hasty or regretful choices.

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

witches

prophecy

ambition

fate

scepticism,

conflict

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