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Act IV scene I Commentary by Rodger Burnich's 1995
Nice stuff that witches use in making charms, yuck. Anyway, "By the pricking of my thumbs,/Something Wicked this way comes." Could it be--Macbeth. Big surprise. Well, he wants answers and he doesn't care about consequences. See, he really should care about consequences.
First apparition is an armed head. Not a head with arms, a head wearing a battle helmet. What does it have to say: Beware Macduff.
Second apparition is a bloody child, that's a child covered in blood. And nice message: Do what you want for none of woman born can harm Macbeth. Sounds good but not to take any chances Macbeth swears that Macduff will die.
Third apparition is that of a child wearing a crown and carrying a tree. Either big child or small tree. And its message: Until Birnam Wood (forest) comes to fight against Macbeth at Dunsinane he will never be conquered. Well since forests don't walk, Macbeth feels safe. But he wants to know one thing: will Banquo's children ever rule in Scotland. The witches tell him don't ask but you know. What do we get, eight kings in a row with the last carrying a glass (mirror) signifying in reflection (pun maybe) that Banquo's line will go on for some time and rule not only in Scotland but England as well. He was told not to ask.
Lennox breaks in and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. So Macbeth decides no more hesitation, send soldiers to Macduff's castle and kill everyone who has a trace of Macduff blood in them.
Scene 2
Macduff's wife is upset.. What kind of husband takes off and leaves his wife and children behind. Even birds protect their young. Now comes the scene of domestic love. Interaction between mother and child. See how cute they are. See how sweet they are. See how they love one another. See how witty the little boy is. Witty. Yes.
Was Dad a traitor?
Yes.
What's a traitor?
Someone who swears (promises) then lies?
What do we do to traitors?
Hang them?
Who does that?
Honest men?
Then traitors are fools because there are more of them then honest men so they should get together and do away with the honest men.
Did Shakespeare think positively about human nature? I guess not. Here comes a guy with a warning. Run away. Run away now. I don't mean to scare you but GET OOT(Scottish out) OF HERE!
Why should I run. I haven't done anything but are you ready, here it comes, do you recognize the idea: "I am in this earthly world,where to do harm/Is often laudable, to do good sometimes/Accounted dangerous folly." Doesn't anybody take advice. You know what happens next. At this point the audience usually loses sympathy for Macbeth. It's one thing to make war on grown men but to butcher women and children is excessive.
Rodger Burnich's brilliant commentary for more of the same 1995
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