Act 4 Scene 1 Apparition In Macbeth

Many of William Shakespeare’s works have made a monumental impact on the

way people view specific aspects of the supernatural due to his interpretations. In

Macbeth, the reader sees how Shakespeare views witches, apparitions, and other

supernatural entities and how they can affect a person; all of which affect Macbeth in

one way or another. For example the witches completely alter the course of Macbeth’s

life entirely by unveiling his future in the first act. Another example happened in act 3

scene 4; the ghost of Banquo appears to Macbeth and only to Macbeth which makes

him look psychotic. This paper will be fully directed to the effect act 4 scene 1 had on

Macbeth.

In act 4 scene 1, the audience is greeted by the same 3

witches that told

Macbeth that he would be king of Scotland. The three are seen brewing up their famous

potion (Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble) (Shakespeare,

132). In the beginning of the act, some very odd ingredients are put into the witch’s

brew. Hecate admires their successful brew and then simply disappears. The second

witch senses Macbeth approaching them. Macbeth enters and insults the three witches

and then asks them what they are doing. Macbeth does not care what they have to do

to tell him what they are doing. He instructs them to summon any dark deity that they

serve to tell him what he wants to know. The first appears as a floating head with a

helmet on. The first witch says that the apparition can read Macbeth’s mind. “Macbeth!

Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.”

(Shakespeare, 136).

Macbeth agrees with the floating head that that is exactly what he fears the most.

Macbeth seems almost concerned about the apparition's message and wants to know

more. The reader can see that this affects Macbeth because of how we reacts to this

message. The apparition may represent Macbeth’s past as a warrior and the floating

head belonged to a fearful enemy soldier whom Macbeth killed. The reader can now

see that Macbeth positively has fear in his heart of losing the crown to more than just

Banquo's offspring but to also others who threaten to take away “his” crown. He knows

that King Duncan’s sons are the rightful heirs to the throne and that Malcolm was next in

line for the crown. Now that the first apparition told him to beware Macduff, Macbeth

fully knows that Macduff is in fact plotting against him with Malcolm to return the crown

back to Malcolm. This apparition shows the reader that Macbeth, from now on in the

play, will be shown as a fearful king and not a bloodthirsty warrior as he was earlier on

in the play.

“Here’s another more potent than the first.” As the first apparition disappears, the

second is presented to Macbeth by the first witch. This time, the image of a bloody child

is presented to Macbeth crying out his name three times at first. The child goes on to

say that Macbeth needs to be violent, bold, and firm as a leader. The apparition goes on

to say that Macbeth does not need to fear any ruler from any other country because

nobody will ever harm him in any way.

Macbeth has absolutely nothing and nobody to

fear (Wilkins, Brian).

Upon hearing this great news, Macbeth shows joy and less fear. The second

apparition has almost counter acted the effects of first apparition's message. Something

is still uneasy in Macbeth’s mind about Macduff. Macbeth now expresses that Macduff

is harmless to him, but just to make sure, Macbeth will still have Macduff killed just so

he won’t cause any distress to him. This apparition represents the childish fear Macbeth

is showing towards losing “his” crown. Also, this apparition represents the willingness of

Macbeth to kill someone innocent, like a child, to keep “his” crown safe.

The third apparition appears in the form of a child wearing a crown with a tree in

his hand. The child says that Macbeth has absolutely nothing to worry about. Also,

Macbeth needs to a brave and proud and that he will never be defeated (Shakespeare,

138). Macbeth loves the messages he is receiving. His fear is starting to fade away from

his mind. Macbeth now believes that he will never have to worry about anyone coming

to kill him for the crown. However, one thing he is worrying about is if any of

Banquo's

offspring will ever become king of Scotland.

The final apparition is that of eight kings and the ghost of Banquo in front of

Macbeth. As they appear one by one to Macbeth, he slowly began to realize who these

kings were; they were all descendants of Banquo. The final vision shown in o Macbeth

answered his greatest fear. The crown would not stay in Macbeth’s lineage but it would

transfer to Banquo’s family. All of the apparitions before this final one gave Macbeth

peace in his heart that he would not have to worry about “his” crown but now, the very

thing that has caused him so much distress has now been turned into a reality for

Macbeth.

The three witches caused these supernatural visions to appear before Macbeth

in act 4 scene 1(Wilkins, Brian). All Macbeth can feel right now is the fear of losing “his”

crown to someone else’s family. The apparitions affected him to grow more fearful as a

king which is exactly the opposite of how a king should act. These four examples of

supernatural things in this play have a great impact on the main character, Macbeth.