What happens in Act 4 of Macbeth?

Macbeth returns to the witches, who summon three apparitions: beware Macduff; no man born of woman shall harm Macbeth; and he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. A vision of eight kings shows Banquo's line will rule. Learning Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth orders the slaughter of Macduff's wife and children. In England, Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty, and Macduff, on hearing of his family's murder, vows revenge as their army prepares to invade Scotland.

What do the three apparitions in Macbeth mean?

The armed head warns Macbeth to beware Macduff. The bloody child says no man 'of woman born' can harm him — which Macbeth takes as invincibility, though it secretly points to Macduff, delivered by caesarean. The crowned child holding a tree says he is safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane — which happens when Malcolm's soldiers camouflage themselves with branches. Each prophecy is technically true but designed to breed false confidence.

Why does Malcolm lie to Macduff in Act 4 Scene 3?

Malcolm pretends to be lustful, greedy, and devoid of every kingly virtue to test whether Macduff is secretly Macbeth's agent. When Macduff despairs for Scotland rather than excusing these vices to flatter him, Malcolm knows his grief and loyalty are genuine, retracts the self-slander, and commits his English-backed army to the invasion.

Shakespeare in Plain English

Macbeth · Tragedy · c. 1606

Act Four

A bubbling cauldron, three riddling apparitions, and the crime that finally makes this a war. All three scenes, every line, original on the left leaf and plain modern English on the right.

Macbeth

The Original · First Folio

Plain Modern English

Hover or tap any line — its translation glows across the gutter.