Macbeth’s concerns about his safety are satisfied by the prophecies of the three ghosts. But Macbeth has one other question. He is still troubled by the witches’ earlier prophecy that the sons (descendants) of Banquo will become kings. Macbeth believes all of the witches’ prophecies will come true, but he does not want that one to be true as well.
The witches try to persuade Macbeth not to ask more about that prophecy (119). They know the prophecy regarding Banquo’s sons will come true as well. Macbeth, however, demands them to tell him and threatens to curse them if they do not. The witches immediately give in to Macbeth’s request. The witches are not afraid of Macbeth. After all, they are already cursed. As evil beings, they are already associated with the devil and hell. Their attempt to stop Macbeth from asking is another one of their tricks. They know the information will sorely trouble Macbeth; and they do want to hurt him, to “grieve his heart” (126). Thus, they tease him so that his pain and trouble will be a result of his own foolish demands.
The witches then call forth nine more ghosts. The ghosts parade before Macbeth as if they were performing at a pageant. The pageant was a popular form of entertainment during the Renaissance and on occasion would be included as part of a drama. In Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, for example, there is a pageant presentation of the Seven Deadly Sins. In Macbeth, eight of the ghosts are dressed as kings, and the ninth is Banquo himself. These are not spirits of the dead. They are visions of the future. Macbeth immediately recognizes the family resemblance between the first ghost he sees and Banquo (128). And, so Macbeth understands that Banquo’s descendants will be the future kings of Scotland. The eighth kingly ghost carries a mirror (referred to as a “glass” in line 135). The mirror reflects the images of the eight ghosts so that Macbeth then sees sixteen ghosts. The mirror symbolizes the idea that the descendants of Banquo will continue to be kings for sixteen or more generations. Macbeth also notes that some of the kings carry “twofold balls and treble scepters” (137). These objects symbolize the idea that some of the kings will be rulers of more than one kingdom. James I, for example, was king of Scotland and later England. He carried a golden orb or ball during each ceremony.
Macbeth finds the pageant too shocking and upsetting to look at, and he becomes dazed and bewildered and is unable to move (142).
After the witches disappear, Macbeth awakens from his stupor and meets with Lennox, the Scottish lord (in Act IV, 1). Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff has gone to England. Macbeth knows that Macduff is plotting a rebellion against him; so he decides to attack Macduff’s castle and kill everyone there, including Macduff’s wife and children (IV, 1:166-69). Macbeth has no real reason to kill the wife and children. But he has become so upset from seeing the pageant of the ghostly kings that he becomes angry. And, so, Macduff’s wife and children become the unfortunate victims of that anger.
The second scene of Act IV is one of sympathy, pity, and pathos. Ross, a Scottish lord, tells Lady Macduff that her husband is condemned as a traitor to the king. Lady Macduff then sadly relates the news to her young son. The boy is witty, clever, and charming. The audience quickly becomes sympathetic toward both mother and son. And then the murderers arrive. The scene ends with one of the murderers stabbing and killing the boy while Lady Macduff cries out in anguish and terror.
The third scene of Act IV takes place in England. Macduff is there to ask Prince Malcolm (the son of King Duncan) for his help in the rebellion that will take place in Scotland. Malcolm is still a young prince, but he is aware that he still cannot trust anyone. He thinks that Macduff could be leading him into a trap. After all, Malcolm does realize that Macbeth would like him to be dead. So, Malcolm decides to test Macduff. He tells Macduff that he would be a worse king and a more terrifying tyrant than Macbeth ever was. Malcolm clearly states his “poor country [Scotland] shall have more vices than it had before” (47-48). This word, vices, refers to problems and evils. Malcolm explains that all of Scotland would suffer terribly if he were king. Malcolm is using reverse psychology here: he is saying the opposite of what is true in order to find out whether Macduff is being sincere in regards to his request. And this test, this psychological strategy, works. Macduff feels intense grief and sorrow because he believes that Scotland, “O nation miserable” (104), is doomed to wretchedness. Macduff’s hope of saving Scotland is crushed. And he proclaims that for Scotland itself, “thy hope ends here” (115).
Malcolm then realizes that Macduff is both sincere and honest. So, Malcolm tells him that he was merely testing him and adds that he will aid Macduff and Scotland in their attempt to remove the tyrant Macbeth (115-38).