Plot Point

Question

Rank of Events
Rank the events from the list above from most significant to least significant
Reasoning
Explain the reasoning behind your ranking in a paragraph of 5-7 complete sentences.Falling Action
(Act 4)
• The three strange sisters show Macbeth three apparitions, or ghosts, who should serve as warning signs. Act 4, Scene 1

• Macbeth sends men to kill the wife and son of Macduff in order to prevent any threats to his crown. Act 4, Scene 2

• Macduff and Malcolm, King Duncan's son, come up with a plan to defeat Macbeth and give the throne to Malcolm. Act 4, Scene 3

Answer 1

Plot Point Ranking

1. Macbeth sends men to kill the wife and son of Macduff in order to prevent any threats to his crown. (Act 4, Scene 2)
2. Macduff and Malcolm, King Duncan's son, come up with a plan to defeat Macbeth and give the throne to Malcolm. (Act 4, Scene 3)
3. The three strange sisters show Macbeth three apparitions, or ghosts, who should serve as warning signs. (Act 4, Scene 1)

Reasoning

The most significant event in this sequence is Macbeth sending men to kill Macduff's family. This action signifies Macbeth's complete moral decline and his descent into tyranny, further alienating him from both the characters and the audience. It sets off a chain of reactions that galvanize Macduff and Malcolm to unite against him, making it a pivotal moment in the narrative. The planning between Macduff and Malcolm emerges as the second most significant because it exemplifies the rising opposition against Macbeth; it highlights the themes of justice and rightful rule that underpin the play. Finally, while the apparitions provide crucial insights and foreshadow future events, they serve more as a plot mechanism rather than an action with immediate consequences. While these warnings are essential for Macbeth's character arc and illustrate his overconfidence, they do not hold the same weight in terms of direct impact on the unfolding events as the actions of Macbeth and the plot by Macduff and Malcolm.