True or false

Question

Act 4 of Macbeth centers on Macbeth’s solidifying his tyrannical rule through brutal preemptive action. He revisits the witches, who show him three apparitions warning him of Macduff, yet assuring him no man born of woman can harm him, and that he will not be vanquished until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Overconfident, Macbeth orders the slaughter of Macduff’s family and servants: “Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line.” Meanwhile, Macduff, in England, joins forces with Malcolm, who tests Macduff’s loyalty before revealing his plan to reclaim Scotland. News of his family’s murder reaches Macduff, fueling his desire for revenge: “All my pretty ones? / Did you say all? O hell-kite! All? / What, all my pretty chickens and their dam / At one fell swoop?” The act ends with the stage set for the final confrontation, with Macbeth entrenched in his false sense of security and Macduff burning for vengeance.

Answer 1

True.

Act 4 of Macbeth indeed focuses on Macbeth further establishing his tyrannical power through violent actions. He seeks out the witches again, who present him with three key prophecies that contribute to his overconfidence. Macbeth's orders to murder Macduff's family demonstrate his ruthless nature, and Macduff's reaction to the news of this slaughter intensifies the emotional stakes as he seeks revenge. The act concludes with the groundwork laid for the impending confrontation between Macbeth and Macduff, highlighting both Macbeth's misguided confidence and Macduff's desire for vengeance.