Simplified-Macbeth
chapter_04-page-38-44
chapter_04-page-38-44
Chapter 4 After the banquet that night, all the lords
and noblemen hear about Banco's murder and Fliance's disappearance. They think Fliance
is his father's murderer. They also talk about the murder of King Duncan again.
Where is MacDough? Do you know? One nobleman asks a Lord. He is in England. He is with Malcolm
answers the Lord. They want help from the King of England. They want to save Scotland from the
cruel King Macbeth. They realize that Macbeth is the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth orders Macdough
to return to Scotland immediately, but he is not coming back. So Macbeth is very angry and afraid.
He is preparing his army for a battle with the English army. I hope Macdough and Malcolm
together can save our country from Macbeth. He is a cruel King and he is a murderer, says another
nobleman. In the morning Macbeth goes out alone and searches for the three witches. He finds them in
a dark cave. They are standing around a big pot over a fire. They are boiling blood in the pot. They
add a snake, a dragon's head, a dead man's hand and teeth and other weird things into the pot
too. What are you doing, you evil creatures? Macbeth asks them, but they don't answer him. I want to
know about the future. I have important questions. You must answer them. He shouts at the witches
Just then the fire gets bigger and there is a thunder. Macbeth sees a head over the pot. There
is a helmet on the head. The head looks at Macbeth and says, Macbeth, Macdough will hurt you. Be
careful. I know Macdough must die, says Macbeth. Next there is another thunder and a baby appears
over the pot. The baby is covered in blood. It smiles at Macbeth and says, be cruel and brave
Macbeth. Do not be afraid of any men. No mother's son will hurt you. This makes Macbeth happy and he
says, that's great. Everyone has a mother, so I will be safe. I mustn't be afraid. Then there is a
mother who appears over the pot. He has a tree in his hand. This makes Macbeth nervous and
he cries out, this looks like a young king. Macbeth, your enemies can never hurt you, but
when the trees in the forest near your castle begin to march, you will have trouble, says the
child. Macbeth laughs loudly. Oh, this is good too. Trees cannot walk. This means I will stay
as a king and live safely for a long time. Then to the witches he says, I have an important
focus. Say the three witches altogether. Suddenly a man appears. There is a crown on
his head and he is dressed like a king. Then seven other kings come after him. The last
one has a mirror in his hand. Macbeth sees many more men in that mirror. Finally Macbeth
sees a ghost behind the kings. He is horrified now. Oh, this ghost looks like Banco. These
men are his sons, grandsons and great grandsons. Oh, they will all be kings. Macbeth shouts with
anger. He leaves the witches cave angrily and returns to the palace. There are three
messengers waiting for Macbeth at his castle in Dunsinane. One of them begins to speak. My
good lord, Macdough is in England. He is together with Malcolm and they will cause trouble for
you. Well, well, Macdough is in England, but his family is here. He is safe, but his family
is not. I will attack his castle and kill his wife and children, Macbeth says. At about
just then a messenger appears beside them. He is coming from Scotland and has bad news
about the country. Macbeth is not only a cruel king. He is also a murderer. The messenger
tells them. Everyone in Scotland is crying. Good men are dying every day. Macbeth's men
are killing them. Some people plan to attack Macbeth's castle and kill him. Macbeth knows
this, so he is getting ready for a war. Tell the Scottish people that King Edward is helping
me, says Malcolm. I am coming back to Scotland with England's best swordsmen and an army
of 10 ,000 soldiers. We will defeat Macbeth's army. Then Macdough asks the messenger about
his family. The messenger gives him the terrible news that Lady Macdough and the children are
all dead. Macdough cannot say anything at first. Then he begins to speak. It is Macbeth again.
He is a murderer. I am going back to Scotland. I will kill Macbeth with my own sword. Macdough,
we must go and see King Edward immediately, Malcolm says. His army is ready, but we must
say goodbye to him now. Then we will get ready to leave for Scotland. We will fight and save
our country from Macbeth. Macbeth is not in the palace anymore. He has gone to the castle
in Dunsenane with his army. Lady Macbeth is staying in the palace alone.
Late one night, one of Lady Macbeth's court lady and the palace doctor are talking about
the Queen. They are standing near the Queen's door and speaking in a very low voice.
I am very worried about Lady Macbeth, says the court lady. She gets up from her bed and
walks around every night, but she is still asleep. She speaks to herself and does strange
things. Then she goes back to her bed. Oh, you mean she walks in her sleep? That's very
strange. What does she say? asks the doctor. I can't repeat them to you. Look, she is opening
her door now. I am sure she is asleep again. Lady Macbeth walks out of her room with a candle
in her hands. Her eyes are open. She is not sleeping. How can she light a candle? asks the
doctor. Her eyes are open, but she doesn't see. And we put a lit candle next to her bed
every night because she is afraid of the dark. Lady Macbeth puts the candle down and begins
to rub her hands. What is she doing now? The doctor asks the lady. He is startled. She
thinks she is washing her hands. She does this every night for fifteen minutes. Then the
doctor and the court lady both listen to Lady Macbeth's words and the doctor writes them
down. Come out, you horrible stain. I command you. Lady Macbeth says, looking at her hands.
Nonsense, my lord. Nonsense. You are a soldier. Why are you afraid? Why should we be afraid? Oh, he is an old man, but he has so much blood in his body. Do you hear that? The doctor asks.
He is shocked. Lady Macbeth continues to speak. Where is Mac Dove's wife now? Oh, will my hands be clean again? Don't be afraid, my lord. I still smell blood on my hands. All the perfumes of Arabia can't make my hands smell better. Oh, oh, oh. After hearing the
these strange things, the doctor says to the court lady. Lady Macbeth has a terrible
illness. I can't cure her. Then they hear Lady Macbeth speaking again.
Oh, wash your hands. Put on your nightgown, my dear husband. Banco is in his grave. He
can't come out. Don't be so frightened. The doctor is shocked again. Oh, is this
true? What is she saying? Go to bed. Be quick, my lord. Lady Macbeth cries out.
Look, she is going back to her bed, says the court lady to the doctor. The doctor
feels sorry for Lady Macbeth. The poor queen needs a priest, not a doctor, he says.
She is feeling very guilty about something in the past. You must take good care of
her. Remove the sharp things and medicine bottles from her room. She can kill
herself while she is walking in her sleep. Be very careful. I will. Thank you,
good doctor. Good night, says the doctor and leaves.
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