Summary
Highlights
In a cavern, the Witches brew a spell and summon three apparitions for Macbeth. The first is an armed head warning him to beware Macduff. The second is a bloody child proclaiming that no one born of woman can harm him. The third is a crowned child holding a tree, stating Macbeth will not be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth, initially reassured, plans to kill Macduff to be safe and asks about Banquo's descendants. A vision shows eight kings followed by Banquo, indicating Banquo's lineage will rule. Macbeth learns Macduff has fled to England and vows to kill all of Macduff's family, marking a shift to unrestrained violence.
At Macduff's castle, Lady Macduff is distressed that her husband fled to England, believing he abandoned them. Ross assures her of Macduff's wisdom. Lady Macduff tellingly jokes with her son that his father is dead and a coward. A messenger warns them of danger, but Lady Macduff refuses to leave, having done no harm. Macbeth's murderers arrive and kill Lady Macduff and her son. Lady Macduff’s realization that “to do harm is often laudable, to do good sometime accounted dangerous folly” highlights the corrupted state of their world.
Macduff visits Malcolm, Duncan's son, in England and describes Scotland's suffering under Macbeth. Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty by falsely claiming to have vices like lust, avarice, and a desire to bring chaos to Scotland. When Malcolm claims he would “uproar the universal peace,” Macduff's despairing cry of “O Scotland, Scotland” proves his loyalty. Malcolm then reveals he was testing Macduff and plans to invade Scotland with 10,000 English soldiers. Ross arrives and informs Macduff of the murder of his wife and children. Malcolm encourages Macduff to turn his grief into revenge against Macbeth. Malcolm describes Scotland, weeping, bleeding, and daily receiving new wounds, emphasizing Macbeth's tyrannical rule and foreshadowing justice.