Macbeth Act IV Notes

• "Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble"
• the reader's first introduction to the witch's actual wickedness, if it was not already assumed
• is there any symbolism to the items being placed in the cauldron, or are they there simply for weirdness sake
• also, were these actually things believed to have magical/evil properties?
• Enter HECATE
• from the ultra reliable source of Wikipedia: "an ancient goddess often shown holding two torches or a key, or depicted in triple form...associated with crossroads, entrance ways, fire, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, herbs and poisonous plants, necromancy, and sorcery
• Macbeth references Hecate earlier in his soliloquy about murdering Duncan
• "Something wicked this way comes."
• more lines integrated into popular culture
• interesting that the witches have a perception of wickedness
• even more interesting is that they are referring to Macbeth
• "Beware the thane of Fife"
• blatant foreshadowing
• Was it common to have music when Shakespeare's plays were performed?  It is not mentioned often in the script.
• "Thou liest, thou sag-hair'd villain!" ... "What, you egg!" ... "Young fry of treachery!"
• Shakespearean insults are awesome
• Why do Shakespearean characters have a tendency to declare they have died ("He has kill'd me")?
• to make it more obvious for the audience perhaps?
• Malcolm uses "luxurious" in the same context as "malicious" and "smacking of every sin that has a name"
• Is there a different meaning?