Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

The Witches stir horrid things (like lizard scales and dragons teeth) in their cauldron as they wait on Macbeth. Hecate comes briefly. They dance and sing. Macbeth meets them, demanding to know his fate. They present powerful apparitions to counsel him. The first, an armed head, warns Macbeth against Macduff. The second, a loud, bloody child, tells Macbeth he will not be harmed by any born of a woman. He rests more comfortably after that discussion but still decides to kill Macduff. Next, a child appears to him, holding a tree in his hand. This child tells him that he will not be destroyed until "Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him." Macbeth is content because how should he be concerned with a wood coming against him? Still, he seeks to know one more thing- will Banquo...