Kayden and Hanseul's Macbeth Timeline Act 4

Scene 1 - Rituals and Macbeths' guilt

Jan 1, 1040

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble" (lines 10-11) - The witches enter the scene, performing a ritual of sorts, involving a cauldron and several ingredients such as "Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog," (lines 14-15)

Continuation of Scene 1 (1)

Jan 2, 1040

Following Macbeth now, he appears before the witches to gain information regarding the prophecies and to receive an answer. An apparition is summoned to warn: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough" (lines 81-81). Thane of Fife refers to Macduff. Another appears to assure: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth" (lines 90-93). This alludes that Macbeth won't be murdered by man.

Continuation of Scene 1 (2)

Jan 3, 1040

As the ritual progresses, a new character enters, dubbed 'Hecate', who appears to be a superior to the weird sisters as she commemorates them: "O, well done! I commend your pains, And everyone shall share i’ th’ gains. And now about the cauldron sing Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in" (lines 39-43)

Continuation of Scene 1 (3)

Jan 4, 1040

Another apparition appears, foretelling: "Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are.
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him" (lines 101-107). It simply warns that Macbeth is safe until Birnam Wood arrives to Dunsinane Hill to dethrone him. After receiving this, the ghost of Banquo appears behind the fourth apparition. This makes him paranoid and skittish, as the witches vanish.

Continuation of Scene 1 (4)

Jan 6, 1040

After the witches disappear, Lennox enters, approaching Macbeth with news. He states as follows:
"’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England." (lines 160-161).
This leads Macbeth to demand the murder of Macduffs' wife and children, as he is now considered a traitor for fleeing. This shows Macbeth's cold-heartedness after the events with Duncan and Banquo have unfolded, corrupting his character to behave so erratically.

Scene 2

Jan 7, 1040

Lady Macduff, Ross, and her son discuss the disappearance of Macduff. She feels equally betrayed by his abandonment of his family:|
"He loves us not;
He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl" (lines 10-13). Ross defends Macduff and the narration alludes to that of Macbeths' shortcomings:
"But cruel are the times when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor" (lines 21-22)

Continuation of Scene 2 (1)

Jan 8, 1040

The murderers enter after a messenger warns Lady Macduff of danger coming her way. She waves it off with how she hasn't done anything wrong, but to her demise, Macbeth has send murderers after her regardless. Fair is foul and foul is fair, as the story suggets.
"I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly" (lines 82-85). The murderers soon kill the son as Lady Macduff flees, chased after.

Scene 3

Jan 9, 1040

Scene 3 begins with Malcom and Macduff meeting, and they begin to discuss Macbeths' tyranny. Malcom extends his distrust of Macduff due to his preconceived acquaintance with him, as the conversation follows:
"Macduff: I am not treacherous.
Malcom: But Macbeth is" (lines 21-22). Despite this, he confides in Macduff, discussing his flaws and why he wouldn't be fit as king no better than Macbeth, that he is lustful and perverse.

Continuation of Scene 3 (1)

Jan 10, 1040

Macduff, after hearing that Malcom is also a lost cause for a ruler, begins to mourn.
"O nation miserable,
With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered... These evils thou repeat’st upon thyself
Hath banished me from Scotland.—O my breast,
Thy hope ends here!" (lines 121-122, 130-132). His mourning of the nation convinces Malcom that he is trustworthy now and not just a minion of Macbeth, nor his friend, and reveals that he was lying about his lustfulness and misdeeds, and is in fact fit to rule.

Continuation of Scene 3 (2)

Jan 11, 1040

A doctor enters the scene, preaching:
"Ay, sir. There are a crew of wretched souls
That stay his cure" (lines 161-162), in reference to the King of Englands' illness (King Edward). This reveals the doctor as a wonderful scholar in his field. Later comes Ross, confronting Macduff, passing on the news of his wife and sons' wellbeing, lying that they were alive. Through Ross, Malcolm learns of the state of Scotland decides to return to dethrone Macbeth and end the tyranny.

Continuation of Scene 3 (3)

Jan 12, 1040

"We are coming thither. Gracious England hath
Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men" (lines 219-220), Malcolm preaches, as he plans to invade Scotland with English soldiers. Immediately after this, Ross confesses that he had lied about the Macduff family's wellbeing, and confesses to their murder in front of Macduff and Malcolm. The two are in shock of the injustice but Ross encourages that Macduff
"Let grief convert to anger. Blunt not the heart; enrage it." (lines 268-269).