Arguably the most violent act, Act Four sees Macbeth greeted by the witches once again with three new prophecies, be wary of Macduff who has fled to England, no one born from a women can harm Macbeth and defeat will only come when birnam woods moves. Angered by Macduff’s departure Macbeth’s change is complete he no longer needs a good reason to kill, he just does so out of desire “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool.” (IV, I. 156-159).
Violence has made Macbeth not only cruel but reckless, were he would once think carefully he know charges blindly because of simple riddles offered by the strange. This is unfortunate because of how the prophecies are presented requires unraveling to make use of them. However, by this point Macbeth did not bother to think beyond “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.” (IV, I. 81-84) and made his sealed fate obvious.
Macbeth 