Macbeth Act 4: Scene 1-2

Here are some images that I found in the reading. "Hariper cries: 'Tis time, 'tis time." (3rd Witch, page 158) This quotations is right at the beginning of the Act. It is the three witches surrounding a fiery cauldron, mixing potions, and casting spells. The significance of this quotation is that the 3rd Witch says "Tis time, tis time" twice, which can easily be seen as a 'double' image. Another quotation I found, "Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble." (All Three Witches, page 158) This quotation occurs in the same scene as the first quotation. They are chanting rhythmic rhymes by casting more and more spells. This is obviously an image of 'double' because one: they say double twice and two: they say this chanting phrase more than once in the scene. And, finally, "But yet I'll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live, that I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, and sleep in spite of thunder." (Macbeth, page 164) This quotation is when Macbeth has confronted the Witches and demanded more knowledge about their prophecies and apparition. And, after he has gained more information from the Witches, he says that after Macduff has been killed, he'll be able to relax and even sleep through the thunderous storm. This quote is significant because it has two images, which are double and sleep.