Riddles & Images

The 3 Riddles in Macbeth:

Riddle #1: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough."(IV.i.71-72) 

Riddle #2: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. " (IV.i.79-81)

Riddle #3: "Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him." (IV.i.90-94)

Riddle #1: Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.

In this image, I have one of the three witches telling the first apparition what to say to Macbeth.

With this apparition, the witches are warning Macbeth and telling him to be careful of Macduff. At first Macbeth brushes this off and doesn't care that much because at the time Macduff isn't at Scotland, so Macbeth feels safe. To be on the safe side though, he sends soldiers to Macduff’s castle to kill Macduff’s wife and kids.  When Macduff hears of the murder of his family he meet with Malcolm and they plan to come back home and fight Macbeth so they can protect their people and their country. 

Riddle #2: Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn. The power of man for none of women born shall harm Macbeth.

Again, in this image, the witch  is telling another apparition what to tell Macbeth.

After Macbeth heard this statement, he felt very happy and relieved. He thought that it meant that nobody could ever hurt him, or interfere with his kingdom. At the end when Macduff was about to kill him Macbeth asked how it was possible. How could Macduff kill him after what the witches had said? Macduff laughed at him and told him he was born from his mother’s womb through C-Section. Macbeth then replied saying: Accursed be that tong that tells me so, for it hath cow’d my better part of man: And juggling fiend no more believ’d, that palter with us in a double sense; that keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it to our hope. I’II not fights with thee. (act.5.8-14-18) Macbeth dropped his sword but he was not ready to quit. He stood up and tried to pick up his sword but Macduff cut his neck and won the battle.

Riddle # 3: Be lion-mettle. proud; and take no care who chafes, who frets or who conspires are; Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him

In this last image the witch is reciting the prophesy that was given to Macbeth.

When Macbeth heard this last statemtn, he thought it meant no body could ever hurt him. He thought that since it was impossible for a forest to rise against someone, so that meant he was invincible. He said, “That will never be”. What he didn’t know about was Malcolm and Macduff’s plan. They ordered every solder to take a tree so no one will recognize them when they are approaching the castle. With every solider holding a tree, it looked like the forest was walking towards the castle. When Macbeth saw this, he got scared and said, “To doubt the equivocation of the feind that lies like truth; fear not, till Birnam wood come to Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out! If this which he avouches does appear, there is nor flying hence, nor tarrying here. I’ gin to be aweary of the sun.(act.5.5-43)