“Security/ is mortals’ chiefest enemy” relates to Macbeth’s overconfidence and his feel of security. He gathers these senses because of Hecate (The goddess of witchcraft) and the apparitions as they infiltrated the thoughts into his head of being mortal. In act IV scene 1, the three apparitions consisted of: the disembodied head of a warrior which was said to resemble a bloody revenge at the hands of Macduff, the second one was a blood-covered child that comforts Macbeth telling him that he cannot be killed by any man “of women born”, and the third was a “Child crowned, with a tree in his hand”. These apparitions give Macbeth the predictions/warnings of the future to come. At this point, Macbeth feels like nothing can harm him, thus making him overconfident and secure.
Hecate’s statement wasn’t just a warning but also factual concerning Macbeth’s downfall. For example, she says that Macbeth will be seeing apparitions that will “by strength of their illusion”, lead him to think that he is safe. However, Hecate also brings to mind that Macbeth “shall spurn fate, scorn death, …show more content…
The second apparition was a blood-covered child that pretty much states Macbeth cannot be harmed by any man born of a woman. However, little did Macbeth know, Macduff was a c section so he could potentially harm him. The third apparition is a “Child crowned, with a tree in his hand” that says: “Be lion mettled, proud / Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (4.1.90-94). This foresees how Macbeth’s security will be breached by Macduff upon Dunsinane Hill when the forest moves (relates to when soldiers covered themselves up with trees attached to the front of them). Macbeth along with his overconfidence came to realize that the forest cannot move so he did not take any notice of what he was told and pushed the idea
Hecate’s statement wasn’t just a warning but also factual concerning Macbeth’s downfall. For example, she says that Macbeth will be seeing apparitions that will “by strength of their illusion”, lead him to think that he is safe. However, Hecate also brings to mind that Macbeth “shall spurn fate, scorn death, …show more content…
The second apparition was a blood-covered child that pretty much states Macbeth cannot be harmed by any man born of a woman. However, little did Macbeth know, Macduff was a c section so he could potentially harm him. The third apparition is a “Child crowned, with a tree in his hand” that says: “Be lion mettled, proud / Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (4.1.90-94). This foresees how Macbeth’s security will be breached by Macduff upon Dunsinane Hill when the forest moves (relates to when soldiers covered themselves up with trees attached to the front of them). Macbeth along with his overconfidence came to realize that the forest cannot move so he did not take any notice of what he was told and pushed the idea