ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The child says that “no man of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth” (lines 9596). Finally a child wearing a crown and holding a tree appears. It says that Macbeth will not be defeated until Great Birnam Wood marches to Dunsinane Hill . Macbeth is pleased: since forests don’t march, he must be invincible.

Detailed explanation-2: -Don’t be afraid: laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. It sounds like a promise of invincibility: scoff at all your human enemies, for you cannot be hurt by any man born of a woman-which sounds like, any one at all.

Detailed explanation-3: -The witches tell Macbeth that he will become king, that no man born of woman can defeat him, and that he will not be vanquished until Birnam Wood should come to Dunsinane, all of which turns out to be true.

Detailed explanation-4: -In response they summon for him three apparitions: an armed head, a bloody child, and finally a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. These apparitions instruct Macbeth to beware Macduff but reassure him that no man born of woman can harm him and that he will not be overthrown until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane.

Detailed explanation-5: -The second apparition, the bloody child, represents Macduff. He’s bloody because, as a baby, he was ripped from his mother’s womb. So while assuring Macbeth that none of woman born can harm him, the witches show him Macduff, was was “not of woman born” and will defeat him.