Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
3 March 2009
Macbeth: Act 4
The purpose of the scene with Lady Macduff in it is to give the characters depth and help the reader feel like they know Lady Macduff and her children. The reader is able to feel her pain when she says, "Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not" (4.2.8-10). The reader also is able to see the strong bond between mother and son because they are able to joke about Macduff being gone. She tells him that she can "buy me twenty at any market" (4.2.47-48). Through these conversations the reader feels a connection to the characters which makes them feel Macduff's pain when they are murdered.
By Macduff's actions during this time, the reader learns of his selfish fear. Malcolm even asks him "why in that rawness left you wife and child, those precious motives, those strong knots of love, without leave-taking?" (4.3.33-35). This is showing how strong his fear for himself and his life must have been that he fled so fast he left his wife and kids behind with such a terrible murderer running the country. When he left he decided he would find Malcolm and convince him to come back and claim his title of king. Doing this and leaving his family behind shows how Macduff valued his country over his family. Malcolm definitely doesn't approve of this priority because Macduff says, "I would not be the villain that thou think'st for the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp, and the rich East to boot" (4.3.44-46). This shows how strongly Malcolm thinks what Macduff did is wrong because Macduff said even if he were offered all of Macbeth's kingdom and the riches in the East, he still wouldn't be the villain that Malcolm considers him to be.
Macbeth has changed because at the beginning of the play he was a gentle man with a big conscience who felt guilty about doing any evil deeds. In act four of the play all those characteristics are gone and he has become greedy and evil. He now wants everything his way and will do whatever it takes to get it. He tells the witches, "Of nature's germens tumble all together even till destruction sicken, answer me to what I ask you" (4.1.62-64). He is basically telling the witches that he doesn't care what they have to go through to do it, they must tell him everything he wants to know. He then threatens them saying "I will be satisfied. Deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you!" (4.1.119-120). These show his greedy nature. At this point Macbeth is also very evil. While he initially felt extremely guilty about the murder of Duncan now he has planned and had committed the murder of Banquo and is planning that of Macduff's family. He tells Lennox, "Seize upon Fife, give to the' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line" (4.1.172-174). This shows how cruel he has become to assure that nobody steals his power.
By Macduff's actions during this time, the reader learns of his selfish fear. Malcolm even asks him "why in that rawness left you wife and child, those precious motives, those strong knots of love, without leave-taking?" (4.3.33-35). This is showing how strong his fear for himself and his life must have been that he fled so fast he left his wife and kids behind with such a terrible murderer running the country. When he left he decided he would find Malcolm and convince him to come back and claim his title of king. Doing this and leaving his family behind shows how Macduff valued his country over his family. Malcolm definitely doesn't approve of this priority because Macduff says, "I would not be the villain that thou think'st for the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp, and the rich East to boot" (4.3.44-46). This shows how strongly Malcolm thinks what Macduff did is wrong because Macduff said even if he were offered all of Macbeth's kingdom and the riches in the East, he still wouldn't be the villain that Malcolm considers him to be.
Macbeth has changed because at the beginning of the play he was a gentle man with a big conscience who felt guilty about doing any evil deeds. In act four of the play all those characteristics are gone and he has become greedy and evil. He now wants everything his way and will do whatever it takes to get it. He tells the witches, "Of nature's germens tumble all together even till destruction sicken, answer me to what I ask you" (4.1.62-64). He is basically telling the witches that he doesn't care what they have to go through to do it, they must tell him everything he wants to know. He then threatens them saying "I will be satisfied. Deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you!" (4.1.119-120). These show his greedy nature. At this point Macbeth is also very evil. While he initially felt extremely guilty about the murder of Duncan now he has planned and had committed the murder of Banquo and is planning that of Macduff's family. He tells Lennox, "Seize upon Fife, give to the' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line" (4.1.172-174). This shows how cruel he has become to assure that nobody steals his power.
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