Act 4 Scene 3

Act 4 Scene 3

1. Malcom is suspicious of Macduff- test his integrity. King Edward is said to be healing people. Ross arrives with news that rebellion is rumoured against Macbeth. Malcom is going to invade Scotland. Ross tell's Macduff that his family is dead. Macduff vows vengeance.

2. Malcom's trickery

   • To test Macduff's integrity
     • He is suspicious of Macduff at first
       • 'you have loved him well/ He hath not touched you yet'
         • Macduff replies- 'I am not the villain that thou think'st'
       • Religious imagery
         • 'sorrows/ Strike heaven on the face'
           • 'Agels are bright still, though the brightest fell'
             • 'poor, innocent lamb to appease an angry God'
             • deceptive appearances of others
               • Disorder in the natural world
         • Relates to the good and evil in the play
         • 'horrid hell'
           • 'devil more damned in evils to top Macbeth'
             • fearful and sinful nature of Macbeth
           • Reflects the wrong doing and injustice
   • LISTS- 8 of Macbeth's evils
     • 'blood, luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin that has a name'
       • 7 deadly sins - links back to the religious imagery- lack of morality
       • LISTS- the qualities that a good king should possess
         • 'justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience courage, fortitude-'
           • But then he contrast this
             • 'I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell'
               • If he is king he would cause chaos and disorder- Scotland is doomed
                 • To this Macduff is shocked 'O Scotland, Scotland'
                 • But after his integrity is proved that he has being tricking Macduff- no longer suspicious of him
                   • Appearance and reality theme
                     • To this at first Macduff does not respond
                       • Then uses the oxymoron
                         • 'Such welcome and unwelcome things at once'
                           • confusion
     • But says his own greed and lust are far worse
   • He suspects all visitors- effect of Macbeth's regime- oppression and tyranny
     • Malcom's suspicion
     • Also suspects Ross

3. Personification of Scotland

   • Macduff says 'Bleed, bleed, pour country'
     • Malcom: 'It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds'
       • injury, blood - reflects the murders committed by Macbeth
     • repetition
   • It is then described as:
     • '[Scotland] cannot be called our mother but our grave'
       • contrast between the maternal, life-giving connotations of 'Mother'
         • 'grave'
           • Scotland is lacking vitality
             • Links back to Macbeth's unhappiness, he is discontented
               • 'barren' and fruitless'
             • Links to Jacobean beliefs about the Great Chain of Being
               • It has been disrupted- things are not as they should be
                 • Sinning against God
             • Sounds
               • 'sighs, and groans and shrieks'
                 • 'shrieks'
                   • Loud, piercing, uncomfortable sounds
                     • reflects the disquietude and unrest of those in Scotland
                 • Despair- pain- suffering of all those trapped under the tyranny of Macbeth
               • 'The deadman's knell'
                 • Theme of death repeated- lack of life
     • Identity of Scotland has changed under the tyranny and oppression of Macbeth

4. Symbolic language

   • 'Black Macbeth will seem as pure as snow'
     • contrast between black to represent evil and white- good
       • Simile

5. Introduction of the English King, King Edward

   • 'Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand'
     • 'most miraculous work in this good king'
     • Links to the Jacobean belief of the Divine Right of Kings
       • Power from God- Rightful claim on the throne
         • Contrast to the state of Scotland- which is in disorder
         • Good happening
           • great Chain of Being maintained
   • Heals people- cures people of strange conditions
     • Purpose: to contrast the two kings
       • Macbeth causes destruction and collateral damage to undeserving, innocent victims
         • Whereas King Edward heals others- dedicating his tim- presenting him as a good, virtuous and generous king

6. Macduff's reaction to the news that his wife and children and died

   • At first he is in utter shock- disbelief and in denial
     • repeated questions- sense of panic
       • 'My children too? '
         • 'My wife killed too?'
           • 'Did you say all?'
       • overwhelmed by emotions of grief and heartache- Macbeth wouldn't be able to understand
         • 'He has no children'
     • He does not respond to start of with
       • Towards the end we see that he is battling an immense sense of guilt
         • 'Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee'
           • But eventually through the influence and urging of Malcom he declares he is going to overthrow Macbeth- revenge
             • 'let grief convert to anger'
             • 'Front to front bring thou this fiend of Scotland'
   • Theme of Manhood
     • 'Dispute it like a man'
       • insensitive?
         • Malcom is perhaps seizing the opportunity to urge him into the common cause against Macbeth
           • his trickery at the beginning and this imply a deceptive and more manipulative side to Malcom