Act 4 Scene 2

Act 4 Scene 2

1. Ross and Lady Macduff discuss Macduff's flight to England

   • They both have two different views
     • Ross
       • Contrasting opinion to Lady Macduff
         • Defends her husband's wisdom
           • 'He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows the fits o'th season'
             • Presents him as heroic and noble and fully understanding of the predicament
               • LISTS- extensive
       • Leaves in a hurry
         • 'I take my leave at once'
           • Level of fear/worry in Scotland
     • Lady Macduff
       • Thinks of his flight to England as madness, fear or lack of love for his family
         • been abandoned
           • 'Wisdom?To leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion...'
             • LISTS
               • They are now vulnerable
                 • personal cost of what he has done
             • 'He loves us not'
             • Bird imagery
               • 'Her young ones in her nest, against the owl'
                 • reinstates their vulnerability and helplessness in the face of danger
                 • chicks- frail, delicate, small
       • 'I hope in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou maydst find him'
         • 'thou'
           • Talking down/insulting the murderers
         • 'thou shag-haired villain'
           • Defending his father

2. Relationship between lady Macduff and her son

   • SHIFT FROM BLANK VERSE ----> PROSE
     • Reflects their close/intimate relationship- normality
     • Son
       • Allows the theme of treachery and deceit to be explored further
         • 'What is a traitor?'
         • 'Poor bird, thou'dst never fear the net, nor the line, the pitfall, nor the gin'
           • Doesn't understand the bad in the world
           • Repetition of the bird imagery
       • naive, innocent and curious
     • Affectionate relationship
       • 'poor monkey'
         • 'poor bird'
           • 'poor prattler'

3. Messenger

   • forewarning for them- danger is near
     • 'Bless you, fair dame'
       • respectful
         • State of mistrust- promises he is on their side
       • 'Hence with your little ones'
         • Macbeth's savagery is seen to be increasing as murderers kill a small boy on stage
           • Macbeth has now brought violence into other peoples homes, Banquo- outside, Duncan- his own home'
             • Extent of his murderous deeds/violence - spreading - unstoppable
           • vindictive nature
         • 'Heaven preserve you, I dare abide no longer'
           • Similar to Ross' hurried exit
             • No interaction or exchange of dialogue
               • Suggests the state of panic
               • Quick entrance and exit

4. The murder

   • Undeserving victims
     • 'Whither should I fly? I have done no harm'
       • Like all the other victims that Macbeth has murdered they are presented as good, as an audience we build up sympathy for them
         • unjust murder
       • Where?
         • Invading her own home
   • Lady Macduff is not as critical of Macduff
     • progresses much faster that some of the other murders- spontaneity of Macbeth's actions
       • abrupt- more of a shock for the audience
   • Similar to the Banquo's murder
     • nobility- 'Run away, I pray you!'
       • Child is killed on stage- audience in horror
   • Fertility images
     • 'What, you egg!'
       • 'fry'
         • young fish
     • Killing the young- foetus- killing youth and innocence