Next: Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3 ___________ Explanatory Notes for Act 4, Scene 2 Show This scene represents the perpetration of Macbeth's third crime. It is usually omitted from stage performances since our modern nerves would be too greatly shocked by the murder of the child. The Elizabethan audience however was far less sensitive, and the actual representation of the deed added, of course, immensely to the effect of the following scene, where Ross hesitates to disclose the dreadful news, and Macduff bursts out in his passion of grief and prayer for revenge. 4. make us traitors, make us seem traitors. She means that Macduff was not a traitor to Macbeth, but fear drove him to flight, and made him appear a rebel. 8. He loves us not. At first sight, this accusation seems only too true. But Macduff fled to England not so much to save himself, as to rescue his country by stirring up Malcolm to attack Macbeth. He had, moreover, no reason to fear that Macbeth would butcher his wife and children in his absence. 15. school yourself, blame yourself. Ross tells her to blame herself for doubting her husband's love. 19. ourselves, each other. The pronoun is used reciprocally as in iii. 4. 32. Owing to Macbeth's system of espionage, even the good men in his kingdom are being denounced as traitors, and are becoming suspicious of each other. 19. hold rumour. Various explanations have been offered of this phrase. Perhaps the best is that which interprets "hold" as equivalent to "judge" and makes "from" in the next line equal "by." The sense of the passage then is "when we judge by our fears whether a rumour is true or not." 22. Each way, in every direction. 23. The subject "it" is omitted before "shall." 27. fatherless, because his father has forsaken him. 28, 29. I am ... discomfort. Ross means that he is so soft-hearted that if he stayed longer he would burst into tears, and thus disgrace himself and trouble Lady Macduff. 34. lime, birdlime, a sticky substance smeared on twigs to catch little birds. 35. gin, snare. 36. they. The snares mentioned above. 47. swears and lies, swears allegiance and breaks his oath. 66. Though ... perfect, though I am perfectly acquainted with your rank. 67. doubt, fear. 68. homely, simple, plain. 70. To fright, in frightening. 71. fell, savage. 78. womanly, womanish, weak. 81. unsanctified, without sanctuary, unprotected. 83. egg, a term of contempt applied to a small person, as here to the child. 84. fry, offspring. ________ How to cite the explanatory notes:________ More Resources
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Did You Know? ... Strong and astute, Macduff has suspected Macbeth right from the moment he murdered the grooms (2.3.114). He makes his distrust of Macbeth quite clear to Ross and reveals that he will not attend Macbeth's coronation in Scone (2.4.45). Moreover, Macduff refuses Macbeth's invitation to the banquet (3.4.127), and fearlessly sets off to ask for England's help to aid Malcolm, as we learn from a Lord (3.6.29). Macbeth already had plans to murder Macduff after his encounter with the Witches (4.1.83), but Macduff's trip to England so antagonizes Macbeth that he orders the slaughter of Macduff's entire household, culminating in this horrifying scene. _____
What does Lady Macduff tell her son about Macduff?She tells her son that his father is dead. Macduff's son tells his mother he will live, “as birds do/…/With what I get, I mean; and so do they” (37-49).
What is the conversation between Lady Macduff and her son?At Macduff's castle, Lady Macduff accosts Ross, demanding to know why her husband has fled. She feels betrayed. Ross insists that she trust her husband's judgment and then regretfully departs. Once he is gone, Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but the little boy perceptively argues that he is not.
Who killed Lady Macduff and her son?Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 2
Although warned by the Thane of Ross to escape before it is too late, Lady Macduff is encountered by Macbeth's henchmen, who brutally kill first her child and (as the audience learns in the following scene) her.
What do Lady Macduff and her son argue about?Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but the boy argues that if his father were dead, she would be weeping. She keeps insisting that his father is dead because he is a traitor.
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What does Macduffs son say about Lady Macduff
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