Act 4 Scene 2 Commentary 


This scene momentarily shifts the focus away from Macbeth himself and onto the victims of his crimes. Instead of merely mentioning the murder of Lady Macduff and her son, Shakespeare devotes an entire scene to the characters so that their deaths create pathos*.


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The clever banter between Lady Macduff and her son give the audience an intimate view of Macduff’s family; this intensifies the horror of their deaths. The messenger’s urgent warning, coupled with our foreknowledge of Macbeth’s plan, creates suspense as we wait for the inevitable murders.


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Shakespeare is keen to highlight the innocence of these victims. LadyMacduff herself protests this, ‘I have done no harm’. It is particularly distressing to see the young boy defend the honour of his father by pathetically calling themurderer a ‘shag-haired villain’. Justmoments later the boy is stabbed to death.


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Although the murders of Duncan and Banquo were horrendous deeds, there was at least a criminal logic to them.However, the senseless slaughter of amother and her children illustrates Macbeth’s descent into evil.


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This episode gives Macduff further motivation to act against Macbeth. However, it also begs the question why Macduff left his family so vulnerable to attack. Lady Macduff criticises her husband’swisdomin this regard: ‘Wisdom! to leave hiswife, to leave his babes, /Hismansion and his titles in a place / Fromwhence himself does fly?’Some commentators see this as a flaw in Macduff; others argue that Macduff places his loyalty to Scotland above all else.


*pathos: the quality of arousing pity in the audience Questions


1. Lady Macduff heavily criticises Macduff for going to England. Do you agree with her criticism?


2. Considering they play little part in the overall plot, why do you think Shakespeare devotes an entire scene to Lady Macduff and her son?


3. Some scholars see the character of Macduff’s son as distracting from the seriousness of the scene. Do you agree with them? Explain your answer.


4. Both Ross and Lady Macduff make reference to society in general. What is their view of how Scotland is being run?


5. Why do you think Shakespeare introduced a messenger into the scene?


Macbeth


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