Macbeth Acts in Depth
(A discussion on the importance of Macbeth 4:2)
Shakespeare is obviously one of the most famous people in all of the history of literature. His works are undescribable on the scale of pure genius and excellence. What he was able to accomplish makes some question his very existence as his writings were almost inhuman. Of all of the plays Shakespeare wrote, this act may be commonly overlooked by students, yet it is one of the greatest scenes the man ever wrote. What makes this scene so special? In the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare, Act 4:2 is of so much importance because it wraps all of the play’s major themes into one scene including the theme of flight, Shakespeare’s use of comic relief and dark irony, as well …show more content…
The two are mixed and intermingle within this very scene. Readers may not be able to understand how this is possible, but somehow Shakespeare is able to do so which makes the importance of this Act grow even more in importance. Shakespeare loves using comic relief right before or after extremely dramatic events. In “Comic Relief,” Coghlan explains that, “Comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work offset more serious sections.,” which is exactly what Shakespeare tries to accomplish. He does so in Act 4:2 lines 30-40 as Lady Macduff and her son joke, “Sirrah, your father’s dead; and what will you do now? How will you live?” “As birds do mother...nay, how will you do for a husband?” “Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.” The two clearly know that Macduff is not dead, yet it is darkly ironic that they are joking about death. They have no idea what will be happening in a few …show more content…
Looking at the perspective of a traitor from their view is very interesting. Levinson explains in his article, “My life a Traitor” that, “They saw me as one who betrayed, a sellout to the enemy.” In the case of Macbeth, there is always reasoning and justification behind being a traitor. Lady Macduff explains to her son in line 47 of Act 4:2 that a traitor is, “one that swears and lies.” In this scene, her son has asked he if his father is a traitor for leaving them, and Lady Macduff does not hesitate with a resounding yes. This theme of traitor attributes are shown all throughout this play as it begins with Lady Macbeth betraying her husband to lead him down a dark path. In the article “Lady Macbeth,” Rodd tells that, “Lady Macbeth, undoing Macbeth, encourages his murderous temptations and provides an opportunity for him to prove his manhood in the face of her increasing guilt.” Manhood is always on the line and questioned, which often leads to acts of betrayal. When the murderers show up in this scene, they bring up the fact that they are tough dogs, just as when Macbeth used hidden tactics to get them to betray his own best friend by killing him. This traitor theme is a constant and is brought round trip in this very
(A discussion on the importance of Macbeth 4:2)
Shakespeare is obviously one of the most famous people in all of the history of literature. His works are undescribable on the scale of pure genius and excellence. What he was able to accomplish makes some question his very existence as his writings were almost inhuman. Of all of the plays Shakespeare wrote, this act may be commonly overlooked by students, yet it is one of the greatest scenes the man ever wrote. What makes this scene so special? In the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare, Act 4:2 is of so much importance because it wraps all of the play’s major themes into one scene including the theme of flight, Shakespeare’s use of comic relief and dark irony, as well …show more content…
The two are mixed and intermingle within this very scene. Readers may not be able to understand how this is possible, but somehow Shakespeare is able to do so which makes the importance of this Act grow even more in importance. Shakespeare loves using comic relief right before or after extremely dramatic events. In “Comic Relief,” Coghlan explains that, “Comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work offset more serious sections.,” which is exactly what Shakespeare tries to accomplish. He does so in Act 4:2 lines 30-40 as Lady Macduff and her son joke, “Sirrah, your father’s dead; and what will you do now? How will you live?” “As birds do mother...nay, how will you do for a husband?” “Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.” The two clearly know that Macduff is not dead, yet it is darkly ironic that they are joking about death. They have no idea what will be happening in a few …show more content…
Looking at the perspective of a traitor from their view is very interesting. Levinson explains in his article, “My life a Traitor” that, “They saw me as one who betrayed, a sellout to the enemy.” In the case of Macbeth, there is always reasoning and justification behind being a traitor. Lady Macduff explains to her son in line 47 of Act 4:2 that a traitor is, “one that swears and lies.” In this scene, her son has asked he if his father is a traitor for leaving them, and Lady Macduff does not hesitate with a resounding yes. This theme of traitor attributes are shown all throughout this play as it begins with Lady Macbeth betraying her husband to lead him down a dark path. In the article “Lady Macbeth,” Rodd tells that, “Lady Macbeth, undoing Macbeth, encourages his murderous temptations and provides an opportunity for him to prove his manhood in the face of her increasing guilt.” Manhood is always on the line and questioned, which often leads to acts of betrayal. When the murderers show up in this scene, they bring up the fact that they are tough dogs, just as when Macbeth used hidden tactics to get them to betray his own best friend by killing him. This traitor theme is a constant and is brought round trip in this very