Everything is Not as it Seems
A Critique of Macbeth Act IV Scene II
Shakespeare is known for rarely showing a killing on stage. In Act IV, Scene II, multiple themes that are displayed throughout the play are all displayed within this scene. Three major themes that come from the play are the theme of flight, the theme of convincing men to do things they don’t want to by calling them cowards, and the theme of bad guys versus good guys. Taking place at Macduff’s castle, Fife, Lady Macduff is angry and wants to know why her husband fled to England and left her and her son behind. “The exile of Macduff makes all men hate Macbeth” (Bullough). Calling her husband a coward, Ross explains that Macduff left with the idea of wisdom and not fear. Telling her son that Macduff is dead, he refuses to believe …show more content…
In the conversation between Ross, the messenger, and Lady Macduff, Lady Macduff laments to Ross about her husband leaving. She claims that her husband, Macduff is a coward for abandoning her and her son. “He had none: his flight was madness. When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors”(IV, ii, 3-4). She says that Macduff has left them defenseless. Ross then tells Lady Macduff that her husband left for certain significant reasons and that everything is going to be okay. Like the beginning of the play when the witches chant using the words “fog” and “filthy air,” Ross mentions that Lady Macduff is unable to see or know what is actually going on. She is unsure of whether to support her husband and his choice of fleeing to England or not. “Macbeth’s murdering Duncan leads to Macduff’s fleeing to England. Then, Macduff’s fleeing to England leads to Macbeth’s murder of Lady Macduff” (Winston). Ironically, Lady Macduff claims that her husband is a coward, but of all the men throughout the play, Macduff is one of the most manliest of the
A Critique of Macbeth Act IV Scene II
Shakespeare is known for rarely showing a killing on stage. In Act IV, Scene II, multiple themes that are displayed throughout the play are all displayed within this scene. Three major themes that come from the play are the theme of flight, the theme of convincing men to do things they don’t want to by calling them cowards, and the theme of bad guys versus good guys. Taking place at Macduff’s castle, Fife, Lady Macduff is angry and wants to know why her husband fled to England and left her and her son behind. “The exile of Macduff makes all men hate Macbeth” (Bullough). Calling her husband a coward, Ross explains that Macduff left with the idea of wisdom and not fear. Telling her son that Macduff is dead, he refuses to believe …show more content…
In the conversation between Ross, the messenger, and Lady Macduff, Lady Macduff laments to Ross about her husband leaving. She claims that her husband, Macduff is a coward for abandoning her and her son. “He had none: his flight was madness. When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors”(IV, ii, 3-4). She says that Macduff has left them defenseless. Ross then tells Lady Macduff that her husband left for certain significant reasons and that everything is going to be okay. Like the beginning of the play when the witches chant using the words “fog” and “filthy air,” Ross mentions that Lady Macduff is unable to see or know what is actually going on. She is unsure of whether to support her husband and his choice of fleeing to England or not. “Macbeth’s murdering Duncan leads to Macduff’s fleeing to England. Then, Macduff’s fleeing to England leads to Macbeth’s murder of Lady Macduff” (Winston). Ironically, Lady Macduff claims that her husband is a coward, but of all the men throughout the play, Macduff is one of the most manliest of the