LRJ #4 Macbeth

1) In Act 4 Macduff leaves his family behind, his wife and his son. He thought that leaving his family would stop Macbeth from killing him and his family but actually the opposite happened. This scene was really important to the play because it shows the side of Lady MacDuff that you wouldn't really thought to see. Lady MacDuff is different to Lady Macbeth because Lady MacDuff is a much more gentle person but Lady Macbeth cares about her husband. Lady MacDuff says that her husband as left her and he is like betraying the family pretty much."Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes"(Shakespeare,4.2,6). Lady MacDuff doesn't want to think otherwise then to think that MacDuff left the family for a reason that doesn't make sense. MacDuff had everything a mansion, wife, and a son. Ross was willing to put his life on the line to tell Lady Macduff that that MacDuff could possibly only leave for a reason that was smart nothing something stupid. "You know not Whether it was his wisdom or his fears"(Shakespeare,4.2,4-5). This helps the development of drama. Then the son also comes in to protect his father. He knows that his father is not a bad person and would never leave for an unreasonable reason. The son says that Lady MacDuff does miss MacDuff because if she didn't she would have moved on to another wife. The son is obviously very smart and when you see them get killed by the murders it an illusion to what is going to happen in the future Act. It shows that there will be more murdering and the downfall of Macbeth is close.

2)From this act you learn that MacDuff is a very noble man. He would leave the people he loved most just to protect them. He ran away so that his wife and son would be able to live and stand out of the way of Macbeth's wrath. However, they were killed in this chapter. Malcolm was also in this chapter who went to talk to Macduff about why he would make a horrible king. The test of loyalty was important to see if MacDuff was innocent and loyal. (Shakespeare,4.3,103-104). MacDuff says that he would make a horrible king that he not even fit to live.

3)Macbeth has changed a lot in this scene. His heroism and nobleness is at the pit of extinction. He seems to rely on the witches and after Hecate already talked to them about making their predictions confusing and making him seem almost invincible. The apparitions also appear saying how he cannot be killed by anyone born from a woman. Macbeth thinking he cannot no longer be killed he would try to take advantage of this which is part of human nature because if one knows that they cannot be destroyed they would do anything they wanted. When Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo he seems to freak out. He is wondering what he was doing in his prediction done by the witches. His answer never gets answered because the witches disappear. The witches provided his with a sense of false courage and the ghost which scares him. At this moment Macbeth is pretty messed up.