Macbeth Group

Question:

lala56
lala56
Student
Community / Jr. College

[4.3.165-173, 181-189] What effect has Macbeth's tyranny had on the people of Scotland?

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Posted by lala56 on Friday April 17, 2009 at 10:42 PM and tagged with characters, macbeth, people, scotland, tyrrany.

Answers:

  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Murdering a just, right and much loved King, Duncan, Macbeth's actions have displaced the rules of nature, the order of the universe has been disrupted by Macbeth's deeds.  This is manifested on the night of the murder with destructive weather, animals going crazy, Duncan's horses cannibalize each other.

    Scotland, under Macbeth's rule is described by Macduff as:

    "Macd. Bleed, bleed, poor country! 
    Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, 
    For goodness dares not check thee! wear thou 
    thy wrongs;
    The title is affeer'd! Pare thee well, lord:
    I would not, be the villain that thou think'st 
    For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp, And the rich East to boot" (Act IV Shakespeare) 

    He describes the suffering in Scotland to be worse and worse. Killing and mayhem have befallen the nation, there is chaos and disorder. 

    "Let us rather 
    Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men 
    Bestride our down-fall'n birthdom; each new
    morn 
    New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows 
    Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds 
    As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out 
    Like syllable of dolour." (Act IV Shakespeare)

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/act-iv-summary-analysis

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Saturday April 18, 2009 at 11:54 AM