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   lenw Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   The starkest comparison is in their attitude towards their offspring.  In her speech urging Macbeth to go on with planned murder of King Duncan, and to quell his doubts, she shames him, calling into question his very manhood.  At one point she says that she knows what it is like to love a child at the breast, but that she would "have plucked [her nipple] from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out" had she sworn to the deed as Macbeth has (Act 1, scene 7).  This harsh attitude prompts Macbeth to tell her to have male children only, as such an attitude best befits men.

   We see Lady Macduff, on the other hand, in one of the tenderest scenes in the play (Act 4, scene 2) engaging in gentle banter with her young son just before they are murdered by Macbeth's men.  The scene is light, humorous and full of a genuine "milk of human kindness."

   This contrast is enhanced by the bird imagery.  Lady Macduff refers to even the poor wren as being willing to fight for its young, unlike her husband, who has run off to England.  Birds of prey are used to refer to the royalty in the play (the falcon for Duncan, and the night owl for Macbeth). 

   Lady Macduff is critical of Macduff's action (she perceives it as desertion), as Lady Macbeth is critical of Macbeth.  But Lady Macbeth has far more influence over her husband than Lady Macduff has over hers. 

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   Posted by lenw on Tuesday January 6, 2009 at 10:50 PM