Macbeth Group

Question:

mano789
mano789
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In "Macbeth," how does Macduff receive the news of his loss?

Macbeth act4

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Posted by mano789 on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 6:14 AM and tagged with act iv, character, macbeth, macduff, theme.

Answers:

  1. reidalot
    reidalot Teacher
    College - Freshman

    Macduff undergoes different emotions when Ross brings the news from Scotland concerning the massacre of his family. At first he asks, "How does my wife?" (4.3.203). Ross is not honest and answers that all is well. However, as the conversation continues, Ross relents and gives him the news of his family's destruction. Macduff's first emotion is overwhelming grief and guilt; he did leave his family unattended while he went to England to enlist Malcolm's aid. Then, when Malcolm says, "Dispute it like a man" (4.3.259), Macduff vows to get revenge on the fiend of Scotland, and Macduff's anger and rage are apparent. This is a pivotal moment in the play because we know that only a man not born of woman can defeat Macbeth, and this man is Macduff.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth

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    Posted by reidalot on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 6:27 AM