Macbeth Group

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mani12345
mani12345
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What attitudes emerge from Lady Macduff's characterization in "Macbeth"?

Macbeth act4

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Posted by mani12345 on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 6:17 AM and tagged with act iv, attitude, character, lady macduff, macbeth.

Answers:

  1. reidalot
    reidalot Teacher
    College - Freshman

    Lady Macduff, unlike Lady Macbeth, is a strong, honest, loving wife and mother. We also see a close relationship with her son as she tells him that his father is dead (4.2.35). We discover that she really does not believe her husband is a traitor even though she discusses that possibility with her son. The son seems old beyond his years in their talk about honest men and the lack thereof,"...there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men..."(4.2.62-64). We see the depth of her devotion to her husband when Lady Macduff is asked by the murderers where her husband is and she responds,"....in no place so unsanctified such as thou mayst find him" (4.2.90-91).She is alo extremely courageous and wise. When the Messenger advises her to flee, she questions: To where? In this world the good suffer while evil flourishes. She is slain with her son.

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

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    Posted by reidalot on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 6:44 AM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    Although Lady Macduff has a brief appearance in Macbeth, I don't think her lines really represent her significance in the play.

    She is a representative of the death of innocence in Scotland.  Her death is also closely linked with Lady Macbeth's descent into madness.  Lady Macduff's murder, along with her children and servants is heinous and senseless.

    Lady Macduff is a good mother, devoted wife and reveals herself to be confused by her husband's sudden departure.  She is suspicious of his behavior. She still has faith in Scotland, she does not want to leave, she feels that she has done nothing wrong. But she realizes that right is wrong in Scotland now and wrong is right, just like foul is fair and fair is foul.

    "Whither should I fly?
    I have done no harm. But I remember now
    I am in this earthly world, where, to do harm
    Is often laudable, to do good sometime
    Accounted dangerous folly; why then, alas
    Do I put up that womanly defence,
    To say I have done no harm?"

    However, when murderers storm into her house, she is very brave, as are the people of Scotland during Macbeth's tyrannical reign. 

    Lady Macduff gives us the opinion of the people of Scotland through her dialogue, her honest loving life and her tragic symbolic death.

    Sources:
    http://www.absoluteshakespeare.com/plays/macbeth

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Friday May 30, 2008 at 12:38 AM