Macbeth Group

Question:

dev321
dev321
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Who is the messenger in "Macbeth"?

Macbeth act4

Rate question:

Posted by dev321 on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 6:19 AM and tagged with character, macbeth, messenger.

Answers:


  1. luannw Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The messenger is someone who knows that Lady Macduff is a person of high position or honor ("...in your state of honor I am perfect who delivers a desperate, though polite, warning.  He says he is sorry for scaring Lady Macduff but he tells her that she should leave immediately.  Apparently he is fearful for his own life because he also says, "I dare abide no longer," and then immediately exits the scene.  Other than that, his identity is not specific.

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

    Rate answer:

    Posted by luannw on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 7:04 AM


  2. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Some critics have suggested that Ross is the messenger.  We do not know his identity, but we do know that he is someone close enough to the King to know what Macbeth's plans are, and also morally good enough to warn the innocent Lady MacDuff even if his warnings were not in time for her to react. He identifies himself as "a friend," but no one else calls him by name or identifies him in any other manner.  Because his timing is so quick, he escapes the mass murder of the MacDuff household and we therefore do not know his true identity.

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

    Rate answer:

    Posted by amy-lepore on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 7:38 AM