Macbeth Group

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jacko1994
jacko1994
Student
High School - 10th Grade

why does Macbeth kill Macduff's wife and children

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Posted by jacko1994 on Saturday September 19, 2009 at 4:04 PM and tagged with macbeth, why does macbeth kill macduff's wife and children.

Answers:

  1. cutiechandrika
    cutiechandrika Student
    Graduate School

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    The play include not only the murder of Duncan, but infanticide (Act 4 sc2) and regicide (Act 2 sc2) also.We do not see the actual killing of Duncan. Shakespeare spares us that because he wants us to concentrate not upon the act itself, but on the significance of it, and the subsequent reaction of Macbeth and his wife. But this brutal killing and other even more violent actions (the stabbing of Lady Macduff and his young son), are shown to us. The effect is that we see clearly and are therefore made to 'feel' the nature of Macbeth's 'power' and the price paid by other for his ambition.

    Macbeth has already embarked on a course of murder and bloodshed, as suggested by the witches. His degradation is complete. Commenting on this brutal murder scene (killing of lady macduff and his son), Coleridge writes, "the scene, dreadful as it is, is still a relief, because it is a variety, because it is domestic, and, therefore, soothing as associated with the only real pleasure of life."

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    Posted by cutiechandrika on Sunday September 20, 2009 at 1:11 AM

  2. jacko1994
    jacko1994 Student
    High School - 10th Grade

    but still why

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    Posted by jacko1994 on Sunday September 20, 2009 at 2:10 AM