Student Question
What does Malcolm mean when he says, "Angels are bright still, though the brightness fell. Though all things foul would wear brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so"?
Quick answer:
Malcolm means that despite appearances, true virtue remains unchanged. In Macbeth IV.iii, Malcolm expresses that angels stay bright even though Satan, once the brightest, fell. Similarly, foul things may seem virtuous, but genuine grace remains constant. This implies that although Macduff appears honorable, Malcolm remains cautious, as many dishonorable men also appear virtuous.
In Macbeth IV.iii, Malcolm and Macduff meet in England. Each is suspicious of the other. In particular, Malcolm thinks Macduff may be a spy sent by Macbeth. Macduff bluntly tells Malcolm that he is not treacherous, and Malcolm excuses himself by saying:
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose.
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell:
Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,
Yet grace must still look so.
This means that nothing Malcolm thinks about Macduff can alter what he is. Angels remain bright although the brightest of them, Satan, fell to become the Devil (an analogy with Macbeth here, since he was recently the most trusted and admired of King Duncan's thanes). Everything foul attempts to look virtuous, but virtue must still look like itself. It cannot change its aspect merely because it is widely imitated. The implication is that Macduff seems honorable, but so do many dishonorable men. There is, however, nothing Macduff can do about this.
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