LRJ #4

3/1/09

1. The purpose of the scene with Lady Macduff is to reflect on the character of both Macduff and Macbeth. It reflects on Macduff with how loyal Macduff's son is to him, regardless of his mother's doubts, "My father is not dead for all your saying" (4.2.38). In this quote, Macduff's son is telling his mother that he still believes that his father is alive and well and later explains that he believes it impossible for his father not to love them. The story also reflects on how messed up Macbeth is becoming, shown through how he orders the death of innocents, "He has killed me mother" (4.2.85). This is Macduff's son's final words as his short life is taken.

2. One of the easy things to see is that Macduff is very loyal. Instead of siding politically with the more powerful side, he decides to stay with the previous lineage's ruler, "Thy royal father/ was a most sacred king" (4.3.109-110). This is just Macduff's opinion of Malcolm's father. Another thing that we can discern is that Macduff was noble and honorable, "this noble passion... thy good truth and honor" (4.3.115 & 118). This is what Malcolm tells Macduff in accordance with his steadfast loyalty. One final thing that can be told via this act is that loved his family, "All my pretty ones? Did you say all?" (4.3.217-218). Here, Macduff is furious and has just found out about the loss of his family.

3. Macbeth started out noble and good at the beginning of the story, "I fear thy nature, it is full o' the' milk of human kindness" 1.5.16-17). He's too nice at this part of the story to do much anything evil. He becomes a little worse in the second act, "I did kill them" (2.3.109). Here, Macbeth admits two slaying the two guards, but is still remorseful. In act 3, he orders the murder of his closest Friend, Banquo, " his throat is cut, that I did for him" (3.4.16) here, he is recieveing conformation of Baquo's death from his murderer. In the final act up to this point, Macbeth orders the death of the innocents, "give to th' edge o' this sword/ his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/ that trace home him in his line" (4.1.151-13). These are Macbeth's orders for the death of Macduff's family.