Macbeth – Act 4: Scene 2

Who enters this scene? Lady Macduff, her son and Ross
Quote: Lady Macduff delivers a very good quote about the importance of family, what is it? “For the poor wren,The most diminutive of birds, will fight,Her young ones in her nest, against the owl”- Saying that Macduff is more cowardly and unloving than one of the “most diminutive of birds”- Shows importance of family in nature- Similar manipulation to that of Lady Macbeth~ Possible ‘flip’ of gender roles throughout??
What are the main things in Ross’ response? – Pull yourself together- Rumours are common now, and easily believed- Says current situation is really bad- Gives blessings to the son
What do Lady Macduff and her son then argue about? Whether or not their father is dead
Quote: After some dialogue, they reach an interesting conclusion what is said? – Lady Macduff says that the honest men should hang the traitorsThe son responds by saying:”Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them”- Shows sense of “foul is fair and foul is fair”- Shows how intellectual the son is
Who enters and what is said? A messenger – he tells Lady Macduff that she is in great danger
Who then enters directly after and what is said? The first murderer – looking for Macduff- Lady Macduff says that he is not here- The son calls him “shag-haired villain!” after the first murderer says that Macduff is a traitor
What happens to close? The son is killed and begs his mother to flee, which she does so crying “Murder!”, followed by the murderers