| who is Lady Macduff speaking with at the beginning of the scene and what are they speaking about? | speaking with ross asking why her husband left in such a hurry if he wasnt a traitor |
| what two contrasting things does ross say couldve caused macduff to flee? | wisdom or fear |
| He had none.His flight was madness. When our actions do not,Our fears do make us traitors. | lady macduff |
| what is lady macduff saying when she says Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes,His mansion and his titles in a placeFrom whence himself does fly? He loves us not;He wants the natural touch. For the poor wren,The most diminutive of birds, will fight,Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.All is the fear and nothing is the love,As little is the wisdom, where the flightSo runs against all reason. | – no way it was wisdom – stupid for leaving them and his title in such an unsafe place – did this out of fear, nothing out of love – even a wren will fight for her young ones against an owl |
| My dearest coz,I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knowsThe fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further;But cruel are the times when we are traitorsAnd do not know ourselves; when we hold rumorFrom what we fear, yet know not what we fear,But float upon a wild and violent seaEach way and none. I take my leave of you.Shall not be long but I’ll be here again.Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upwardTo what they were before.—My pretty cousin,Blessing upon you. | ross |
| what does the scene between lady macduff and her son act as? | comic relief |
| What is the son’s response to Sirrah, your father’s dead.And what will you do now? How will you live? | “as birds do mother” |
| what does the son say about the traitors of the world? | they are foolish because they largely outnumber the honest men that hang them, yet they haven’t joined forces to beat up and hang the few honest men |
| Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,Though in your state of honor I am perfect.I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.If you will take a homely man’s advice,Be not found here. Hence with your little ones.To fright you thus methinks I am too savage;To do worse to you were fell cruelty,Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!I dare abide no longer. | messenger |
| What motif does lady macduff use when speaking after the messenger leaves? | everything is not as it seems (antithesis) But I remember nowI am in this earthly world, where to do harmIs often laudable, to do good sometimeAccounted dangerous folly. |
| what is the pun used by the murderer who kills the son? | egg and fry |
Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2
September 10, 2019