Macbeth_Act_4

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

  ACT IV

    apparition: a ghost or ghost-like image of a person

p. 145

Act 4, scene 2, pp 147, 149 Hand-out nr 10. 

Question 1: 

A. What theme is introduced at the beginning of act 4, scene 2?

B. What does animal imagery reveal about the characters and about the state of the country, Scotland?

C. Are there any political parallels revealed on pages 147 & 149, act 4, scene 2, (hand-out nr 10)?

LADY MACDUFF, her SON, and ROSS enter.

LADY MACDUFF What did he do that made him flee this land?

ROSS You have to be patient, madam.

LADY MACDUFF He had no patience. He was crazy to run away. Even

if you’re not a traitor, you’re going to look like one if

you run away.

ROSS You don’t know whether it was wisdom or fear that

made him flee.

LADY MACDUFF How could it be wisdom! To leave his wife, his chil-

dren, his house, and his titles in a place so unsafe that

he himself flees it! He doesn’t love us. He lacks the

natural instinct to protect his family. Even the fragile

wren, the smallest of birds, will fight against the owl

when it threatens her young ones in the nest. His run-

ning away has everything to do with fear and nothing

to do with love. And since it’s so unreasonable for him

to run away, it has nothing to do with wisdom either.

ROSS My dearest relative, I’m begging you, pull yourself

together. As for your husband, he is noble, wise, and judicious, and

he understands what the times require.

It’s not safe for me to say much more than this, but

times are bad when people get denounced as traitors

and don’t even know why. In times like these, we

believe frightening rumors but we don’t even know

what we’re afraid of. It’s like being tossed around on

the ocean in every direction, and finally getting

nowhere. I’ll say good-bye now. It won’t be long

before I’m back. When things are at their worst they

have to stop, or else improve to the way things were

before. My young cousin, I put my blessing upon you.

LADY MACDUFF He has a father, and yet he is fatherless.

ROSS I have to go. If I stay longer, I’ll embarrass you and

disgrace myself by crying. I’m leaving now.

ROSS exits

Act 4, scene 2

Question 2: What does the following extract reveal about the state of Scotland?  

Where should I go? I haven't done anything wrong 

but I have to remember that I'm here on Earth, where

doing evil is often praised, and doing good is some-

times a stupid and dangerous mistake. So then why

should I offer this womanish defense that I'm innocent? (IV, ii, p. 153)

What does Lady Macduff's answer to messenger reveal about the state of the country, Scotland? 

Question 1: In Act 4, scene 3 during a conversation between Malcolm and Macduff, Malcolm tests Macduff. Explain the various elements of this test and the reasons Malcolm feels he must test Macduff.

Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell (III, vi, p. 156).

Illusion and reality

p. 175 - 177

Question 2: What are characteristic traits of The Macduffs? How are these traits different from The Macbeths' traits?

Question 3: Discuss the maxim: ' Adversity, not good fortune, is the true test of character.' Explain how this line introduces the resolution in Act Five. (Please, use your dictionary to fully understand this question)

adversity: difficulties; misfortune

resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something

maxim: a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct

Do fate and fortune guide the actions in Macbeth?

Fortune is another word for chance. The ancient view of human affairs frequently referred to the "Wheel of Fortune," according to which human life was something of a lottery. One could rise to the top of the wheel and enjoy the benefits of superiority, but only for a while. With an unpredictable swing up or down, one could equally easily crash to the base of the wheel.

Fate, on the other hand, is fixed. In a fatalistic universe, the length and outcome of one's life (destiny) is predetermined by external forces. In Macbeth, the Witches represent this influence. The play makes an important distinction: Fate may dictate what will be, but how that destiny comes about is a matter of chance and (in a Christian world such as Macbeth's) of man's own choice or free will.