One theme throughout Macbeth is fear- and what to do with or how to handle fear.
Furthermore, in act 4 scene 2, Lady Macduff said something interesting. "Whither should I fly? / I have done no harm. But I remember now / I am in this earthly world, where to do harm / Is often laudable, to do good sometime / Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, / Do I put up that womanly defense, / To say I have done no harm?" Lady Macduff is saying that she has done nothing wrong or harmed anyone, but she has to remember something- sometimes evil can be praised rather than looked down upon while doing the right thing can be dangerous. This shows the conflict of evil and goodness in the world, and how sometimes unfortunately evil, conniving, crime, deceiving, and hatred can rise above being a good person and doing the right thing.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlso in Act 4 Scene 2 we are introduced to Lady Macduff, whose name is very similar to Lady Macbeth. They appear to be alter egos of each other (which was also seen in Huckleberry Finn when Buck was the alter ego of Huck). Lady Macbeth being very controlling of her husband, very aggressive, and she uses any advantage she can get. Lady Macduff on the other hand appears to be very witty and conversational, she is lazy and even when her life and the lives of her children are threatened she does not act. In a way she was as much responsible for the death of her son as Macduff. If Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff are alter egos of each other that is likely the same story for Macbeth and Macduff. If Macduff is the polar opposite of Macbeth then he would be smart, willing, and won't be prideful. This would make Macduff a very powerful opponent against Macbeth. Also the second Apparition told Macbeth to fear Macduff. Macbeth is starting his decline.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 4 Scene 3 Malcolm really steps up and shows that he is an important player in the game. At the beginning of the play Malcolm is foolish and runs away with his brother after his father is murdered making him suspicious. Furthermore Malcolm appears weak at the beginning of Act 4 Scene 3 when he says, "Let us seek out some desolate shade and there/
ReplyDeleteWeep our sad bosoms empty" (4.3.1-2). This makes him appear weak, but after Macduff inspires him he follows with, "What I believe I’ll wail;/What know believe, and what I can redress,/As I shall find the time to friend, I will" (4.3.8-10). Very heroic and moving. Malcolm shows his smarts again when he tricks Macduff into believing that Malcolm has terrible values causing Macduff to go into a rage "which proves yours [Macduff's] integrity" (4.3.117). Also in this scene when Macduff receives news that his wife and children are dead the theme of "Manliness" comes up again. When Macduff receives the news of his family's deaths Malcolm tell him to "Dispute it [the grief] like a man" (4.3.226). Macbeth responds, “I shall do so,/But I must also feel it as a man" (4.3.227-228). Is Shakespeare saying that men should have no emotion but have some emotion too? Macduff then says, "Oh, I could play the woman with mine eyes [but instead I will hunt Macbeth]" (4.3.237-238). With this Malcolm responds, "This tune goes manly" (4.3.243). There is a lot of the "Guys don't have any feelings" stereotype brought up here. Which is ironic because Lady Macbeth is the most cutthroat, vicious, and heinous character in the play and she is a woman. I am interested to see if Lady Macbeth will be punished at all because she is the one who came up with the majority of the plan to kill Duncan. However, I predict she will walk out of this situation unscathed.