Macbeth LRJ #4

Sarita Beekie
Ms. Peifer
10 IB - Hour 5
1 March 2009

Macbeth LRJ #4

After Macbeth hears word that Macduff has fled to England in Act 4 of Macbeth, he vows not to hunt down Macduff, but to ambush Macduff's estate and "seize upon Fife, give to th'edge o'th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line" (Shakespeare, Macbeth, 4, i, 150-153) and commences in doing just that. From these actions readers can definitely deduce that Macbeth is no longer the "nervous wreck" of a killer that he once was at the beginning of the play. Instead, he is a cold-blooded, cut-throat murderer that would go to the extent of executing the most innocent and unsuspecting of persons, even if they had absolutely no relation to himself.

Macduff's character is tested when Malcolm investigates as to whether Macduff can truly be trusted. When Malcolm says, "As [for] justice, verity, temperance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them...had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproar the universal peace, confound all unity on earth" (Shakespeare, Macbeth, 4, iii, 93-100), Macduff exclaims, "Fit to govern? No, not to live. O nation miserable...when shalt thou see thy wholesome days again, since thy truest issue of thy throne by his own interdiction stands accurst and does blaspheme his breed?...These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself hath banished me from Scotland. O my breast, my hope ends here!" (Shakespeare, Macbeth, 4, iii, 104-114). From this, it becomes apparent to Malcolm that Macduff's honor is to his country and not to any "secret allegiance" or deceitful cause. At this exclamation, Malcolm is convinced of Macduff's integrity, and replies, "Macduff, this noble passion, child of integrity, hath from my soul wiped the scruples, reconciled my thoughts to thy good truth and honor" (Shakespeare