Macbeth Act IV, Scene 3
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The noble Macduff has fled to England to find Malcolm, the son of slain king Duncan. Macduff wants to
ask Malcolm to join him in a war to overthrow the tyrant Macbeth “whose sole name blisters our
tongues” (IV.3.14)
Yet, Malcolm is suspicious of Macduff saying that Macbeth “hath not touched you yet” (IV.3.16). Could
it be that Macduff is a spy sent by Macbeth? Why did Macduff “in that rawness left you wife and child,
those precious motives, whose strong knots of love, without leave-taking?” (IV.3.32-34). Why leave
them exposed to Macbeth unless Macduff was on Macbeth’s side?
Malcolm decides to test Macduff by telling him what an awful king he would make to see his reaction.
(page 139-141)
When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head or wear
it on my sword, yet my poor country shall have
more vices than it had before, more suffer and
more sundry ways than ever, by him that shall
succeed.
It is myself I mean
In whom I know all the particulars of vice so
grafted that, when they shall be opened, black
Macbeth will seem as pure as snow, and the poor
state esteem him as a lamb, being compared with
my confineless harms.
But there’s no bottom, none, to my
voluptuousness.
Your wives, your daughters, your matrons, and
your maids could not fill up the cistern of my lust.
(to which Macduff replies) “We have willing dames
enough” (IV.III.86).)
With this there grows in my most ill-composed
affection such a staunchless avarice that, were I
King, I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
desire his jewels and this other one’s house…
And my more-having would be as a sauce to make
me hunger more, that I should forge quarrels
unjust against the good and loyal, destroying them
for wealth.
(Which worries Macduff, but he says) “Yet do not
fear. Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will of
your mere own (IV.3.103-104)
The king-becoming graces, as justice…
..verity, temp’rance, stableness…
…bounty, perseverance, mercy…
…lowliness, devotion, patience…
…courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them, but
abound in the division of each several crime,
acting it in many ways.
Nay, had I pow’r, I should pour the sweet mild of
concord into hell, uproar the universal peace,
confound all unity on earth.
If such a one be fit to govern, speak. I am as I have
spoken.
Finally, Macduff says…
Fit to govern? No, not to live!
O nation miserable, with an untitled tyrant bloodyscept’red, when shalt thou see thy wholesome days
again, since that the truest issue of thy throne by
his own interdiction stands accursed and does
blaspheme his breed?”
Finally, Malcolm gives in, tells him he is just kidding and says they should team up and get that
Macbeth. Just then a messenger comes from Scotland to tell Macduff the bad news. He asks Macduff
to “let not your ears despise my tongue forever, which shall possess them with the heaviest sound that
ever yet they heard” (IV.3.235-237). Then tells him Macbeth sent murderers to kill his wife and children.
Malcolm counsels him to use his anger to defeat Macbeth. Macduff’s words are in italics.
Be comforted. Let’s make us med’cines of our
great revenge to cure this deadly grief.
He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you
say all? O hell-kite! All? What, all my pretty
chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?
Dispute it like a man.
I shall do so; but I must also feel it as a man. I
cannot but remember such things were that were
most precious to me.
Did heaven look on and would not take their part?
Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee!
Naught that I am, not for their own demerits, but
for mine, fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest
them now!
Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief
convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.
O, I could play the woman with mine eyes and
braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, cut
short all intermission.
Front to front bring thou this fiend of Scotland and
myself. Within my sword’s length set him. If he
scape, heaven forgive him too!
This tune goes manly. Come, go we to the King.
Our power is ready; our lack is nothing but our
leave. Macbeth is ripe for shaking, and the pow’rs
above put on their instruments.
1.
Why does Malcolm trick Macduff at first?
2.
Using an integrated quote from this paper, what kind of king does Malcolm say he will be?
3. Why does Macduff finally pass the test and Malcolm trusts him?
4.
Use an integrated quote to show how Macduff is going to deal with his grief over his wife and
children.
5.
Use an integrated quote to show how Malcolm thinks Macduff should deal with his grief.
6.
What are they going to do now?