England 6. What does Lady Macbeth mean by the line "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it"? What does the following Shakespeare quote from. The killing of his family caused Macduff to risk his life to get his revenge against Macbeth. Dismiss me. This also illustrates his ruthlessness. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Macbeth says (about the witches), "Infected be the air whereon they ride, And damned all those that trust them!" The first apparition warned Macbeth of Macduff, and Macduff killed him at the end. So, the scene does not suggest that one is more important than the other because Macduff already had it in is mind to try to overthrow Macbeth--the death of his family simply fuels this desire. I'm doing an three... Why does Macbeth have Macduff's family murdered? After all, they all were very fond of him before he came king. Macbeth is greatly reassured, but his confidence in the future is shaken when the witches show him a line of kings all in the image of Banquo. Are you a teacher? Lennox enters and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth! Enough" (IV.i.79-80). Lady Macduff is a character in William Shakespeare's Macbeth.She is married to Lord Macduff, the Thane of Fife.Her appearance in the play is brief: she and her son are introduced in Act IV Scene II, a climactic scene that ends with both of them being murdered on Macbeth's orders. Macbeth wants people to think that Malcolm had his father murdeered and then fled the country to avoid punishment for patricide; but if Macduff joins Malcolm, he is showing that he considers this an outrageous lie. Macduff is determined to kill Macbeth and revenge the brutal murder of his family, as this short speech from Act 5, scene 7 makes clear. The witches circle a cauldron, mixing in a variety of grotesque ingredients while chanting "double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn, and cauldron bubble" (10-11). What is Macbeth, in effect, saying about himself? What excuse did Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself? - None of the murders which Macbeth commits can really be justified; however, at … Lord Macduff, the Thane of Fife, is a character in William Shakespeare's Macbeth (c.1603–1607) that is loosely based on history. It also reveals a remarkable lack of hesitation on Macbeth's part; the man who agonized over murdering Duncan now easily orders the murder of an entire family. The first is an armed head that warns Macbeth to beware the Thane of Fife (Macduff). Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. In the play, Macbeth becomes king through an act … – None of the murders which Macbeth commits can really be justified. Macduff calls on Fortune to help him find Macbeth and kill him, echoing the role of fate and the supernatural in the play, as represented elsewhere by the Witches. The first is to enact revenge against Macduff, who has fled to England to join Duncan's son Malcolm and assist in … Macduff is loyal to King Duncan, even after he is murdered. Also, his anger towards Macbeth grew once he found out that it was Macbeth was the one who ordered the killing. 300. Why does Macbeth kill Macduff's wife and children? We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for COVID-19 relief—Join Now! Macduff, the Thane of Fife, proves to be a loyal man when it comes to his country and his people. When Malcolm, Macduff, Siward and the other nobles are planning to attack Macbeth’s castle and overthrow him, in Act V, scene 4, they are in Birnam Wood, across the fields. Macduff is loyal to King Duncan, even after he is murdered. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. He is so fearful of losing his crown that he will do anything to protect it. Blinded by his thirst for power, Macbeth's morals have completely slipped away. The news that his family has been murdered simply adds "fuel to the fire" and pushes Macduff to want to rise against Macbeth. Macbeth! The reason for the murder of his wife and children was to clear the bloodline. Macbeth has two reasons for having Macduff's wife and children murdered. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Start studying Macbeth. This reason was, in my opinion, the most important one. When Macduff announces that he is not, strictly speaking, a man born of woman, having been ripped prematurely from his mother’s womb, then Macbeth is afraid to fight. Upon hearing that his family had been killed, Macduff become very emotional. Log in here. Later, Macbeth in his lust for power sees Banquo as a threat and has him murdered by two hired assassins; Banquo's son, Fleance, escapes. Unable to get at Macduff, Macbeth has his soldiers slaughter Macduff's wife and children. Macbeth orders the hit on MacDuff's family only after he visits the witches again. He wanted to punish Macduff for betraying him and joining with Malcolm B. Why does Macbeth have Macduff's family and servants killed? Where is Macduff? I suppose, on the surface, Macbeth is … Macbeth also decides to attack Macduffs castle and kill Macduffs family and anyone else in Macduffs ancestral. The letter announces Macbeth's promotion to the thaneship of Cawdor and details his meeting with the witches. What mainly concerns Macbeth is that Macduff has deserted him and fled to England to join up with Duncan's elder son Malcolm, who is seeking help from the English king to invade Scotland and claim the throne which rightfully belongs to him. After prophesying that Macbeth will become king, the witches tell Banquo that he will not be king himself, but that his descendants will be. Macbeth's motivation to kill the MacDuff family comes from that warning from the apparition. Lady Macduff had had an affair with Banquo and might be pregnant with an heir C. He was afraid they would lead the rebellion to overthrow him D. Lady Macbeth was jealous of Lady Macduff Also, why did Macduff kill Macbeth? 300. The witches complete their magic spell and summon forth a series of apparitions. Macduff’s decision to abandon his family is never fully explained, and seems hard to justify, given their brutal murders. Macduff was the one who discovered Duncan's body, and Macbeth was with him at the time. Macbeth has already learned that Birnam Wood did move, as the Witches predicted. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. Moreover, Macduff refuses Macbeth's invitation to the banquet , and fearlessly sets off to ask for England's help to aid Malcolm, as we learn from a Lord . Macbeth and Macduff differ because Macbeth is conceded and a killer, while Macduff is not. What did Macbeth's letter to Lady Macbeth say? Read a translation of Act 4, scene 1 → Summary: Act 4, scene 2. Why did Macbeth kill Macduff's family? Macbeth … Macbeth arranges for murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and children, after Macduff has already fled to England to seek help from the king for his cause against Macbeth. The witches call upon their spirit "masters" at Macbeth's request for more information. Beware MacDuff. What led to the scene? Macbeth's motivation to kill the MacDuff family comes from that warning from the apparition. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. What happened in the scene? 4. Beware the Thane of Fife. How did Macbeth feel about killing Banquo and Macduff's family? Why did Macbeth kill Lady Macduff? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Macbeth: Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare. I usually get over it but Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s extended family, “Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword .His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. Macbeth Summary And Quotes . Already a member? At Macduff’s castle, Lady Macduff accosts Ross, demanding to know why her husband has fled. Also, what happens to Macduth Macduff? The first apparition, a floating head, warns Macbeth: "Macbeth! After the witches disappear, Macbeth discovers that Macduff has fled to England and decides to kill Macduff’s family immediately. She couldn’t deal with the guilt brought on by her actions. Macbeth says, "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Macbeth has Macduff's family and servants murdered because he believes them to be disloyal. He wants to assure that Macduff is actually truthful in saying that he doesn't like Macbeth. Here, he learns from Macduff that the Witches last prediction has come true as well. Macduff has shown from the beginning that he does not consider Macbeth the rightful king and that he believes he was responsible for Duncan's murder. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Q. Macbeth orders the deaths of Macduff's family and servants because: A. As Macduf… This is not necessarily for revenge but to teach all the other thanes that if they follow Macduff's example they will suffer similar consequences. Synopsis: Macduff finds Macbeth, who is reluctant to fight with him because Macbeth has already killed Macduff’s whole family and is sure of killing Macduff too if they fight. Macbeth does not kill Macduff. Why does Macbeth slaughter Macduff's family. Macduff’s decision to abandon his family is never fully explained, and seems hard to justify, given their brutal murders. What is he looked like her father? Act IV Scene II - Macbeth's decision to murder Macduff's family seems to have been made in extreme fear and haste. When Macduff was absent from Macbeth’s inauguration, Macbeth grew suspicious of him and decided to make a strong point by murdering Macduff’s family. Not affiliated with Harvard College. This also illustrates his ruthlessness. Hecate appears, they sing all together, and Hecate leaves. Lady Macbeth does not convince Macbeth to kill Macduffs family. Macduff wants to kill Macbeth because Macbeth killed his entire household, and because Macbeth is driving their country into the ground. She convinces him to kill the King at the start of the play, but after that she has no input in the decisions he makes. MacDuff's leaving seems to reinforce Macbeth's fears from the witches' prediction--that MacDuff is a threat that must be dealt with swiftly. Why does Macduff say "O Scotland, O Scotland"? He isn’t loyal to him and is angry 7. But Macduff is deeply motivated by his wife and sons’ deaths, and speaks several times in the … Malcolm tests Macduff because he's afraid that Macbeth sent Macduff to get Malcolm and trick him to return home. Since he cannot physically get at Macduff who has fled to England, Macbeth does what he believes to be the next best thing, he kills the Macduff … He is damned for trusting them 5. What do you suppose he means by that? 5) How did Birnam Wood move and why was Macduff able to kill Macbeth? Macbeth then enters, demanding answers to his pressing questions about the future. Macbeth's hasty decision to murder MacDuff's family reveals his growing paranoia; he will take whatever action necessary to ensure the end of MacDuff's line. One reason Macbeth slaughters Macduff's family is to send a message to his political enemies. Macbeth resolves to send murderers to capture Macduff's castle and to kill Macduff's wife and children. The second apparition says that no one woman born shall kill Macbeth, and Macduff (born of a C-Section) killed him. Sign up now, Latest answer posted November 22, 2020 at 4:54:26 PM, Latest answer posted December 22, 2020 at 4:07:04 PM, Latest answer posted June 27, 2017 at 1:37:34 AM, Latest answer posted December 16, 2018 at 6:15:54 PM, Latest answer posted June 08, 2007 at 7:16:03 AM. Macbeth arranges for murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and children, after Macduff has already fled to England to seek help from the king for his cause against Macbeth. Secondly, why did Macbeth kill Banquo? ... What is drugging the guards (or getting the guards drunk so they pass out), so Macbeth can kill the king while he sleeps? Question: Why did Lady Macbeth kill herself? Macbeth resolves to send murderers to capture Macduff’s castle and to kill Macduff’s wife and children. He loves Scotland and puts his family at risk to help raise an army to topple Macbeth’s tyrannical rule. Macduff remembers Macbeth's guilty behavior and knows intuitively that Macbeth was the real murderer. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, it is Macbeth that orders the death of Macduff's wife and children after he finds out that Macduff has left England. Macbeth's superstition and belief in the witches' prophecy lead him to eliminate Macduff's family. … Enough" (IV.i.79-80). Macduff, a legendary hero, plays a pivotal role in the play: he suspects Macbeth of regicide and eventually kills Macbeth in the final act. He immediately resolves to strike out at MacDuff and orders the attack on the castle to "give to the edge o’ the sword/ His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line" (IV.i.168-170). He can be seen as the avenging hero who helps save Scotland from Macbeth's tyranny in the play. How does Macbeth's character change throughout the course of the play? Though Lady Macduff's appearance is limited to this scene, her role in the play is quite … Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. What are the three predictions of the witches in. Macbeth's superstition and belief in the witches' prophecy lead him to eliminate Macduff's family. Macduff is determined to kill Macbeth and revenge the brutal murder of his family as this short speech from Act 5 scene 7 makes clear. Then in the same scene, Macbeth hears from Lennox that MacDuff has fled to England. Actually it is the other way around: Macduff eventually kills him.