Macduff is a character in macbeth he is the backbone of a story in which we see the main protagonist, macbeth, sinking into mental, moral and political chaos, committing the most horrendous crimes against his people in the process. It is noticeable that their relationship in this scene is much like that of what we would expect a couple of their era to be like. However, despite the shortness of the scene, she is a rounded character. Macbeth, characters in the play the folger shakespeare. He embodies the qualities of patriotism and loyalty because he strives to make scotland a great country. All speeches lines and cues for lady macduff in macbeth. In what ways does lady macduff contrast with lady macbeth. Apr 02, 2014 lady macduff provides an example of a woman who generally stays within the bounds of her gender, serving as an appropriate foil to lady macbeths disorderly dissent. Macduff is the archetype of the avenging hero, not simply out for revenge but with a good and holy purpose. In the play, lady macbeth is more aggressive, insightful, and reactive than lady macduff. Macduff is a faithful thane to duncan and is suspicious about his murder. Macbeth already had plans to murder macduff after his encounter with the witches, but macduff s trip to england so antagonizes macbeth that he orders the slaughter of macduff s entire household, culminating in this horrifying scene. Lady macbeth plans to chastise macbeth with the valour of her tongue, which is another way of saying shes going to nag her husband into taking action so he can be crownd withal. Lady macduffs observation is a direct indictment of lady macbeth, whose harmful actions have led to lady macduffs murder, and whose womanly defense cannot save her.
Macbeth s lady macduff is the wife of macduff and the mother of macduffs son. What is the difference between lady macbeth and lady macduff. What was the role of lady macduff in macbeth answers. His wife is lady macduff, and the two have babies and a young son. When we first see her, she is already plotting duncans murder, and she is stronger, more ruthless, and more ambitious than her husband. Macduff, the thane of fife, is macbeth s deadly enemy.
Because she only appears in one act actually only one scene in that act, she can be said to be a minor or secondary character and thus might be often overlooked when the play is discussed. Lady macbeth looks at a situation and a person and analyzes their strengths and their weaknesses. Macduff, the thane of fife, is macbeths deadly enemy. Macduff is the character who has two of the most significant roles in the play. When macbeth is considering whether or not to kill duncan, lady macbeth tells him. He discovers duncans body and becomes malcolms chief supporter, following him to england to support him in raising an army against macbeth. He is probably around 7 to 10 years old in the play. We meet lady macduff as she talks with ross and then her son about macduff, declaring him a traitor. Lady macbeth s madness roman polanski 1971 duration. Even more than the kings own son, macduff appears to mourn the loss of the king, and the man. Lady macbeth drives the plot by showing the tragic fruits of corruption. Though she has told her son that his father is dead, the.
The first impression of lady macduff, however, presents her slightly out of place, as when she receives news that her husband has fled she responds, his flight was madness. Lady macduff copes fine without her husband but lady macbeth is strong in different way. Mar 23, 2015 lady macduffs demands to know why her husband left and her accusing him of being a coward, showing how shakespeare uses the theme of manhood again. Although warned by the thane of ross to escape before it is too late, lady macduff is encountered by macbeth s henchmen, who brutally kill first. Macduff struggles to find the words to express his rage and anguish, crying, o horror, horror, horror 2. Lady macduff as a foil for lady macbeth in many of shakespeares plays, there is a major character, and a lesser character whose character traits directly contrast those of the major character. Lady macbeth is one of shakespeares most famous and frightening female characters. Ross advises her to be patient and exits, leaving her alone with her son. Characters who embody the values of masculinity in macbeth. In what ways does lady macduff contrast with lady macbeth in. The character of macduff in macbeth from litcharts the.
This helps reconcile us as an audience to macduffs. Lady macduff anguishes over her husbands departure to england. Macduff gets revenge when he beheads macbeth, thus restoring order to his country. Sep 24, 20 lady macduff, one of the few female characters in the tragedy, provides an interesting challenge when it comes to analyzing shakespeares macbeth. Macbeth s lady macduff is the wife of macduff and the mother of macduff s son.
Prodded by his ambitious wife, lady macbeth, he murders king duncan, becomes king, and sends mercenaries to kill banquo and his sons. Macduff kills macbeth, and duncans son malcolm becomes king. Also, because she is such a sympathetic character, we are the more horrified by her pointless murder. Lady macbeths angry complaints imply that a real man would not sacrifice his familys safety for the good of his country. She believes he cannot love his family as he has fled the country for england and left them behind. Lord macduff, the thane of fife, is a character in william shakespeares macbeth c. Hes the only one who asks why macbeth killed the guards senselessly. Macbeth act iv, scene 2 macduffs castle glenbard west high school, glen ellyn, il feb. Her only appearance in the play is in act iv, scene ii, where she is shown she is talking to ross, one of the thanes. Lady macduff as a foil for lady macbeth essay 505 words. Lady macduff is a character in william shakespeares macbeth. 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. Ross visits lady macduff and tries to justify to her macduffs flight to england, a flight that leaves his family act 4, scene 3 macduff finds malcolm at the english court and urges him to attack macbeth at once. This helps reconcile us as an audience to macduff s.
Lady macduff is presented as a wife and a mother, a wife who is annoyed over her husbands apparently irresponsible desertion of the family, and a mother who is cocerned about her sons safety in the absence of the father. Macduff suspects macbeth from the beginning, and becomes one of the leaders of the rebellion. All speeches lines for lady macduff in macbeth open. In act 1 scene 5 we see the relationship that lady macbeth and macbeth had. Hes also the first to see that lady macbeth is fainting. This interpretation is supported by macduff s reaction upon his discovery of duncans corpse and the echo of macduff s words when macbeth responds to the news of lady macbeth s death. Lady macduff of macbeth essay example 1952 words bartleby. Quotes tagged as ladymacduff showing of 3 all is the fear, and nothing is the love, as little is the wisdom, where the flight so runs against all reason. Macbeth is a tragedy written by william shakespeare that portrays the main characters bloody rise to power as the king of. Oct 03, 20 macbeth act iv, scene 2 macduff s castle glenbard west high school, glen ellyn, il feb. Get an answer for in what ways does lady macduff contrast with lady macbeth in macbeth. Lady macbeth and lady macduff are similar in that they expect their husbands be protect and rule their families. He is also vengeful after his family is slaughtered by macbeths orders.
Shakespeare uses lady macbeth to demonstrate the control that ambitious, manipulative, seductive women hold over their husbands. Lady macbeths madness roman polanski 1971 duration. One example of this exists in the play romeo and juliet, in which. She is an obvious foil to the other lady in the play, lady macbeth. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
She is seen in conversation with ross and when ross departs, she and her son keep talking until the muderers break in to kill the boy and to. Summary in macduffs castle in fife, lady macduff comforts and is comforted by her young son, who displays a courage beyond his years when confronted with the possibility that his father has turned traitor. Lady macduff is furious at her husband for fleeing the country without taking his family with him or even saying goodbye. Lady macduff as a foil for lady macbeth essay 505 words 3 pages. This conversation is cut off midway at the arrival of the murderers, who proceed to kill both lady macduff and her son by order of macbeth. Ross visits lady macduff and tries to justify to her macduffs flight to england, a flight that leaves his family act 4, scene 3 macduff finds malcolm at the english court and urges him to.
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. Who is lady macduff in macbeth shakespeares macbeth. Macduff, a legendary hero, plays a pivotal role in the play. Macduff, the thane of fife, is a nobleman who is loyal to his country and family. In one of the plays most famous scenes, lady macbeths sins flood over her, tugging her into madness. During his only appearance in act iv, scene ii, he is told by his mother that his father is dead. She is the wife of lord macduff, the thane of fife, and the mother of an unnamed son and other children.