act 4 scene 2 events and quotes

Question 1

“He loves us not…(Lady Macduff)

Answer 1

“He wants the natural touch”

Question 2

what does the quote “He loves us not; He wants the natural touch mean?”

Answer 2

he lacks feeling for his family- he does not love the family anymore

Question 3

what does Shakespeare personify Lady Macduff as?

Answer 3

• a bird- a “poor wren”
• the most “diminutive of birds”

Question 4

what would the audience think of Lady Macduff being personified as a bird?

Answer 4

they would feel sympathetic and feel pity upon Lady Macduff and her family

Question 5

what is significant about Lady Macduff calling herself a wren?

Answer 5

• there is a sense of impending doom/tragedy
• she is vulnerable (poor wren) against the owl (Macbeth)
• the owl is a large, big bird
• she has to protect her children (her young ones in the nest)

Question 6

what does Lady Macbeth think her husband is and what is significant about this?

Answer 6

• she thinks her husband is a traitor
• dramatic irony as he has left her and his children so he can save Scotland from Macbeth

Question 7

what is the sense of impending tragedy?

Answer 7

• Macduff’s family will die thinking their husband betrayed them and was a traitor
• they believe their father/ husband has abandoned them- makes the scene even more tragic
• highlights the impact Macbeth has on families and breaking them

Question 8

what is the conversation like between Lady Macduff and her son?

Answer 8

light- hearted and colloquial

Question 9

what is the effect of using a light-hearted and colloquial conversation between Lady Macduff and her son?

Answer 9

it is in massive contrast to what Macbeth is planning to do to them- shows how they are completely unaware/ oblivious to what Macbeth is plotting- makes the death even more tragic

Question 10

what is significant about Lady Macduff’s son not knowing what a traitor is?

Answer 10

• it shows his innocence and youth
• makes it even more tragic as Macbeth can kill innocent women and children without having any remorse

Question 11

how does Lady Macduff answer her son when he asks what a traitor is?

Answer 11

“Why, one that swears and lies”

Question 12

what terms of fertility are used and what are they used as?

Answer 12

• “egg”
• “fry”
• terms of fertility are used as terms of abuse

Question 13

what is life in Scotland like?

Answer 13

• people are prepared to kill innocent women and children
• people have become evil under the influence of Macbeth
• under Macbeth’s tyrannical rule, the country has become corrupt