Macduff Flashcards
“O gentle lady, ‘tis not for you to hear what I speak”
Macduff thinks that Lady Macbeth is too weak and vulnerable to hear about the murder of Duncan. This is ironic considering Lady Macbeth’s desire to remove her femininity and her manipulation of Macbeth to kill Duncan.
“Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope, The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence”
Macduff refers to the idea of the Divine Right of Kings and that Duncan is the rightful ruler. He suggests Duncan’s body is like a church which has had his life stolen from him.
“No cousin, I’ll to Fife”
Macduff doesn’t go to Macbeth’s coronation which suggests he doesn’t support Macbeth’s claim to become king.
“Fit to govern! No, not to live”
Macduff proves his loyalty to Scotland by saying he won’t help a tyrant to succeed as monarch. Shows he is planning to kill Macbeth to get Malcolm (the rightful heir) on the throne.
“But I must also feel it as a man”
This shows the different attitude Macduff has towards masculinity and that he believes it is normal to be an emotional man. This is the opposite to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who have very stereotypical views of what is masculine and feminine.
“Tyrant! Show thy face!” “Turn Hell Hound, turn!”
Macduff is confronting Macbeth with a whole army behind him to take back the throne of Scotland.
“Macduff was from his mother’s womb
Untimely ripped.”
Macduff reveals that he was born by caesarean. This makes Macbeth realise he is doomed and that he is fighting a losing battle.
