Paper 3: Macduff Flashcards
When is the audience introduced to Macduff and why is this entrance significant
Macduff enters right after king Duncans murder in 2.2, knocking at the gate causing him to take the detective role within the crime genre.
Explain the significance of Macduff in support of the crime genre within Macbeth
Macduff is established as a detective due to him interrupting Macbeth and Lady Macbeth right after they’ve committed regicide.
“The heavens, as troubled with man’s act, threatens his bloody stage”
“war with mankind”
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“The heavens, as troubled with man’s act, threatens his bloody stage”
“war with mankind”
Theme: Supernatural
Context: Great chain of being
Techniques: Imagery, foreshadowing, adjective
Extra: 2.4 Macduff and the Old Man discuss the unnaturalness of the natural world, Macduff fits the detective role, wondering why nature is making “war with mankind”
Macduff is the first person to doubt Macbeth’s accusation that the grooms murdered Duncan is Macduff – suspects him.
Ross: “Here comes the good Macduff”
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Ross: “Here comes the good Macduff”
Theme: Hero
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Techniques: Adjective
Extra: Archetypal hero 2.4
What is Ross’s role within the play of Macbeth?
Ross is a thane in Scotland. He brings reports of Macbeth’s bravery to King Duncan. Ross visits Lady Macduff to tell her that Macduff has fled to England. Later, he delivers the news to Macduff that his family have been murdered.
Macduff: (discovering Duncan’s body) “Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord’s anointed temple”
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Macduff: (discovering Duncan’s body) “Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord’s anointed temple”
Theme: Virtue, hero
Context: Chain of being
Techniques: Macduff’s reaction to Duncan’s murder and his later use of a semantic field of truth/righteousness/virtue.
Extra: Shakespeare cements him on the side of good, to contrast Macbeth
Macduff “bleed bleed poor country!”
“your wife and babes savagely slaughtered”
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Macduff “bleed bleed poor country”
“your wife and babes savagely slaughtered”
Theme:
Context: Great chain of being
Techniques: Metaphor, foreshadowing, exclamative
Extra: Macduff has a lot of sympathy for Scotland - “bleed bleed poor country” - he is presented as a healer of Scotland, fighting for the greater good of NATURE and his PEOPLE. This makes the audience empathise with him, and the scene follows with news of his family - “your wife and babes savagely slaughtered” - pathos
Macduff: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!…”
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Macduff: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!…”
Theme: Death
Context: Chain of being, divine right of kings
Techniques: Repetition emphasises state of shock, exclamative,
Extra: Macduff discovers Duncan’s murder in 2.3 and announces it to the rest of the people at Macbeth’s castle. Macduff’s lines of genuine horror and remorse at the death of king contrast with the suspicion and distrust Macbeth’s subjects will feel for him once he takes Duncan’s place.
Macduff “Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, my wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.”
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Macduff “Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, my wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.”
Theme: Motive
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Techniques: Imperative sentence
Extra: Macduff is motivated by the murder of his wife and children, but still presented as compassionate - heroic qualities. Macduff is articulating - Tyrant, show your face! If you are killed without a strike from my own sword, the ghosts of my wife and children will haunt me forever.
