Act 4

Question 1

Lady Macbeth’s absence

Answer 1

-Lady Macbeth does not appear in Act 4 hence it makes her fall from grace more rapid
-due to her absence in Act 4 and her emergence as a carcass of insanity in Act 5 , her rapid fall from grace is evident
-her violation of natural order and her attempt to subvert patriarchal norms is a very punishable offence
-Lady Macbeth suffers faster than Macbeth due to her nature as a woman despite how she tries to distance herself from her femininity
-her remorse and her sensitivity is relative to her role as a woman and impossible to eradicate
-perhaps Shakespeare is mocking female ambition and the impossibility of a woman being equal to a man in power

Question 2

“bleed bleed poor country” [4.3 Macduff]

appearance vs reality

Answer 2

-depicts the deep emotional connection between Macduff and Scotland which reinforces his overt patriotism
-this phrase personifies Scotland giving it human qualities of injury and suffering which reinforces the idea that Scotland is dying under Macbeth’s reign
-this could be indicative of his malicious nature, a quality which juxtaposes the role of a king

Question 3

what I am truly is thine,and my poor countries, to command” [4.3 Malcolm]

Answer 3

-the emplyment of caesura following thine creates a momentary pause. This silence allows the audience to fully absorb Malcolm’s steadfast dedication towards his kingdom and people
-this reflects his loyalty, an crucial quality of a worthy king
-there is no gap between his outward presentation and inner reality as he is the embodiment of a true king
-selfless declaration positions Malcolm as the antithesis of the tyrannical ambition of Macbeth
-possesive pronoun “my” could imply a sense of ownership, reflective of his true claim to the throne
-the adjective “poor” evokes a sense of sympathy for Scotland’s suffering at the hands pf Macbeth and portrays him as a compassionate protector
-foil for Macbeth’s selfish desires