Act 4 Scene 3

• What happens in Act 4 Scene 3 in Macbeth?

  1. Macduff fled to England to join Malcom (Duncans son).
  2. Discuss how to overthrow Macbeth.
  3. Malcom tests Macduff's loyalty.
  4. Malcom reveals his true intention to return to Scotland and fight Macbeth.
  5. Ross arrives and informs Macduff that his wife and children have been murdered by Macbeth’s orders.
  6. Macduff is heartbroken and vows to seek revenge on Macbeth, setting the stage for the final confrontation.
• What does it mean when Ross says, 'poor country, almost afraid to know itself'?

  M has destroyed Scotland, causing Scotland to lose its identity and be taken over by evil.
• What does it mean when Ross says, 'your wife and babes savagely slaughtered'?

  It shows the destruction of innocents, the violent death, how they were treated like animals and how they were dishornoured.
• What does it mean when Malcom says, 'Let's make us med'cines of our great revenge'?

  Malcom wants Macduff to be angry in order to use him to kill Macbeth.
• What does it mean when Macduff says, 'He has no children'?

  Macbeth has no innocents, and he will never feel the same pain.
• What does it mean when Malcom says, 'Dispute it like a man'?

  Malcom wants Macduff to be angry and to fight Macbeth.
• What does it mean when Macduff says, 'I must also feel it as a man'?

  Macduff needs time to grief, and he has had no time to heal.
• What does it mean when Malcom says, 'Be this the whetsone of your sword. Let grief convert to anger. Blunt not the heart; enrage it'?

  Malcom has lost his home and his father.