Macduff

• Macduff - (A2S4) "lest our old robes sit easier than our new"

  • Reveals Macduff's bleak perception of a future Scotland under Macbeth as he uses the extended metaphor of predicting Scotland will change for the worse
  • He suggests there will be chaos and a divergence from the peace of the past
• Macduff - (A4S3) "fit to govern? No not to live!"

  • Through Shakespeare's use of rhetorical question and hypophora (a question raised and immediately answered) emphasise his HATRED of TYRANNY and complete loyalty to Scotland
  • He RESENTS tyranny and this is clear by opposing Macbeth with an army from England. In 4.3 Malcom tests Macduff to see if he is a MAN OF PRINCIPAL. When Malcom changes from character flaws to the disruption of Scotland's order. This is evident as Malcom suggest that "I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell"
• Macduff - (A4S3) "thy hope ends here"

  • Demonstrates Macduff's pessimistic outlook - he would not be able to be happy if Scotland was ruled by a tyrant
  • Malcom also tests Macduff and proves him not to be naive; he will not accept something that wouldn't be good for the country as he shows great emotion towards the well-being of the country
• Macduff - (A4S2) Ross: "he is noble, wise, judicious" | "Cruel are the times when we are traitor and do not know ourselves"

  • Ross defends macbeth with a tricolon of trustworthy adjectives showing the audience he would be a good leader
  • Macduff is only doing what he thinks is best for Scotland - not being a traitor to Scotland but to his family as he could only save one. He is the complete foil to Macbeth, who conversely obeys his wife and is a traitor to his country, who obeys his family but betrays his country
• Macduff - (A2S3) "most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the lord's anointed temple"

  • Metaphorical language in stating Duncan's body was a temple - enforcing the holiness of Duncan's reign
  • Recognises Duncan as the true - divinely ordained, king.
  • This demonstrates Macduff's loyalty to Scotland, in addition to his intensely patriotic nature
• Macduff - (A4S3) - "new widows howl new orphans cry"

  • Macduff kills Macbeth after the murder of his wife and children, as he is fighting for his family, but also for all the women and children in Scotland, which is evidenced through the Shakespeare's use of zoomorphism.
  • Verb "howl" cultivates a greater sense of sympathy for these orphans - like abandoned puppies