Lecture 5.6.1 – Macbeth (Act 4 Scene 3)
Lecture Overview
In this lecture, you will read Act 4 Scene 3.
Act 4 Scene 3:
Malcolm tests Macduff by telling him that he (Malcolm) would be an even more bloodthirsty tyrant than Macbeth -- Macduff is disheartened and begins to leave, thus passing Malcolm's test -- They decide to fight together against Macbeth -- Ross enters and tells Macduff his family has been killed.
This exchange between Malcolm the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland and Macduff is filled with verbal irony.
Malcolm can’t be sure that Macduff hasn’t come to deceive him or take him back to Scotland so that Macbeth can kill him and secure the throne. Is Macduff working with Macbeth or can Malcolm trust him. Malcolm has to test Macbeth’s loyalty. How? Shakespeare has an ingenious way of doing that.