Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2

The Importance of Act 4, Scene 2

The Three Main Themes Demonstrated

In Act 4, scene 2 of Macbeth by Shakespeare, there is three main themes that are demonstrated. This scene takes place in Macduff’s castle. This scene is where Lady Macduff, Ross and the kids realize that Macduff has flown away from them. Macduff is known as a coward and his manhood is questioned by Lady Macduff. She refuses to believe that he is alive, and so she says that he can be replaced. In the story Macbeth act 4,scene 2, three central themes are perceived; manhood, madness and flight. To begin, the first major theme of this act has to do with manhood. In the story Macbeth as a whole, manhood had been questioned and brought up in previous parts of the story. In the beginning of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth on page 338, line 47-50, “What beast was’t then that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man.” She is questioning Macbeth’s manhood because he will not follow through with what Lady Macbeth wants. So in order to get what she wants, she questions his manhood. This theme is also seen In act 4, scene 2 page 385 line 27, Lady Macduff says to Ross,

In Macbeth, without madness being a central theme, there would be no story to begin with. On page 364 lines 116-177, Macbeth speaks to the two murderers,” Both of you know Banquo was your enemy.” Macbeth shows madness on these pages, because he is going as far as killing his own best friend because he wants to make sure that he can keep what he has. He demonstrates the theme madness very well. In act 4 scene 2, on page 385, lines 1-3 Lady Macduff says,” He had none: His flight was madness. When our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors.” This is yet another example of the theme madness being portrayed in this story. Lady Macduff says that Macduff was full of madness, and that is why he fled, and that is what makes him a