Lady Macduff Extract Analysis

The extract is from Macbeth written by William Shakespeare in the year 1606. It is from act 4 scene 2. The extract primarily deals with the frustration and anger of lady macduff for her husband who fled away to England and betrayed her and their children. Lady macduff and her son have a serious talk in this scene in which she argues about how will they survive without the main pillar of their family i.e. macduff. The context starts with the conversation between Ross and Lady Macduff. Her tone reflects this in the ensuing scene where she argues with her son that his father, macduff, was a traitor and a liar. In the starting of the extract, Lady macduff believes that her husband is dead for her. Left on their own, Lady Macduff and her

Though a short interlude with characters that appear just once, the extract plays an important role in the larger scheme of plot and theme. This extract also has multiple speakers- mother, son, the messenger. The talk indeed is full of symbolism and metaphors so the connotations differ from denotations. atmosphere here is quiet intense as we can see by the dialogues which are urgent and masked with fear. The flippant quips and humorous remarks changes with the arrival of messenger. The mood swings of lady macduff adds more imaginary drama. The diction used by them is dependent on the mood and the situation, as it flicks with the sudden retorted

And also irony when she says “he wants the natural touch” meaning her husband lacks human kindness. Metaphor is been used throughout as they compare innocent animals to themselves. She says that even the tiny wren would show more spirited defence to her family then macduff. Tone here is very sarcastic with many retorted questions asked again and again which creates a serious environment and gets lady macduff angry and furious. The chirpiness of son is soon turned into fear after the murderers come after them. The threatening tone of the murderers scare lady macduff and her son and they are left in