ACT 4 SCENE 3

Macbeth’s Tyranny

• Macduff and Malcolm discuss the devastating effects of Macbeth's reign on Scotland.
• The scene opens with Macduff's powerful imagery: “each new morn new widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven on the face, that it resounds as if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out…”.
• Macduff expresses sorrow for the state of his country, lamenting the loss of life and the pervasive suffering that has become a part of everyday life.
• Malcolm, unable to immediately act in revenge, promises to address the situation as soon as possible.
• The scene underlines the growing sense of desperation and despair in Scotland, with suffering becoming a relentless force.

Macduff's Loyalty

• Macduff's loyalty to his country and his moral compass are tested by Malcolm’s initial claims of wickedness.
• Malcolm describes himself as a potential ruler even more wicked than Macbeth.
• Macduff’s strong moral resolve and loyalty to Scotland are evident in his immediate dismissal of Malcolm's confession of his potential vices (“Fit to govern!... No, not to live”).
• With this exchange, Shakespeare is exploring the theme of whether a ruler can be too virtuous to effectively rule, as Macduff is rejecting Malcolm's self-accusation of being more vicious than Macbeth, even though Malcolm is genuinely virtuous.

Malcolm's True Character

• Malcolm, confronted by Macduff’s righteous anger and integrity, sheds his disguise.
• He reveals his true, virtuous character, confessing to have tested Macduff's loyalty and faith.
• He acknowledges the depth of Macduff’s moral compass, stating "this noble passion, Child of integrity, hath from my soul wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts To thy good truth and honour."
• Malcolm’s confession signifies a turning point in the play, offering hope for a unified resistance against Macbeth.

The King’s Cures

• Malcolm and Macduff are informed that the current King of England can cure the King’s Evil, a common ailment at the time.
• Malcolm recounts his experiences seeing the King’s cures, praising the monarch’s “sanctity” and his “heavenly gift of prophecy.”
• This scene serves as a subtle foreshadowing of Malcolm’s own potential, mirroring the King’s healing powers with his own capacity for restoration.

Scotland’s Grieving

• The entrance of Ross brings devastating news of the destruction of Macduff’s family by Macbeth.
• Ross paints a bleak portrait of Scotland in grieving, where “nothing but who knows nothing is once seen to smile.”
• Ross’s description of the country in mourning adds to the tragedy of the play, while also emphasizing the tyranny inflicted by Macbeth's reign.

The Power of Grieving

• Macduff, upon hearing the news of his family’s slaughter, grapples with overwhelming grief.
• Malcolm, recognizing the weight of Macduff’s sorrow, urges him to channel his grief into righteous anger, pushing Macduff to "dispute it like a man."
• The scene emphasizes the strength of human emotions and their role in motivating action.
• Macduff’s response further emphasizes the play's examination of the power of grief and its cyclical nature

The King’s Evil

• The Doctor reveals a unique healing power of the King of England, which he calls “the evil.”
• The King of England, through his touch, can heal people suffering from a disease, referred to as “the evil”.
• The King is described as having “sanctity” which gives him the gift of healing.
• This scene uses this element of “the evil” as a motif, highlighting the themes of corruption and redemption in the play.

Macduff's Grief and Malcolm's Test

• Malcolm and Macduff discuss their plans to fight Macbeth.
• Macduff's grief is immense, fueled by the loss of his family and country.
• Malcolm expresses doubt about his own ability to lead, claiming to be filled with vices.
• Macduff challenges Malcolm with a series of questions, testing his virtue and exploring his potential for leadership.
• Malcolm details his own exaggerated claims of wickedness, designed to test Macduff.
• Macduff shows his own integrity, declaring he would not be the villain Malcolm describes for all the wealth Macbeth possesses.

Ross's Tragic News

• Ross arrives, bringing news of the slaughter of Macduff’s family.
• The kingdom is described as a place of sorrow and despair.
• Macduff is heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief.
• Malcolm offers comfort, urging Macduff to channel his grief into revenge, suggesting they seek revenge as a remedy for their suffering.

Macduff's Resolve and Final Act

• Macduff realizes his family is dead, and he is fueled by a fierce desire for vengeance.
• Malcolm reassures Macduff that they are ready to fight, and they will use their combined strength to overthrow Macbeth.
• Macduff vows to fight Macbeth, no matter the cost.

The King's Touch

• Malcolm and Macduff encounter a doctor who mentions the king's ability to heal the sick.
• The king's healing touch is described as a miracle.
• This ability is presented as a sign of his holiness and virtue, contrasting sharply with Macbeth's tyranny.

Macduff’s Grief

• Macduff is overcome with grief at the news of his family's death.
• He initially wants to weep and mourn their loss.
• Macduff says that he will not be the villain that Malcolm thinks he is even if he's given the entire kingdom.
• He laments that good people are dying while evil thrives.
• Macduff describes his overwhelming grief as "the heaviest sound that ever yet they heard."
• Macduff blames himself for his family's murder. He believes that their deaths were a consequence of his own sins.
• In his grief, Macduff wishes to confront Macbeth and avenge his family. He cries out to Heaven to grant him a chance for revenge.

Malcolm’s Pretense

• Malcolm tells Macduff he thinks his country is sinking under the yoke of the tyrant.
• Malcolm expresses his desire to overthrow Macbeth but doubts his own ability to be a good king, claiming he possesses all the vices of a tyrant.
• He pretends to be a man full of lust, avarice, and other vices.
• Malcolm intentionally makes himself seem unfit to rule in order to test Macduff's integrity.
• Malcolm pretends he is “unknown to woman”, implying he is unfaithful and incapable of love. He also claims to have coveted what he could not have and broken his faith.
• Malcolm’s exaggerations about his vices are intended to gauge Macduff’s reaction, in an attempt to make sure Macduff is truly on his side.

Macduff's Revelation

• Macduff is shocked by Malcolm’s seemingly self-deprecating confession of his own vices.
• Macduff is dismayed by Malcolm’s confession, believing that Scotland is doomed to live under a tyrant if a ruler like Malcolm is the only alternative.
• After Malcolm’s confession, Macduff begins to question whether Scotland will ever see better days.
• Macduff calls out to his homeland and asks when it will ever see true peace again.
• Macduff feels the hope of his country rests with Malcolm, making Malcolm's confession a blow to his already broken heart.

Malcolm’s True Character

• Malcolm, moved by Macduff’s noble reaction, reveals his true character.
• Malcolm admits that Macbeth, by testing him through various means, has attempted to manipulate him.
• Malcolm has been “plucked” from his impulsive actions by God, who was watching over him.
• Malcolm swears that he is worthy of Macduff’s trust.
• Malcolm also promises to join forces with Macduff and Siward to defeat Macbeth.
• Malcolm is ready to bring Macbeth down, emphasizing that it is a matter of time.

The King's Healing Touch

• A Doctor tells Malcolm that King Edward has returned to the palace.
• The Doctor describes the crowd waiting to be healed by King Edward's touch.
• Edward is described as being divinely gifted with the ability to heal the sick.

Scotland’s Fate

• Ross tells Macduff that Scotland seems to be almost afraid to know itself.
• Scotland is depicted as a place where joy and beauty are absent.
• Ross shares with Macduff the news of his family being killed by Macbeth's forces.
• The news about Macduff's family is delivered with heavy heart.

Hope for Scotland

• Malcolm, with the support of England, reveals to Ross, that he is preparing to return to Scotland with an army.
• Malcolm emphasizes that Siward is a great fighter, but Malcolm is a better soldier.
• Macduff’s grief and vengeance are emphasized, but Malcolm is portrayed as a good soldier who will help restore Scotland.
• Malcolm suggests that their shared grief must turn into anger and action against Macbeth.
• Malcolm emphasizes their purpose, which ultimately is to free Scotland from Macbeth’s tyranny.

Macduff and Malcolm's Conversation

• Macduff wants to fight and avenge Scotland, while Malcolm is more cautious and wants to cry.

• Malcolm has been told about Macbeth's tyranny and asks Macduff to support him.

• Macduff refuses, thinking Malcolm is deceptive.

• Malcolm insists he is innocent but reveals his own flaws, including lust, greed, and a cruelty that would rival Macbeth's.

• Macduff is unsure what to believe and blames himself for his family's "rawness" in leaving Scotland.

• Macduff is convinced Malcolm is fit to rule, but he insists on knowing what Malcolm would be like as king.

• Malcolm describes his flaws in detail, even suggesting he would be worse than Macbeth.

• Macduff questions Malcolm's true nature, challenging him to prove his worthiness.

• Malcolm confesses his past lies, vowing to be honest moving forward, and reveals that Siward has already started a mission in Scotland.

Macduff Learns of His Family's Fate

• A doctor enters, revealing that Macbeth supposedly heals the sick by touch.

• Ross, Macduff’s cousin, arrives with news from Scotland.

• Ross describes Scotland's bleak state and the death of many good men.

• Macduff asks about his wife and children, but Ross reveals they have all been killed.

Reactions to Tragedy

• Macduff is devastated by the news.

• Malcolm tries to comfort Macduff, encouraging him to channel grief into anger.

• Macduff's grief overwhelms him, and he laments the loss of his family.

• Malcolm encourages Macduff to fight Macbeth, using his pain as fuel.

• The scene ends with Malcolm and Macduff preparing to join the fight and head towards Scotland.

Scene Setting

• Malcolm and Macduff are in England, outside the King's palace.
• They discuss their plan to overthrow Macbeth, who has become a tyrant.

Grief and Loss

• Macduff is devastated by the news of his family's murder.
• Malcolm feels compelled to act and calls for revenge.

Macduff's Doubt of Malcolm

• Macduff is suspicious of Malcolm's intentions and doubts his ability to be a worthy king.
• Macduff is concerned that Malcolm's morality might be as bad or worse than Macbeth's.

Malcolm's Confession

• Malcolm describes his own flaws and confesses to avarice and lust, which are worse than Macbeth's.
• This is a test to see if Macduff is truly loyal.

Macduff's Reaction

• Macduff is horrified by the news of his family's death and expresses his grief, vowing revenge upon Macbeth.
• Macduff is appalled by Malcolm's confessions and wonders how he could possibly lead Scotland.

Malcolm's Redemption

• Malcolm is redeemed in Macduff's eyes, having revealed his true character.
• Malcolm is humbled by Macduff's reaction and his own confession helps to unify them.

The King's Healing Touch

• King Edward has a holy gift and a strange power to cure the "evil" disease.
• This is presented as a contrast to Macbeth's tyranny, who is associated with darkness and evil.

Ross's Arrival

• Ross arrives from Scotland, bearing tragic news.
• Ross tells of Scotland's suffering and the news of Macduff's family's violent death.

Macduff's Determination

• Macduff is driven by his grief and desire for revenge, ready to confront Macbeth.
• The scene ends with Macduff and Malcolm determined to defeat Macbeth and restore peace to Scotland.