What had he done, to make him fly the land?
What had he done, to make him fly the land?
what had he done, to make him fly the land?
what had he done, to make him fly the land?
You must have patience, madam.
You must have patience, madam.
you must have patience, madam.
you must have patience, madam.
He had none:
His flight was madness: when our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.
He had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.
he had none: his flight was madness: when our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors.
he had none: his flight was madness: when our actions do not
You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
You know not Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
you know not whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
you know not whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion, and his titles, in a place
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not:
He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear, and nothing is the love;
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.
Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion, and his titles, in a place From whence himself does fly? He loves us not: He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, The most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear, and nothing is the love; As little is the wisdom, where the flight So runs against all reason.
wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion, and his titles, in a place from whence himself does fly? he loves us not: he wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, the most diminutive of birds, will fight, her young ones in her nest, against the owl. all is the fear, and nothing is the love; as little is the wisdom, where the flight so runs against all reason.
wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion,
My dearest coz,
I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further:
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors,
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and move—I take my leave of you:
Shall not be long but I’ll be here again.
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before.—My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!
My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further: But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea Each way and move—I take my leave of you: Shall not be long but I’ll be here again. Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before.—My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you!
my dearest coz, i pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, he is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows the fits o’ th’ season. i dare not speak much further: but cruel are the times, when we are traitors, and do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour from what we fear, yet know not what we fear, but float upon a wild and violent sea each way and move—i take my leave of you: shall not be long but i’ll be here again. things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward to what they were before.—my pretty cousin, blessing upon you!
my dearest coz, i pray you, school yourself: but, for your h
Father’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.
Father’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.
father’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.
father’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.
I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort:
I take my leave at once.
I am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace and your discomfort: I take my leave at once.
i am so much a fool, should i stay longer, it would be my disgrace and your discomfort: i take my leave at once.
i am so much a fool, should i stay longer, it would be my di
Sirrah, your father’s dead.
And what will you do now? How will you live?
Sirrah, your father’s dead. And what will you do now? How will you live?
sirrah, your father’s dead. and what will you do now? how will you live?
sirrah, your father’s dead. and what will you do now? how wi
As birds do, mother.
As birds do, mother.
as birds do, mother.
as birds do, mother.
What, with worms and flies?
What, with worms and flies?
what, with worms and flies?
what, with worms and flies?
With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
with what i get, i mean; and so do they.
with what i get, i mean; and so do they.
Poor bird! thou’dst never fear the net nor lime,
The pit-fall nor the gin.
Poor bird! thou’dst never fear the net nor lime, The pit-fall nor the gin.
poor bird! thou’dst never fear the net nor lime, the pit-fall nor the gin.
poor bird! thou’dst never fear the net nor lime, the pit-fal
Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.
Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. My father is not dead, for all your saying.
why should i, mother? poor birds they are not set for. my father is not dead, for all your saying.
why should i, mother? poor birds they are not set for. my fa
The Macduff Boy has no name in the text — he is simply 'Son' in the stage directions. This is unusual for a character given so much dialogue. The namelessness may be deliberate: he is not a specific historical or legendary figure but a universal. Any child. The scene is constructed around his wit and vitality precisely to make his murder a moral argument rather than simply a plot point. Shakespeare has been careful throughout Macbeth to keep the murders offstage or at a distance: we see the aftermath of Duncan's murder, we hear about the grooms, we see Banquo killed but mostly in darkness. The murder of the Boy happens in full view, mid-conversation. It is the only moment in the play when the violence is completely unmediated. That choice forces the audience to hold the cost directly. Macduff's grief in 4-3 — 'all my pretty ones' — lands harder because we have seen this one.
Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
Nay, how will you do for a husband?
Nay, how will you do for a husband?
nay, how will you do for a husband?
nay, how will you do for a husband?
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
why, i can buy me twenty at any market.
why, i can buy me twenty at any market.
Then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
Then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
Thou speak’st with all thy wit;
And yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee.
Thou speak’st with all thy wit; And yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee.
thou speak’st with all thy wit; and yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee.
thou speak’st with all thy wit; and yet, i’ faith, with wit
Was my father a traitor, mother?
Was my father a traitor, mother?
was my father a traitor, mother?
was my father a traitor, mother?
Ay, that he was.
Ay, that he was.
ay, that he was.
ay, that he was.
What is a traitor?
What is a traitor?
what is a traitor?
what is a traitor?
Why, one that swears and lies.
Why, one that swears and lies.
why, one that swears and lies.
why, one that swears and lies.
And be all traitors that do so?
And be all traitors that do so?
and be all traitors that do so?
and be all traitors that do so?
Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
and must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
and must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
Every one.
Every one.
every one.
every one.
Who must hang them?
Who must hang them?
who must hang them?
who must hang them?
Why, the honest men.
Why, the honest men.
why, the honest men.
why, the honest men.
Then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers
enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
Then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars a
Scene 4-2 is quietly critical of Macduff in a way critics sometimes overlook. Lady Macduff is not simply lamenting — she is angry, and her anger has point. Macduff left without explanation. He didn't arrange protection for his family. He chose the political cause over their safety. Her line 'When our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors' is about the political situation, but it is also about him: his fear made him run, and his running — however principled — left his family exposed. In 4-3 Malcolm will ask Macduff why he left his family, and Macduff will have no satisfying answer. Shakespeare builds in this critique: the hero of the play's ending is not unambiguously heroic. He had duties to people he abandoned. The play does not resolve this tension — it holds it.
Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
now, god help thee, poor monkey! but how wilt thou do for a father?
now, god help thee, poor monkey! but how wilt thou do for a
If he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good
sign that I should quickly have a new father.
If he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
if he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that i should quickly have a new father.
if he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it w
Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man’s advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.
To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage;
To do worse to you were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer.
Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect. I doubt some danger does approach you nearly: If you will take a homely man’s advice, Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage; To do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer.
bless you, fair dame! i am not to you known, though in your state of honour i am perfect. i doubt some danger does approach you nearly: if you will take a homely man’s advice, be not found here; hence, with your little ones. to fright you thus, methinks, i am too savage; to do worse to you were fell cruelty, which is too nigh your person. heaven preserve you! i dare abide no longer.
bless you, fair dame! i am not to you known, though in your
Whither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable; to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have done no harm? What are these faces?
Whither should I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where to do harm Is often laudable; to do good sometime Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas, Do I put up that womanly defence, To say I have done no harm? What are these faces?
whither should i fly? i have done no harm. but i remember now i am in this earthly world, where to do harm is often laudable; to do good sometime accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas, do i put up that womanly defence, to say i have done no harm? what are these faces?
whither should i fly? i have done no harm. but i remember no
Where is your husband?
Where is your husband?
where is your husband?
where is your husband?
I hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.
I hope, in no place so unsanctified Where such as thou mayst find him.
i hope, in no place so unsanctified where such as thou mayst find him.
i hope, in no place so unsanctified where such as thou mayst
He’s a traitor.
He’s a traitor.
he’s a traitor.
he’s a traitor.
Thou liest, thou shag-ear’d villain!
Thou liest, thou shag-ear’d villain!
thou liest, thou shag-ear’d villain!
thou liest, thou shag-ear’d villain!
What, you egg!
What, you egg!
what, you egg!
what, you egg!
He has kill’d me, mother:
Run away, I pray you!
He has kill’d me, mother: Run away, I pray you!
he has kill’d me, mother: run away, i pray you!
he has kill’d me, mother: run away, i pray you!
The Reckoning
The most devastating scene in Macbeth. Shakespeare places it immediately after the witches' cauldron to create a maximal contrast: from supernatural evil and prophecy, we cut to a kitchen — a mother and her child, talking. The Boy is one of Shakespeare's most memorable minor characters: witty, quick, fearless, wholly alive. He parries every one of his mother's statements with cheerful intelligence. He dies moments later, defending her, calling the murderer a liar. The scene's purpose is to make the moral cost of Macbeth's tyranny absolutely concrete. Not 'the nobility suffers' or 'the nation is harmed' — but this child, this mother, this conversation interrupted by killing.
If this happened today…
A woman whose husband has quietly left the country for political reasons — without telling her why. She's alone with their kid in the house. A neighbor comes by and says something vague about danger, doesn't explain, leaves. Then someone knocks on the door.