Macbeth Act 4 Scene 3: Summary, Line-by-Line Explanation and Word Meanings

The shifting tides of power: England prepares to challenge Macbeth’s tyranny.

Macbeth Act 4 Scene 3 takes us from troubled Scotland to England, where Macduff seeks Malcolm’s help to overthrow Macbeth. Before trusting him, Malcolm tests his loyalty by pretending to possess faults that would make him an even worse ruler than Macbeth. Macduff’s response reveals that his deepest loyalty belongs to Scotland and its people.

The scene then contrasts the healing powers attributed to England’s King Edward with the suffering caused by Macbeth’s tyranny. When Ross arrives with news of the murder of Macduff’s wife and children, political discussion becomes a deeply moving expression of personal grief. Macduff’s words, “But I must also feel it as a man,” show that courage and emotional sensitivity can exist together.

In this English Mines study guide, prepared by Paul Academy, you will find a clear summary, detailed line-by-line explanations, essential word meanings and an exploration of the scene’s themes and literary devices. These notes help ISC students understand Shakespeare’s language and develop answers supported by the text.

Macbeth, Act IV, Scene III

Line-by-Line Explanation and Word Meanings

Prepared by Paul Academy, powered by English Mines (© Paul Academy and English Mines) — explanations and study notes

1. Malcolm and Macduff discuss Scotland.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
[Enter Malcolm and Macduff]	Malcolm and Macduff come onto the stage.
Malcolm Let us seek out some desolate shade, and thereWeep our sad bosoms empty.	Let us find a lonely, sheltered place and weep until we have released all the sorrow in our hearts. Word meanings: desolate — lonely and deserted; shade — a sheltered place; bosoms — hearts. Note: Malcolm initially proposes mourning rather than immediate action.
Macduff Let us ratherHold fast the mortal sword, and like good menBestride our down-fall’n birthdom;	Instead, let us take up our deadly swords and, like brave and honourable men, defend our fallen homeland. Word meanings: mortal — deadly; bestride — stand protectively over; down-fall’n — ruined; birthdom — native country. Note: Scotland is pictured as a fallen person whom its defenders must protect.
Macduff each new mornNew widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrowsStrike heaven on the face,	Every morning brings more grieving widows, crying orphans, and fresh suffering. Their cries seem to strike heaven itself. Word meanings: morn — morning; widows — women whose husbands have died; orphans — children whose parents have died; howl — cry loudly. Note: Personification makes Scotland’s suffering seem powerful enough to strike heaven.
Macduff that it resoundsAs if it felt with Scotland and yell’d outLike syllable of dolour.	Heaven seems to echo those cries as though it shares Scotland’s pain and cries out in the same sorrowful voice. Word meanings: resounds — echoes; felt with — sympathised with; like syllable — a similar sound; dolour — sorrow. Note: Macduff describes a national catastrophe demanding action.
Malcolm What I believe I’ll wail,What know believe; and what I can redress,As I shall find the time to friend, I will.	I will mourn what I believe, believe what I know through reliable evidence, and remedy whatever wrongs I can when circumstances favour me. Word meanings: wail — lament; redress — put right; the time to friend — circumstances becoming favourable. Note: Malcolm is cautious about both information and action.
Malcolm What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,Was once thought honest;	Your report may perhaps be true. Macbeth’s name alone seems to burn our tongues with disgust, yet he was once considered honourable. Word meanings: perchance — perhaps; tyrant — an oppressive ruler; sole name — name alone; blisters — causes painful sores. Note: The blistering image expresses hatred and suffering. Macbeth’s earlier reputation warns against trusting appearances.
Malcolm you have lov’d him well;He hath not touch’d you yet.	You once supported Macbeth, and he has not harmed you so far. Word meanings: touch’d — harmed. Note: Malcolm suspects Macduff’s loyalties. Neither man yet knows about the murder of Macduff’s family.
Malcolm I am young; but somethingYou may deserve of him through me, and wisdomTo offer up a weak, poor, innocent lambTo appease an angry god.	Although I am young, I realise that you might earn Macbeth’s favour by handing me over. You might consider it clever to sacrifice someone innocent like me to satisfy his anger. Word meanings: deserve of him — earn from him; offer up — sacrifice; appease — calm or satisfy. Note: Metaphor: Malcolm is an innocent lamb; Macbeth is an angry god demanding a sacrifice. The comparison concerns power, not goodness.
Macduff I am not treacherous.	I am not a traitor and would not betray you. Word meanings: treacherous — disloyal and ready to betray trust.
Malcolm But Macbeth is.A good and virtuous nature may recoilIn an imperial charge.	But Macbeth is treacherous. Even an honourable person may abandon goodness under pressure from a king’s command. Word meanings: virtuous — morally good; recoil — turn back or give way; imperial charge — royal command.
Malcolm But I shall crave your pardon;That which you are my thoughts cannot transpose;	Forgive my suspicion. My opinion cannot change your actual character. Word meanings: crave your pardon — ask your forgiveness; transpose — transform. Note: If Macduff is honourable, Malcolm’s doubts cannot make him dishonourable.
Malcolm Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell;Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,Yet grace must still look so.	Angels remain pure even though Lucifer fell. Evil people may look virtuous, but truly virtuous people also look virtuous. Appearance alone cannot prove someone’s character. Word meanings: the brightest — Lucifer; foul — evil; brows of grace — appearance of goodness; grace — virtue. Note: Biblical allusion and the theme of appearance and reality. One betrayal does not make everyone corrupt.
Macduff I have lost my hopes.	I have lost hope that you will help rescue Scotland.
Malcolm Perchance even there where I did find my doubts.	Perhaps your hopes have failed at the very point where my suspicions arose. Word meanings: perchance — perhaps. Note: Malcolm wonders whether Macduff hoped to lure him into Macbeth’s power.
Malcolm Why in that rawness left you wife and child—Those precious motives, those strong knots of love—Without leave-taking?	Why did you leave your wife and children so hastily, without saying goodbye? Their precious love should have strongly influenced your actions. Word meanings: rawness — unconsidered haste; motives — reasons for action; knots of love — bonds of affection; leave-taking — saying goodbye. Note: Malcolm finds Macduff’s sudden departure suspicious.
Malcolm I pray you,Let not my jealousies be your dishonours,But mine own safeties: you may be rightly just,Whatever I shall think.	Please regard my suspicions as precautions for my safety, rather than accusations against your honour. You may be completely upright regardless of my thoughts. Word meanings: jealousies — suspicions; safeties — precautions; rightly just — truly honourable.

2. Macduff loses hope and Malcolm begins his test.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Macduff Bleed, bleed, poor country!Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,For goodness dare not check thee!	Suffer on, unfortunate Scotland! Tyranny can establish itself securely because good people seem afraid to oppose it. Word meanings: basis — foundation; check — restrain or oppose. Note: Apostrophe addresses Scotland and tyranny. The repeated “bleed” expresses helpless anguish.
Macduff wear thou thy wrongs;The title is affeer’d! Fare thee well, lord:	Keep your wrongfully acquired power, Macbeth: your title seems secure because nobody will challenge it. Goodbye, my lord. Word meanings: affeer’d — legally confirmed or established. Note: Bitter irony: Macduff is not accepting Macbeth as the rightful king.
Macduff I would not be the villain that thou think’stFor the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp,And the rich East to boot.	I would not become the traitor you imagine, even for all Macbeth’s territories and the wealth of the East as well. Word meanings: grasp — control; to boot — in addition. Note: Macduff values honour above wealth and power.
Malcolm Be not offended:I speak not as in absolute fear of you.	Do not be offended. I am not completely convinced that you are dangerous. Word meanings: absolute — complete or definite.
Malcolm I think our country sinks beneath the yoke;It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gashIs added to her wounds:	Scotland is being crushed under oppressive rule. Like a wounded person, it weeps and bleeds, receiving another injury every day. Word meanings: yoke — oppressive control; gash — a deep cut. Note: Metaphor and personification make the country’s suffering vivid.
Malcolm I think withalThere would be hands uplifted in my right;And here from gracious England have I offerOf goodly thousands:	I also believe people would take up arms for my rightful claim. The generous English king has offered me many thousands of soldiers. Word meanings: withal — also; in my right — for my lawful claim; England — the English king; goodly — considerable.
Malcolm but, for all this,When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head,Or wear it on my sword,	But even if I defeat Macbeth, trample on his head, or carry his severed head on my sword— Note: The violent imagery anticipates Macbeth’s overthrow.
Malcolm yet my poor countryShall have more vices than it had before,More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,By him that shall succeed.	Scotland will supposedly suffer more wrongdoing, in more different ways, under the ruler who succeeds Macbeth. Word meanings: vices — moral faults; sundry — various; succeed — take someone’s place. Note: Malcolm begins his deliberate test. His accusations against himself are false.
Macduff What should he be?	Who could this successor possibly be? What kind of ruler could be worse than Macbeth?
Malcolm It is myself I mean; in whom I knowAll the particulars of vice so grafted,	I mean myself. Every kind of wickedness is supposedly deeply embedded in my character. Word meanings: particulars of vice — individual kinds of wrongdoing; grafted — firmly implanted. Note: Plant metaphor: vices are imagined as growing within him.
Malcolm That, when they shall be open’d, black MacbethWill seem as pure as snow, and the poor stateEsteem him as a lamb, being compar’dWith my confineless harms.	When my faults fully develop, Macbeth will seem innocent as snow and harmless as a lamb compared with the limitless harm I would cause. Word meanings: open’d — unfolded like a flower; black — morally evil; esteem — regard; state — country; confineless — limitless. Note: Simile and animal imagery exaggerate Malcolm’s supposed wickedness.
Macduff Not in the legionsOf horrid hell can come a devil more damn’dIn evils to top Macbeth.	Not even among all the devils in hell could there be one more wicked than Macbeth. Word meanings: legions — vast numbers; damn’d — condemned; top — surpass. Note: Hyperbole stresses Macbeth’s extreme evil.

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Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1 Analysis: The Dagger Soliloquy Explained

Master Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1 with our line-by-line paraphrase and analysis. Understand the famous dagger soliloquy, Banquo's fears, and hidden meanings.

3. Malcolm pretends to be excessively lustful.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Malcolm I grant him bloody,Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sinThat has a name;	I admit that Macbeth is murderous, lustful, greedy, dishonest, deceitful, violently impulsive, and malicious. He shows signs of every imaginable sin. Word meanings: luxurious — lustful; avaricious — greedy; sudden — rash or violent; malicious — intending harm; smacking of — showing signs of.
Malcolm but there’s no bottom, none,In my voluptuousness:	But my own sexual appetite supposedly has no limit. Word meanings: voluptuousness — excessive sensual or sexual indulgence. Note: This claim is part of the test, not Malcolm’s true character.
Malcolm your wives, your daughters,Your matrons, and your maids, could not fill upThe cistern of my lust,	All Scotland’s married women, daughters, mature women, and unmarried young women would supposedly be unable to satisfy my desire. Word meanings: matrons — married or mature women; maids — unmarried young women; cistern — a storage tank. Note: Metaphor: his lust is an endlessly unfilled container.
Malcolm and my desireAll continent impediments would o’erbearThat did oppose my will; better MacbethThan such an one to reign.	My desire would overcome every restraint. It would be better for Macbeth to rule than for someone like me to become king. Word meanings: continent — restraining; impediments — obstacles; o’erbear — overpower; will — desire.
Macduff Boundless intemperanceIn nature is a tyranny; it hath beenTh’ untimely emptying of the happy throne,And fall of many kings.	Uncontrolled desire tyrannises a person’s character. It has caused many kings to lose their prosperous thrones prematurely. Word meanings: boundless — unlimited; intemperance — lack of self-control; untimely — premature. Note: Macduff acknowledges that such behaviour is dangerous.
Macduff But fear not yetTo take upon you what is yours; you mayConvey your pleasures in a spacious plenty,And yet seem cold, the time you may so hoodwink.	Nevertheless, claim your rightful throne. You could indulge these desires secretly and abundantly while appearing restrained, deceiving the public. Word meanings: convey — manage secretly; spacious plenty — great abundance; cold — sexually restrained; the time — people of the age; hoodwink — deceive. Note: Macduff makes a troubling compromise because he desperately hopes Malcolm can save Scotland.
Macduff We have willing dames enough; there cannot beThat vulture in you, to devour so manyAs will to greatness dedicate themselves,Finding it so inclin’d.	Enough women would willingly offer themselves to a powerful king with these inclinations; your appetite could hardly exceed their number. Word meanings: dames — women; dedicate themselves — offer themselves; inclin’d — disposed towards such pleasure. Note: The vulture metaphor presents desire as a consuming appetite.

4. Malcolm pretends to be insatiably greedy.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Malcolm With this there growsIn my most ill-compos’d affection suchA stanchless avarice that, were I king,I should cut off the nobles for their lands,	Alongside lust, my supposedly corrupt character contains endless greed. If king, I would kill nobles to take their estates. Word meanings: ill-compos’d affection — corrupt disposition; stanchless — impossible to satisfy or stop; avarice — extreme greed; cut off — kill.
Malcolm Desire his jewels and this other’s house;And my more-having would be as a sauceTo make me hunger more,	I would covet one man’s jewels and another’s house. Acquiring more would increase my greed, like sauce increasing someone’s appetite. Word meanings: more-having — possessing more. Note: Simile: increasing wealth stimulates further greed.
Malcolm that I should forgeQuarrels unjust against the good and loyal,Destroying them for wealth.	I would invent false accusations against good, loyal people and destroy them for their property. Word meanings: forge — fabricate; quarrels — accusations or charges.
Macduff This avariceSticks deeper, grows with more pernicious rootThan summer-seeming lust,	Greed is more deeply rooted and destructive than lust, which may pass like the passionate season of youth. Word meanings: pernicious — destructive; summer-seeming — associated with a temporary season of life. Note: Plant imagery contrasts deep-rooted greed with more temporary desire.
Macduff and it hath beenThe sword of our slain kings: yet do not fear;	Greed has destroyed kings before. Nevertheless, do not be afraid. Word meanings: slain — killed. Note: Metaphor: greed is a sword that destroys rulers.
Macduff Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will,Of your mere own; all these are portable,With other graces weigh’d.	Scotland has abundant resources legitimately belonging to you as king. These faults could be endured if balanced by other virtues. Word meanings: foisons — abundant supplies; mere own — entirely your own; portable — bearable; graces — virtues. Note: Macduff still hopes Malcolm’s good qualities may outweigh his faults.

5. The virtues required of a king.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Malcolm But I have none: the king-becoming graces,As justice, verity, temperance, stableness,	But I supposedly have none of the qualities appropriate to a king: fairness, truthfulness, moderation, and steadiness. Word meanings: king-becoming — suitable for a king; verity — truthfulness; temperance — self-control; stableness — firmness.
Malcolm Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,	These qualities also include generosity, persistence, compassion, humility, devotion, patience, bravery, and strength under hardship. Word meanings: bounty — generosity; perseverance — continued effort; lowliness — humility; fortitude — strength in adversity.
Malcolm I have no relish of them, but aboundIn the division of each several crime,Acting it many ways.	I supposedly possess no trace of these virtues, but commit every kind of wrongdoing in many different forms. Word meanings: relish — trace or taste; abound — possess abundantly; several — individual or distinct.
Malcolm Nay, had I power, I shouldPour the sweet milk of concord into hell,Uproar the universal peace, confoundAll unity on earth.	If I had power, I would supposedly destroy harmony, turn peace into violent disorder, and ruin all unity. Word meanings: concord — harmony; uproar — throw into turmoil; confound — overturn or destroy. Note: Metaphor: peaceful harmony is nourishing milk thrown into hell.
Macduff O Scotland, Scotland!	Oh, my suffering Scotland! Note: His cry shows that he cannot bear the prospect of another destructive ruler.
Malcolm If such a one be fit to govern, speak:I am as I have spoken.	Tell me whether such a person deserves to govern. I claim to be exactly as I have described. Note: This is the decisive point of Malcolm’s test.

6. Macduff rejects an unworthy ruler.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Macduff Fit to govern!No, not to live.	Fit to rule? Such a person does not even deserve to live. Note: Macduff places Scotland’s welfare above loyalty to Malcolm personally.
Macduff O nation miserable,With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter’d,When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again,	Oh, miserable Scotland, ruled by a murderous tyrant without a lawful title! When will you enjoy healthy, peaceful days again? Word meanings: untitled — without legitimate title; bloody-scepter’d — wielding royal power stained by blood; wholesome — healthy. Note: The sceptre represents kingship.
Macduff Since that the truest issue of thy throneBy his own interdiction stands accurs’d,And does blaspheme his breed?	Even your rightful heir condemns and disqualifies himself through his own words, dishonouring his royal family. Word meanings: issue — offspring; interdiction — prohibition or curse excluding someone; accurs’d — condemned; breed — ancestry.
Macduff Thy royal fatherWas a most sainted king; the queen that bore thee,Oft’ner upon her knees than on her feet,Died every day she liv’d.	Your father was a saintlike king. Your mother prayed constantly and renounced worldly desires every day through religious self-denial. Word meanings: sainted — holy; bore thee — gave birth to you. Note: “Died every day” means spiritual renunciation, not literal death.
Macduff Fare thee well!These evils thou repeat’st upon thyselfHave banish’d me from Scotland. O my breast,Thy hope ends here!	Goodbye! Your claims of wickedness have destroyed my hope of returning to a rescued Scotland. My heart’s hope ends here. Word meanings: repeat’st upon thyself — declare about yourself; breast — heart. Note: Apostrophe to his heart expresses despair. His response proves his sincere patriotism.

7. Malcolm reveals his true character.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Malcolm Macduff, this noble passion,Child of integrity, hath from my soulWip’d the black scruples, reconcil’d my thoughtsTo thy good truth and honour.	Your honourable emotion, born of integrity, has removed my dark suspicions and convinced me of your honesty. Word meanings: passion — strong emotion; integrity — moral honesty; scruples — doubts; reconcil’d — brought into agreement. Note: His emotion is metaphorically the “child” of his integrity.
Malcolm Devilish MacbethBy many of these trains hath sought to win meInto his power,	Macbeth has repeatedly used schemes like these to try to bring me under his control. Word meanings: trains — traps or plots.
Malcolm and modest wisdom plucks meFrom over-credulous haste; but God aboveDeal between thee and me!	Prudent caution prevents me from trusting too quickly. May God judge the sincerity between us! Word meanings: modest wisdom — careful judgement; plucks — pulls back; over-credulous — too ready to believe.
Malcolm for even nowI put myself to thy direction, andUnspeak mine own detraction,	I now trust your guidance and withdraw the damaging claims I made about myself. Word meanings: direction — guidance; unspeak — take back; detraction — damaging statements.
Malcolm here abjureThe taints and blames I laid upon myself,For strangers to my nature.	I solemnly reject those alleged faults: they are completely foreign to my true character. Word meanings: abjure — deny solemnly; taints — moral stains; strangers to my nature — not part of my character.
Malcolm I am yetUnknown to woman, never was forsworn,Scarcely have coveted what was mine own;	I have not had sexual relations with a woman, never broken an oath, and scarcely felt greedy even for my own possessions. Word meanings: forsworn — guilty of breaking an oath; coveted — desired greedily. Note: He rejects his earlier claims of lust and greed.
Malcolm At no time broke my faith, would not betrayThe devil to his fellow, and delightNo less in truth than life;	I have never betrayed trust. I would not betray even the devil to another devil, and I value truth as much as life. Word meanings: faith — pledged loyalty or trust. Note: The exaggerated reference to the devil emphasises loyalty, not approval of evil.
Malcolm my first false speakingWas this upon myself. What I am truly,Is thine and my poor country’s to command;	My false account of my own character was my first lie. My real abilities are entirely at your service and Scotland’s.
Malcolm Whither indeed, before thy here-approach,Old Siward, with ten thousand war-like men,Already at a point, was setting forth.	Even before your arrival, Siward was preparing to march to Scotland with ten thousand battle-ready soldiers. Word meanings: whither — to which place; here-approach — arrival here; war-like — trained for war; at a point — fully prepared.
Malcolm Now we’ll together, and the chance of goodnessBe like our warranted quarrel. Why are you silent?	Now we will go together. May our prospects of success be as good as our cause is just. Why are you silent? Word meanings: warranted — justified; quarrel — the cause for which they fight.
Macduff Such welcome and unwelcome things at once’Tis hard to reconcile.	It is difficult to make sense of such terrible claims followed immediately by such encouraging news. Word meanings: reconcile — bring together or understand consistently. Note: Macduff needs time to recover from the test.

8. The English king and healing kingship

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
[Enter a Doctor]	A doctor from the English court arrives.
Malcolm Well; more anon. Comes the king forth,I pray you?	We will discuss this further shortly. Please tell me whether the king is coming out. Word meanings: anon — soon.
Doctor Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched soulsThat stay his cure; their malady convincesThe great assay of art;	Yes, sir. A group of suffering people await his cure. Their illness defeats the greatest efforts of medical skill. Word meanings: crew — group; stay — await; malady — illness; convinces — overcomes; assay — attempt; art — medical skill.
Doctor but, at his touch,Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand,They presently amend.	They recover immediately at his touch because heaven has supposedly given his hand this holiness. Word meanings: sanctity — holiness; presently — immediately; amend — recover. Note: The Doctor describes the belief in royal healing within the play.
Malcolm I thank you, doctor.	Thank you for the information.
[Exit Doctor]	The Doctor leaves.
Macduff What’s the disease he means?	What illness is the Doctor talking about?
Malcolm ’Tis called the evil:A most miraculous work in this good king,Which often, since my here-remain in England,I have seen him do.	It is called the king’s evil, or scrofula. During my stay in England, I have often seen the king perform this apparently miraculous healing. Word meanings: the evil — scrofula; here-remain — stay here. Note: “Evil” is the disease’s name here, not moral wickedness.
Malcolm How he solicits heaven,Himself best knows;	Only he knows how he asks heaven to grant this power. Word meanings: solicits — earnestly requests.
Malcolm but strangely-visited people,All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye,The mere despair of surgery, he cures,	He cures people afflicted with a dreadful disease: swollen, covered in sores, and beyond the hope of medical treatment. Word meanings: strangely-visited — afflicted with dreadful illness; swoln — swollen; ulcerous — covered in sores; mere — absolute; surgery — medical treatment.
Malcolm Hanging a golden stamp about their necks,Put on with holy prayers;	He places a gold coin around their necks while saying sacred prayers. Word meanings: golden stamp — stamped gold coin.
Malcolm and ’tis spoken,To the succeeding royalty he leavesThe healing benediction.	People say this blessed power will pass to later monarchs. Word meanings: succeeding royalty — future monarchs; benediction — blessing.
Malcolm With this strange virtue,He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,And sundry blessings hang about his throneThat speak him full of grace.	Along with this remarkable healing power, he possesses divine prophetic ability. Many blessings surrounding his reign show his holiness and divine favour. Word meanings: virtue — special power; prophecy — foretelling events; sundry — various; grace — holiness or divine favour. Note: Edward’s healing kingship contrasts with Macbeth’s destructive rule.

9. Ross describes Scotland under Macbeth.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
[Enter Ross]	Ross arrives from Scotland.
Macduff See, who comes here?	Look! Who is approaching?
Malcolm My countryman; but yet I know him not.	He is a fellow Scotsman, but I do not yet recognise him.
Macduff My ever-gentle cousin, welcome hither.	My consistently kind cousin, welcome here. Word meanings: gentle — kind and courteous; hither — to this place.
Malcolm I know him now. Good God, betimes removeThe means that makes us strangers!	I recognise him now. May God quickly remove the cause that has separated us and made us seem like strangers! Word meanings: betimes — soon; the means — Macbeth and the tyranny causing their separation.
Ross Sir, amen.	Sir, may that prayer come true. Word meanings: amen — so be it.
Macduff Stands Scotland where it did?	Is Scotland still in the same condition as when I left?
Ross Alas! poor country;Almost afraid to know itself.	Unfortunate Scotland scarcely dares to recognise its dreadful condition. Note: Personification presents the country as afraid of its own suffering.
Ross It cannotBe call’d our mother, but our grave;	Scotland no longer nourishes and protects us like a mother. It has become a place of death. Note: Contrasting metaphors: mother and grave.
Ross where nothing,But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile;	Only someone ignorant of what is happening can be seen smiling. Note: Anyone aware of Scotland’s condition is overwhelmed by sorrow.
Ross Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rent the airAre made, not mark’d;	Cries of suffering continually tear through the air, but people scarcely notice because they have become so common. Word meanings: rent — tear apart; mark’d — noticed.
Ross where violent sorrow seemsA modern ecstasy;	Intense, overwhelming grief has become an ordinary occurrence. Word meanings: modern — commonplace in this context; ecstasy — an overwhelming disturbance of feeling. Note: Here “ecstasy” does not mean joyful excitement.
Ross the dead man’s knellIs there scarce ask’d for who;	Death bells ring so frequently that people hardly ask who has died. Word meanings: knell — bell rung to announce a death.
Ross and good men’s livesExpire before the flowers in their caps,Dying or ere they sicken.	Good men are killed so suddenly that the flowers in their caps outlive them. They die by violence before illness can claim them. Word meanings: expire — end; or ere — before. Note: The image emphasises the unnatural brevity of life under Macbeth.
Macduff O! relationToo nice, and yet too true!	What a painfully exact account—and sadly it is true! Word meanings: relation — report; nice — precisely detailed, not pleasant.
Malcolm What’s the newest grief?	What is the latest sorrowful news?
Ross That of an hour’s age doth hiss the speaker;Each minute teems a new one.	News an hour old already seems so stale that listeners might hiss at the speaker. Every minute produces another tragedy. Word meanings: hiss — express disapproval; teems — brings forth abundantly. Note: Hyperbole conveys the relentless succession of disasters.

10. Ross hesitates to reveal the family tragedy.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Macduff How does my wife?	How is my wife?
Ross Why, well.	She is well. Note: Ross is evasive. “Well” may suggest good health or peace after death; he delays revealing the truth.
Macduff And all my children?	And how are all my children?
Ross Well too.	They are well too. Note: He continues to avoid announcing their deaths directly.
Macduff The tyrant has not batter’d at their peace?	Macbeth has not attacked them or disturbed their safety, has he? Word meanings: batter’d — violently assaulted.
Ross No; they were well at peace when I did leave ’em.	They were peaceful when I left them. Note: Ross refers to their condition at his departure rather than explaining what happened afterwards.
Macduff Be not a niggard of your speech: how goes ’t?	Do not hold back your words. Tell me fully what is happening. Word meanings: niggard — a miser; here, someone sparing with information.
Ross When I came hither to transport the tidings,Which I have heavily borne,	When I travelled here carrying news that has weighed heavily on my heart— Word meanings: transport — convey; tidings — news; heavily borne — carried sorrowfully.
Ross there ran a rumourOf many worthy fellows that were out;	There was a report that many brave, honourable men had taken up arms against Macbeth. Word meanings: out — in the field as armed rebels.
Ross Which was to my belief witness’d the ratherFor that I saw the tyrant’s power a-foot.	I believed this more readily because I saw Macbeth’s forces mobilising. Word meanings: witness’d — supported by evidence; for that — because; power — troops; a-foot — in motion.
Ross Now is the time of help; your eye in ScotlandWould create soldiers, make our women fight,To doff their dire distresses.	Now is the time to help. Your presence would inspire men to enlist and even women to fight to cast off their dreadful suffering. Word meanings: your eye — your presence; doff — remove; dire — dreadful.
Malcolm Be ’t their comfortWe are coming thither. Gracious England hathLent us good Siward and ten thousand men;	Let them take comfort: we are coming to Scotland. The generous English king has supplied Siward and ten thousand soldiers. Word meanings: thither — to that place; England — the English king.
Malcolm An older and a better soldier noneThat Christendom gives out.	No more experienced or better soldier is recognised in the Christian world. Word meanings: older — more seasoned; Christendom — Christian world; gives out — proclaims or acknowledges.
Ross Would I could answerThis comfort with the like!	I wish I could answer your encouraging news with equally encouraging news.
Ross But I have wordsThat would be howl’d out in the desert air,Where hearing should not latch them.	My news is so dreadful that it should be cried out in an empty wilderness where nobody could hear it. Word meanings: latch — catch. Note: Ross fears the pain his message will cause.
Macduff What concern they?The general cause? or is it a fee-griefDue to some single breast?	Does the news concern the whole country, or is it a sorrow belonging particularly to one person? Word meanings: general cause — national situation; fee-grief — grief specially belonging to someone; breast — person or heart.
Ross No mind that’s honestBut in it shares some woe, though the main partPertains to you alone.	Every good person will share some sorrow, but the greatest suffering belongs to you personally. Word meanings: pertains — belongs or relates.
Macduff If it be mine,Keep it not from me; quickly let me have it.	If it concerns me, do not hide it. Tell me immediately.

11. Ross announces the murders.

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Ross Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever,Which shall possess them with the heaviest soundThat ever yet they heard.	Please do not hate me forever for telling you the saddest news you have ever heard. Word meanings: possess — occupy or fill; heaviest — most sorrowful. Note: “Tongue” represents the messenger and “ears” the listener.
Macduff Hum! I guess at it.	Ah! I begin to suspect what has happened.
Ross Your castle is surpris’d; your wife and babesSavagely slaughter’d;	Your castle has been captured, and your wife and children brutally murdered. Word meanings: surpris’d — seized in a sudden attack; babes — children; slaughter’d — brutally killed.
Ross to relate the manner,Were, on the quarry of these murder’d deer,To add the death of you.	Describing the details might kill you with grief, adding you to the heap of innocent victims. Word meanings: relate — describe; quarry — heap of hunted animals. Note: The family are compared to defenceless deer. “Deer” also echoes “dear,” those Macduff loved.
Malcolm Merciful heaven!What! man; ne’er pull your hat upon your brows;	Merciful heaven! Do not pull your hat down over your face and hide your grief. Word meanings: brows — forehead or eyebrows.
Malcolm Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speakWhispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.	Express your sorrow. Unspoken grief works silently on an overburdened heart and may break it. Word meanings: o’er-fraught — overloaded; bids — commands. Note: Personification presents grief as whispering to the heart.
Macduff My children too?	Were my children killed as well? Note: Shock makes him seek confirmation of what he has already heard.
Ross Wife, children, servants, allThat could be found.	Your wife, children, servants—everyone the murderers could find.
Macduff And I must be from thence!My wife kill’d too?	And I had to be away from home! Was my wife killed as well? Word meanings: thence — there, referring to home. Note: He bitterly reproaches himself for being absent.
Ross I have said.	Yes. I have already told you.

12 Macduff expresses grief as a man

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Malcolm Be comforted:Let’s make us medicine of our great revenge,To cure this deadly grief.	Take comfort. Let revenge against Macbeth serve as medicine for this devastating sorrow. Note: Metaphor compares revenge to medicine and grief to illness.
Macduff He has no children.	He cannot fully understand a father’s suffering because he has no children. Note: The reference is debated: it may mean Malcolm, whose advice seems inadequate, or Macbeth, upon whom equivalent revenge cannot be taken. The line does not settle this explicitly.
Macduff All my pretty ones?Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?	All my dear little children? Did you say every one? Oh, you hellish bird of prey! All of them? Word meanings: hell-kite — a devilish predatory bird; here, Macbeth. Note: Repetition expresses disbelief. The predator metaphor conveys Macbeth’s cruelty.
Macduff What! All my pretty chickens and their damAt one fell swoop?	All my dear children and their mother killed in one savage attack? Word meanings: dam — mother of young animals or birds; fell — cruel or fierce; swoop — a bird’s sudden downward attack. Note: His family are helpless chickens attacked by the “hell-kite.”
Malcolm Dispute it like a man.	Resist the sorrow courageously and confront the wrong done to you. Word meanings: dispute — contend against or resist. Note: Malcolm encourages masculine endurance and action.
Macduff I shall do so;But I must also feel it as a man:	I will act courageously, but I must also feel the pain of losing those I love. Note: Courage does not require emotional insensitivity. This is a central statement about manhood in the play.
Macduff I cannot but remember such things were,That were most precious to me.	I cannot help remembering that these loved ones existed and were precious to me. Word meanings: cannot but — cannot help.
Macduff Did heaven look on,And would not take their part?	Did heaven watch without protecting them? Word meanings: take their part — defend them. Note: His anguish becomes a question about divine justice.
Macduff Sinful Macduff,They were all struck for thee.	Guilty Macduff! They were attacked because of you. Note: He believes Macbeth punished the family for his opposition. This is self-blame, not responsibility for committing the murders.
Macduff Naught that I am,Not for their own demerits, but for mine,Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now!	Worthless man that I am! They were killed for my supposed faults, not their own. May heaven grant them peace! Word meanings: naught — worthless; demerits — faults; fell — descended upon in this sentence. Note: Their innocence intensifies his grief and guilt.

13 Grief becomes determination

Original Shakespearean Text	Explanation and Word Meanings
Malcolm Be this the whetstone of your sword: let griefConvert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.	Let sorrow sharpen your resolve like a stone sharpening a sword. Turn grief into anger instead of allowing it to weaken your spirit. Word meanings: whetstone — sharpening stone; convert — change; blunt — dull or weaken; enrage — fill with anger. Note: Metaphor turns grief into a force preparing him for battle.
Macduff O! I could play the woman with mine eyes,And braggart with my tongue.	I could weep or make loud, boastful threats. Word meanings: braggart — someone who boasts. Note: He uses the conventional stereotype associating tears with women, although he has just insisted that men must also feel grief.
Macduff But, gentle heavens,Cut short all intermission; front to frontBring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself;	Merciful heaven, shorten the delay and bring Macbeth face to face with me. Word meanings: intermission — interval before their meeting; front to front — face to face; fiend — devil or wicked person.
Macduff Within my sword’s length set him; if he ’scape,Heaven forgive him too!	Put him within reach of my sword. If he escapes me then, heaven may forgive him too! Word meanings: ’scape — escape. Note: Macduff confidently implies that Macbeth will not survive their encounter.
Malcolm This tune goes manly.Come, go we to the king; our power is ready;	Your words sound brave and resolute. Let us go to the English king; our army is ready. Word meanings: tune — tone; power — armed force.
Malcolm Our lack is nothing but our leave. MacbethIs ripe for shaking,	We need only to take our farewell before departing. Macbeth is ready to be overthrown. Word meanings: lack — what is still needed; leave — leave-taking. Note: Metaphor compares Macbeth to ripe fruit ready to fall from a shaken tree.
Malcolm and the powers abovePut on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may;	Heavenly powers urge forward those who will carry out justice. Take whatever comfort you can. Word meanings: powers above — heavenly powers; put on — urge; instruments — agents; cheer — encouragement.
Malcolm The night is long that never finds the day.	A night without daylight would be unbearably long. Take hope that Scotland’s dark period will end. Note: Night symbolises tyranny and suffering; day symbolises deliverance and restored order.
[Exeunt]	All the characters leave the stage.

Source and usage

Dramatic text: Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3

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Macbeth — Act IV, Scene III: Summary

Act IV, Scene III takes place in England, outside King Edward’s palace. Macduff meets Malcolm, hoping to persuade him to return to Scotland and overthrow Macbeth. Macduff describes the country’s misery: innocent people are being killed, and new widows and orphans mourn every day. He urges Malcolm to take action against the tyrant.

Malcolm, however, fears that Macduff may be Macbeth’s agent. To test his loyalty, he pretends that he would make an even worse king than Macbeth. He claims to possess uncontrollable lust, limitless greed, and none of the virtues required of a good ruler. At first, Macduff tries to find ways of tolerating Malcolm’s supposed faults. But when Malcolm declares that he would destroy peace and unity, Macduff rejects him and despairs for Scotland.

Macduff’s response convinces Malcolm that his love for Scotland is sincere. Malcolm withdraws his accusations against himself and reveals his true, honourable character. He also announces that Siward and ten thousand English soldiers are preparing to help overthrow Macbeth.

A Doctor then describes King Edward’s remarkable healing touch. Malcolm explains that the king is believed to cure people suffering from “the king’s evil.” Edward’s goodness and healing power contrast sharply with Macbeth’s cruelty and destructive rule.

Ross arrives from Scotland and describes the country’s worsening suffering. After hesitating, he reveals that Macbeth’s men have murdered Macduff’s wife, children, and servants. Overwhelmed by grief, Macduff blames himself for leaving his family unprotected. When Malcolm urges him to confront his sorrow “like a man,” Macduff replies, “But I must also feel it as a man,” showing that courage includes the capacity to love and grieve.

Malcolm encourages Macduff to turn his grief into determination. Macduff resolves to confront Macbeth personally. The scene ends with preparations to march against the tyrant and the hope that Scotland’s darkness will give way to a brighter future.

Macbeth — Act IV, Scene III: Themes and Literary Devices

Act IV, Scene III brings together political judgement, national suffering, and personal grief. Through Malcolm’s testing of Macduff, the description of King Edward, and Ross’s announcement of the murders, Shakespeare explores what makes a worthy ruler and how an honourable person should respond to cruelty.

1. Appearance and Reality

Malcolm fears that Macduff’s apparent loyalty may conceal an intention to betray him. Macbeth himself once appeared honourable, so Malcolm has learned that outward goodness does not necessarily reveal someone’s true character.

“Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell;”

The biblical allusion to Lucifer, the fallen angel, shows that even someone who appears exceptionally noble may become corrupt. Malcolm develops this warning:

“Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,Yet grace must still look so.”

The metaphor of evil wearing “the brows of grace” presents goodness as an appearance that wicked people can imitate. However, genuinely good people also look virtuous, making appearances difficult to interpret.

Malcolm then creates a false appearance himself, claiming to be lustful, greedy, and destructive. His deception serves a protective purpose: it tests whether Macduff supports him for personal advantage or because he hopes to save Scotland.

2. Kingship and Tyranny

The scene distinguishes rightful kingship from the mere possession of royal power. Malcolm lists the “king-becoming graces”, including justice, truthfulness, moderation, generosity, mercy, humility, courage, and fortitude. These qualities establish kingship as a moral responsibility.

The catalogue, or extended list, gives weight to the many duties expected of a ruler. A good king must possess more than bravery or hereditary entitlement.

Macbeth represents the opposite ideal. He is described as:

“bloody,Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful”

Here, “luxurious” means lustful, while “avaricious” means excessively greedy. The accumulation of negative adjectives emphasises the breadth of his corruption.

King Edward provides a further contrast. His touch is believed to heal the sick, whereas Macbeth’s rule wounds his country. This juxtaposition presents good kingship as restorative and tyranny as destructive.

3. Patriotism and Moral Integrity

Macduff’s concern throughout the scene is Scotland’s welfare. At first, he tries to tolerate Malcolm’s supposed faults because he desperately hopes that Duncan’s son can rescue the country. However, when Malcolm claims to possess no royal virtues and to threaten universal peace, Macduff rejects him.

“Fit to govern!No, not to live.”

The abrupt exclamations reveal his moral outrage. His refusal proves that his loyalty is not unconditional obedience to a prince: he will not support a ruler who would destroy Scotland.

Malcolm calls Macduff’s emotional response:

“Child of integrity”

This metaphor presents Macduff’s passionate protest as something born from his honesty. His grief for Scotland becomes the evidence that finally earns Malcolm’s trust.

4. National Suffering

Scotland is repeatedly presented as a wounded living being:

“It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gashIs added to her wounds”

Through personification and bodily imagery, Shakespeare makes political oppression physically imaginable. Each fresh act of violence becomes another injury to the nation.

Ross deepens this picture:

“It cannotBe call’d our mother, but our grave”

The contrasting metaphors of “mother” and “grave” show how completely Macbeth has overturned the country’s proper function. A homeland should sustain and protect its people; Scotland has become a place where they die.

Ross’s account of cries being “made, not mark’d” is especially disturbing. Suffering occurs so frequently that people scarcely notice it. Shakespeare shows tyranny damaging both human life and the community’s ability to respond compassionately.

5. Grief, Love, and Manhood

The announcement of the murders transforms the scene from political discussion into personal tragedy. Macduff repeatedly asks whether all his children and his wife have been killed. His questions express shock rather than a failure to understand Ross’s words.

“All my pretty ones?Did you say all?”

The repetition of “all” and the broken sequence of rhetorical questions convey his inability to accept the total destruction of his family.

When Malcolm urges him to “Dispute it like a man,” Macduff answers:

“I shall do so;But I must also feel it as a man”

This response challenges the idea that masculinity requires suppressing emotion. Macduff insists that courage and grief can coexist. His love for his family makes his suffering a deeply human response.

The exchange contrasts with earlier attempts in the play to associate manhood with violence. Here, Shakespeare gives emotional sensitivity a place within courageous behaviour.

6. Innocence and Predatory Violence

Macduff describes Macbeth as a “hell-kite” and his family as:

“All my pretty chickens and their dam At one fell swoop”

This extended bird metaphor turns Macbeth into a savage predator and the murdered family into helpless creatures. “Dam” means their mother, while “fell” means fierce or cruel.

The imagery emphasises the victims’ vulnerability. Macbeth’s violence is directed against people who cannot defend themselves, exposing the moral cowardice beneath his displays of power.

Ross similarly refers to the victims as “murder’d deer.” The word “deer” echoes “dear”, suggesting both hunted innocence and the people precious to Macduff.

7. Revenge and the Transformation of Grief

Malcolm urges Macduff to use his sorrow as motivation:

“Be this the whetstone of your sword”

A whetstone sharpens a blade. Through this metaphor, grief becomes something that sharpens Macduff’s determination to confront Macbeth.

Earlier, Malcolm proposes making “medicine” of revenge. This medical metaphor presents action against the tyrant as a possible remedy for devastating sorrow.

However, Macduff’s response makes clear that action cannot replace mourning. He must first acknowledge the people he has lost. His eventual determination grows from grief and love, giving his confrontation with Macbeth a personal as well as a political purpose.

8. Hope, Darkness, and Restoration

The scene ends with Malcolm’s words:

“The night is long that never finds the day.”

The symbolism of night and day connects Scotland’s suffering with darkness and its hoped-for deliverance with light. The closing line encourages endurance while the army prepares to act.

This movement towards hope also gives the scene its dramatic purpose. Malcolm and Macduff establish trust, English support is confirmed, and Macduff gains a powerful personal motive to oppose Macbeth.

Further Dramatic Techniques

Literary or dramatic device	Example	Effect
Apostrophe	“Bleed, bleed, poor country!”	Macduff directly addresses Scotland, expressing anguish and helplessness.
Hyperbole	No devil in hell could “top Macbeth.”	Exaggeration conveys Macduff’s conviction that Macbeth’s wickedness is unsurpassable.
Equivocation	Ross says Macduff’s family are “well.”	His evasive wording delays the terrible revelation and increases tension.
Dramatic irony	The audience has witnessed the attack on Macduff’s household before Macduff hears the news.	The audience understands the danger behind his innocent questions.
Personification	Unspoken grief “Whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.”	Grief becomes an active force threatening an already overburdened heart.
Imagery of appetite	Malcolm’s supposed “cistern” of lust and wealth acting “as a sauce”	Desire appears endlessly consuming: satisfaction only creates further hunger.

Through these themes and devices, Shakespeare makes the scene a searching examination of leadership and humanity. Malcolm’s caution establishes the need for moral judgement, while Macduff’s response to loss shows that resistance to tyranny draws strength from both courage and compassion.

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