Macbeth: Act 4 Scene 3, Act 5 Scene 1

G. If I was Macduff, I would feel terrible: "Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes savagely slaughtered: to relate the manner, were, on the quarry of these murdered deer, to add the death of you" (Act 4 scene 3 204-207). If I found out that my wife and children were murdered and there was no way to change it, it would be the worst news that I could possibly hear in my life.

E. I really don't think Macduff should blame himself for Macbeth murdering his wife and kids: "Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee! Naught that I am, not for their own demerits, but for mine, fell slaughter on their souls: heaven rest them now!" (Act 4 scene 3 224-227). Obviously Macduff would feel guilty for not being there to protect his wife and kids, just like every other parent whose kids die, but he shouldn't. Macduff should not feel guilty for Macbeth's selfishness and his stupid actions.

C. Why would the Doctor and the Gentlewoman even think about telling people what they heard from Lady Macbeth? If Macbeth finds out that they told everyone, he would kill them. The Doctor and the Gentlewoman should just keeps their mouths shut if they want to live.

B) Act 4 Scene 3 has a huge significance to the plot of Macbeth. After testing each others loyalty to King Duncan, they learn the news of Macduff’s family. Previously Macbeth had sent murderers to kill Macduff because he knew of his suspicions that Macbeth was behind the killing of Duncan. When the murderers arrive, they only find Macduff’s family in the castle, not Macduff himself. Instead of being decent people, they murder everyone in the building. Macduff is in shock after learning the news and Malcolm takes advantage of this by trying to enrage him to attack Macbeth.

C) I understand that Ross was trying to break the news gently to Macduff but why would he lie to him to start? Ross seemed to have brought it up out of nowhere, maybe five minutes after Macduff had asked him. Did Ross think that Macduff would attack him? Also, does Macduff not get enraged at Malcolm who clearly shows absolutely no sympathy for the passing of his family?

E) One reaction I had to Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking is that it is pretty frightening, especially for the servant who has witnessed this many times. Normally when people sleepwalk they walk around, do some stuff aimlessly and walk back to bed. For some people this happens a lot but not like it happens to Lady Macbeth. Her actions are strange and quite frankly, freaky. To try and physically rub blood off of your hands that isn’t there, meanwhile the writing and reciting of lines every night seems pretty scary. I feel bad for the servant who goes through this every night.

Anthony Gonzalez

G. Being Macduff in this situation brings out the inner evil in myself. If one day I came home to my family dead or I was at work and I found out that they are dead I would be very furious and would instantly want to seek revenge some how. If you know that someone hates you and is coming after you I would put them at the top of my list because they are the most capable of doing such a thing especially a cold and heartless Macbeth that would do anything to stay into power.
E. The first reaction that I had when I saw the doctor and maid or whatever taking down the notes of what she was saying was that I hope they show this to someine very powerful or someone that can stop Macbeth because what she and Macbeth did were not good at all and now that finally two people know make their situation even worse because if they wanted to they can seriously black mail Lady Macbeth and Macbeth if they wanted too.
I. I agree with Kyle on how Ross was lied at first about Macduffs family. I understand where he was coming from because telling a person that someone died is hard enough but telling them that there whole family died is like very hard cause family is everything and if you lose that its very hard to come back from that.

C.) Is Lady Macbeth also going crazy like Macbeth? Or is she just having nightmares? I don’t know if she’s normal in the day and she does her regular routine, or is she storming out like the mad man Macbeth. Another question I have is that if the Gentlewoman has seen Lady Macbeth like this and heard what she was saying, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” (Act 5 Scene 1). Wouldn’t she be suspicious that the queen did something dark?

E.) I find it interesting how Lady Macbeth is breaking down. I still remember when she prayed to the gods to “unsex me” so that she’d have the strength to kill. Now she is having nightmares because she’s too guilty about all the crimes she did with Macbeth. Another character I find interesting is Malcolm. I really like how he used the anger of Macduff to pump him up to join his plan to slaughter Macbeth.

I.) I agree with Kyle. I have no idea why Ross would lie to Macduff at first. I think it’s even worse that he would make him think that his family is ok then change it after wards to they’re all dead.