Act 4, scene 2

This scene is used to epitomise the general terror throughout Scotland. The destructive forces of disorder are vividly described by Ross as a shifting chaos; all the foundations that were laid out are suddenly crumbling before them.

At Macduff’s castle, Lady Macduff accosts Ross, demanding to know why her husband has fled. She feels betrayed. Ross insists that she trust her husband’s judgment and then regretfully departs. Once he is gone, Lady Macduff tells her son (now her daughter!haha) that his father is dead, but the little boy (GIRL) perceptively argues that he (SHE) is not. Suddenly, a messenger hurries in, warning Lady Macduff that she is in danger and urging her to flee. Lady Macduff protests, arguing that she has done no wrong. A group of murderers then enters. When one of them denounces Macduff, Macduff’s son (daughter) calls the murderer a liar, and the murderer stabs him (her). Lady Macduff turns and runs, and the pack of killers chases after her.


Possible 'Translation' of the text (original text in white- translation in red)

LADY MACDUFF

Sirrah, your father's dead.
And what will you do now? How will you live?

LADY MACDUFF
Young man, your father's dead. What are you going to do now? How are you going to live?

SON
As birds do, Mother.

SON
I will live the way birds do, Mother.

LADY MACDUFF
What, with worms and flies?

LADY MACDUFF
What? Are you going to start eating worms and flies?

SON
With what I get, I mean, and so do they.

SON
I mean I will live on whatever I get, like birds do.

LADY MACDUFF
Poor bird! Thou 'dst never fear the net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.

LADY MACDUFF
You'd be a pitiful bird. You wouldn't know enough to be afraid of traps.

SON
Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.

SON
Why should I be afraid of them, Mother? If I'm a pitiful bird, like you say, hunters won't want me. No matter what you say, my father is not dead.

LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father?

LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he is dead. What are you going to do for a father?

SON
Nay, how will you do for a husband?

SON
Maybe you should ask, what will you do for a husband?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

LADY MACDUFF
Oh, I can buy twenty husbands at any market.

SON
Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.

SON
If so, you'd be buying them to sell again.

LADY MACDUFF
Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and yet, i' faith,
With wit enough for thee.

LADY MACDUFF
You talk like a child, but you're very smart anyway.

SON
Was my father a traitor, Mother?

SON
Was my father a traitor, Mother?

LADY MACDUFF
Ay, that he was.

LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he was.

SON
What is a traitor?

SON
What is a traitor?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, one that swears and lies.

LADY MACDUFF
Someone who makes a promise and breaks it.

SON
And be all traitors that do so?

SON
And is everyone who swears and lies a traitor?

LADY MACDUFF
Every one that does so is a traitor and must be hanged.

LADY MACDUFF
Everyone who does so is a traitor and should be hanged.

SON
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?

SON
And should everyone who makes promises and breaks them be hanged?

LADY MACDUFF
Every one.

LADY MACDUFF
Everyone.

SON
Who must hang them?

SON
Who should hang them?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, the honest men.

LADY MACDUFF
The honest men.

SON
Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them.

SON
Then the liars are fools, for there are enough liars in the world to beat up the honest men and hang them.

LADY MACDUFF
Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?

LADY MACDUFF
(laughing) Heaven help you for saying that, boy! (sad again) But what will you do without a father?

SON
If he were dead, you'd weep for him. If you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.

SON
If he were dead, you'd be weeping for him. If you aren't weeping, it's a good sign that I'll soon have a new father.

LADY MACDUFF
Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!

LADY MACDUFF
Silly babbler, how you talk!

Enter a MESSENGER
A MESSENGER enters.

MESSENGER

Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honor 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.

MESSENGER
Bless you, fair lady! You don't know me, but I know you're an important person. I'm afraid something dangerous is coming toward you. If you'll take a simple man's advice, don't be here when it arrives. Go away and take your children. I feel bad for scaring you like this, but it would be much worse for me to let you come to harm. And harm is getting close! Heaven keep you safe!
Exit
The MESSENGER exits.

LADY MACDUFF

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 defense,
To say I have done no harm?

LADY MACDUFF
Where should I go? I haven't done anything wrong. But I have to remember that I'm here on Earth, where doing evil is often praised, and doing good is sometimes a stupid and dangerous mistake. So then why should I offer this womanish defense that I'm innocent?

Enter MURDERERS
The MURDERERS enter.

What are these faces?
Who are these men?

FIRST MURDERER
Where is your husband?

FIRST MURDERER
Where is your husband?

LADY MACDUFF
I hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.

LADY MACDUFF
I hope he's not anywhere so disreputable that thugs like you can find him.

FIRST MURDERER
He's a traitor.

FIRST MURDERER
He's a traitor.

SON
Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain!

SON
You're lying, you shaggy-haired villain!

FIRST MURDERER

(Stabbing him) What, you egg? Young fry of treachery!

FIRST MURDERER
What's that, you runt? (stabbing him) Young son of a traitor!

SON
He has killed me, mother.
Run away, I pray you!

SON
He has killed me, Mother. Run away, I beg you!

He dies. Exit LADY MACDUFF, crying “Murder!” followed by MURDERERS
The SON dies. LADY MACDUFF exits, crying “Murder!” The MURDERERS exit, following her