Macduff Quotes

PORTER: Drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.
MACDUFF: What three things does drink especially provoke?
PORTER: Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance: therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3. The Porter tells a dirty joke about drinking and sexual performance to Macduff, who is not very amused. The Porter is gate-keeper to Macbeth’s castle. He provides important comic relief in a play that is filled with tragedy and violence.

Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord’s anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o’ the building!

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3. A shocked and emotional Macduff, after discovering the body of the murdered Duncan, announces that the worst thing imaginable has happened. In his speech we get a wonderful biblical metaphor comparing Duncan’s body to a temple anointed by God, which has been broken open and its contents stolen. The word confusion is personified in the passage to emphasize the disorder and bewilderment immediately caused by this unnatural crime.

Macduff, this noble passion,
Child of integrity, hath from my soul
Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts
To thy good truth and honour.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3. After Macduff’s outburst when Malcolm pretended to be the worst possible person to be King of Scotland, Malcolm accepts that Macduff has passed the loyalty test and is a true patriot. He is happy that Macduff is a “child of integrity” who rejected the tyrannical monarch that Malcolm purported himself to be, with so many “particulars of vice.” As far as Malcolm is concerned, Macduff is a man of honor and truthfulness and he can now trust him.

All my pretty ones?
Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop?

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3. Macduff uses bird metaphors to convey his immense grief and loss on learning of the horrific murders of his wife and children. His words and tender imagery of a mother hen and her chickens convey his deep affection for the family he lost all at once. The passage shows the agony of an uncomprehending and manly warrior trying to make sense of such senseless slaughter at the hands of Macbeth’s thugs. He also uses the metaphor of “hell-kite” to compare Macbeth to a murderous bird of prey. This sets the stage for Macduff seeking revenge and eventually killing Macbeth. The passage is thus foreshadowing of future events.

I cannot but remember such things were
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on,
And would not take their part? 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!

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3. Macduff agonizes over the slaughter of his wife and children by Macbeth’s thugs. He questions how God could allow such a thing. Heaven is personified when he accuses it of looking on and doing nothing about the crime. But Macduff also blames himself, his guilt evident in calling himself “sinful Macduff.” He says that his wife and children were innocent and the only reason they were targeted was because they were his family.

Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
Excite the mortified man.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 2. Scottish nobles and their supporters, once loyal to Macbeth, are now on their way to Birnam Wood to join up with the rightful Scottish king Malcolm to fight Macbeth. In this passage Menteith uses a metaphor to compare Malcolm and Macduff’s rage for revenge against Macbeth to a burning fire. He says that their cause for revenge would inspire even dead men to rise and fight.
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