Macduff’s wife, Lady Macduff, questions Ross about her husband fleeing to England. She doesn’t understand why he would leave his family defenseless at a time like this. Ross tries to reassure her, but no sooner does he leave than a messenger arrives to tell Lady Macduff and her son to run for their lives. But it’s too late—the murderers have arrived, and they kill her son. She flees, the murderers hot on her heels.
Lady Macduff
What did he do, that he had to run away?
Ross
You must be patient, madam.
Lady Macduff
He wasn’t patient. It was crazy to run away! Even when we’ve done nothing wrong, that kind of fear makes us look like traitors.
Ross
You don’t know if he ran away out of wise caution or fear.
Lady Macduff
Wisdom! How could it be wisdom to leave his wife, his children, his home, and his noble titles somewhere he himself is afraid to stay? He must not love us. He lacks some natural instinct. Even the poor little wren, the smallest bird, will fight an owl to save her babies in the nest. His actions betrayed all fear and no love. And if there was no real reason to flee, it can’t be wisdom to have done it!
Ross
My dearest kinswoman, please control yourself. As for your husband, he is noble, wise, judicious, and knows what’s best in these dangerous times. I don’t dare say more. These are evil times when we’re labeled traitors and don’t even know why, and when we are frightened by rumors, though we’re not sure what it is that we fear. It’s as if we were at sea in a storm, getting tossed this way and that. I should leave. I’ll be back soon. When things are at their worst, they must either get better, or come to an end. [to Son] Bless you, my little cousin!
Lady Macduff
He has a father, and yet he's fatherless.
Ross
I’m such a mess. If I stay longer, I will get emotional, to my embarrassment and your discomfort. I’ll leave at once.
Lady Macduff
Sweetie, your father's dead. What will you do now? How will you live?
Son
Just like the birds do, mother.
Lady Macduff
How, by eating worms and flies?
Son
I’ll take what I can get, I mean. That’s what they do.
Lady Macduff
You poor little bird! You wouldn’t recognize the traps they set for birds.
Son
Why should I, mother? They don’t set nets for such pitiful birds as me. And my father’s not dead, no matter how much you say he is.
Lady Macduff
Yes, he’s dead. What will you do without a father?
Son
What will you do without a husband?
Lady Macduff
Oh, I can buy twenty husbands in any market.
Son
You’d just have to sell them again because you’ve already got one.
Lady Macduff
Why, you speak with all the wits you’ve got - but actually, what you say is smart enough.
Son
Was my father a traitor, mother?
Lady Macduff
Yes he was.
Son
What’s a traitor?
Lady Macduff
Someone who swears and lies.
Son
Do all traitors do that?
Lady Macduff
Every one who does is a traitor, and must be killed.
Son
So everyone who swears and lies must die?
Lady Macduff
Every one.
Son
Who kills them?
Lady Macduff
Well, the honest men.
Son
Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are enough liars and swearers in the world to beat up the honest men and kill them.
Lady Macduff
God help you, silly monkey! But what will you do without a father?
Son
If he were really dead, you’d cry for him. If you don’t cry, that’s a good sign that I must be getting a new father soon.
Lady Macduff
You chatterbox, the way you talk!
Messenger
Bless you, fair lady! You don’t know me, but I know your noble rank well. I’m afraid that some danger is very near. If you’ll take an ordinary man’s advice, get out of here. Leave quickly with your children. I must be awful to frighten you so savagely, but it would be cruel to let anything terrible happen to you, and something terrible is very close! May God keep you safe! I don’t dare stay a moment longer.
Lady Macduff
Where should I run to? I’ve done nothing wrong. But I have to remember that I’m here on earth, where doing harm often gets praised, and doing good is often considered a foolish and dangerous thing. So why then do I use that womanly defense, “I’ve done no harm” ?
Who are these men?
First Murderer
Where is your husband?
Lady Macduff
I hope he’s nowhere so wicked that someone like you can get to him.
First Murderer
He's a traitor.
Son
You lie, you shaggy-haired villain!
First Murderer
What, you little rascal!
You son of a traitor!
Son
He’s killed me, mom. Run away, please!
