Back to the Play
"bestride our down-fall'n birthdom"
Metaphor
Act 4,
Scene 3
Lines 1-8a

An explanation of "bestride our down-fall'n birthdom" in Act 4, Scene 3 of myShakespeare's Macbeth. 

[Near the palace of England's King Edward the Confessor. Enter Malcolm who is joined by Macduff who has just arrived from Scotland]

Malcolm

Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there
Weep our sad bosoms empty.

Macduff

                                                     Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men
Bestride our down-fall'n birthdom. Each new morn
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out
Like syllable of dolor.

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

[Enter a Doctor]

Malcolm

Doctor

Malcolm

[Exit Doctor]

Macduff

Malcolm

[Enter Ross]

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Malcolm

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Malcolm

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Malcolm

Macduff

Ross

Macduff

Ross

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

Macduff

Malcolm

[Exit]

Macduff is referring to a well known image from ancient Greece of a warrior with sword drawn standing astride the body of his slain comrade, challenging the enemy.  Macduff is countering Malcolm's seeming defeatism and appealing to Malcolm to join him in taking a stand against Macbeth.