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"The title is affeered"
Wordplay
Act 4,
Scene 3
Lines 31b-37a

An explanation of the phrase “title is affeered” in Act 4, Scene 3 of myShakespeare’s Macbeth.

Macduff

                                         Bleed, bleed, poor country.
Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure
For goodness dare not cheque thee. Wear thou thy wrongs,
The title is affeered. Fare thee well, lord.
I would not be the villain that thou think'st
For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp,
And the rich East to boot.

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]

This phrase can be read two ways:

  • Macbeth’s title—therefore his tyranny—is confirmed (the legal definition of affeered) because no goodness dares to challenge it.
  • Malcolm will not press his claim to the throne (his title) because he is afraid (a-feared).