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“distempered cause”
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 2
Lines 13-17a

An explanation of the phrase “distempered cause” in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Macbeth.

Caithness

Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies.
Some say he's mad; others that lesser hate him
Do call it valiant fury. But for certain,
He cannot buckle his distempered cause
Within the belt of rule.

The wordplay here means that this phrase could refer to two things:

  • A disorganized attempt to stir his followers to action. Macbeth cannot take control of his disorganized followers.
  • A diseased cause. Macbeth cannot rule properly because his cause is diseased.