Sc. 2, Lines 69–79: Paraphrase Lady Macduff’s thoughts about “this earthly world.” What theme developing since Act I do the ideas in this soliloquy support?

Answer 1

Lady Macduff reflects that on "this earthly world" doing wrong is often commended rather than condemned (Macbeth 4.2.70). One theme that stands out with its connection to Act I is that of being "womanly" and its negative attributes (Macbeth 4.2.75). In Act I, Lady Macbeth calls upon spirits to "unsex" her, make her more manly so as to see through the task of killing her father, Duncan (Macbeth 1.5.31). Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth both toss aside their feminine attributes of innocence and goodness to "man up" and achieve their goals.