Question

Using these lines from Act II, explain the relationship between Macbeth's words and the words of Duncan's sons. Macbeth Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys: renown and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. Malcolm What will you do? Let's not consort with them: To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I'll to England. Donalbain. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer: where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood, The nearer bloody.

Answer 1

The relationship between Macbeth's words and that of Duncan's sons is that Macbeth fakes his sadness about Duncan's death, where his sons do not, they simply go on with business, preparing to take their father's place. Though Macbeth lies, performing as a man who feels great sorrow, and Duncan's sons choose to do the opposite, and allow their actions to be perceived as silent grief, they have something in common—none of those men feel the sad about Duncan's death, for they have all gained something great from it.