How Does Shakespeare Use Minor Characters In Macbeth

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In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the author has the ability to use minor characters to show the qualities of major characters. In Act Four Scene Two, Shakespeare presents two characters that will affect the reader’s response to other characters in the play. Lady Macduff and her son are used to raise emotions in the reader and assist the reader to make connections between others in the play. Shakespeare also presents minor characters to contrast the nature of major characters. For example, Lady Macduff can be used as a foil for Lady Macbeth. Through his poetry, Shakespeare describes human nature how he perceives it. He reflects on the different sides of human nature: good and evil. Shakespeare uses Lady Macduff and her son to provoke emotions in the reader, contrast the opposing personalities of the two wives, and show the two …show more content…

Lady Macduff retains qualities Lady Macbeth does not possess: innocence, femininity, and honesty. Lady Macduff is innocent in that she has never done anything horrible. She herself states, “I have done no harm,” (4.2 71), whereas Lady Macbeth is deceiving and has caused ambition and ruthlessness in her husband. Similarly, Lady Macduff exemplifies femininity. She is a feminine mother figure in Macbeth, in contrast to Lady Macbeth who does not want to be associated with her gender. Lady Macbeth even proclaims “unsex me here,” (1.5 39) during a powerful soliloquy. A final difference is the contrast of good and evil in the characters of Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macduff is honest unlike her counterpart Lady Macbeth. Lady Macduff answers her son’s questions honestly, without refraining any information, even if it means hurting her son. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, is very dishonest. She hides the secret that her husband killed King Duncan, and deceives Macbeth into getting what she wants. The two characters contrast each other

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