Macduff/Kingship
, “Confusion now hath made his
masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder.”
• This is Macduff’s reaction to Duncan’s death.
• Look at the rhetorical structure of the speech; he is speaking by way of
abstractions and personifications.
• “Confusion” creating “his masterpiece” refers to the sudden and shocking
death of Duncan, which has created apart from all the sorrows, a genuine
sense of disbelief and confusion too thereby. It’s a metaphor.
• The comparison between Duncan’s body and the Holy Temple of Lords
reflects his loyalties for the king.
• The rhetorics of Macduff’s speech is made to contrast with the false-
rhetorical hollowness of Macbeth’s reaction to the murder.
, “Confusion now hath made his
masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder.”
• This is Macduff’s reaction to Duncan’s death.
• Look at the rhetorical structure of the speech; he is speaking by way of
abstractions and personifications.
• “Confusion” creating “his masterpiece” refers to the sudden and shocking
death of Duncan, which has created apart from all the sorrows, a genuine
sense of disbelief and confusion too thereby. It’s a metaphor.
• The comparison between Duncan’s body and the Holy Temple of Lords
reflects his loyalties for the king.
• The rhetorics of Macduff’s speech is made to contrast with the false-
rhetorical hollowness of Macbeth’s reaction to the murder.
