MacBeth Act 4 Scene 2 Debrief

This scene begins with Lady Macduff and Ross discussing Macduff's fleeing and abandonment of her and her son with Ross. Ross tries to reason with Lady Macduff and explain that him running is not a sign of treason or cowardice but his way of keeping his family safe, "He is noble, wise, judicious and knows best"(Act IV Scene 2 Line 19) . Lady Macduff states that there are no acts more cowardly than abandoning your family at the possibility of danger, it is a sign that "He loves [them] not" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 10). Ross gives up and leaves.
Lady Macduff then explains to her son that his father is a worthless traitor, "One that swears and lies" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 56) that may as well be dead to them. While asking what her son what they will do now, she explains the concepts of treason and cowardice. Her son then states that he believes he will soon have a father again and that all will work out, even if traitors are outdone by good men, there is more corruption; "Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang them" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 64-67).
Mid discussion a messenger forewarns Lady Macduff "Some danger does approach you nearly" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 75). As the messenger leaves and she claims that "[She has] done no harm" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 83) "[She is] in this early world, where to do harm is often laudable." (Act IV Scene 2 Line 84-85)
On that thought the murderer enters asking where her traitorous husband can be found. She defends him and says no where here. The son then steps up to defend her father, but the murderer states he can't be trusted, he is a "Young fry of treachery" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 95) and kills him.

The essential questions I chose are what is loyalty and what makes or changes a person's self worth. I chose these questions because in this scene, the concept of loyalty itself isn't discussed, but rather how our loyalties determine our self worth in other people's perspectives. In Macbeth's eyes, Macduff's lack of loyalty makes him a traitor to the kingdom, in Lady Macduff's eyes Macduff's lack of presence shows a lack of loyalty to his family, and therefor makes him a traitor. However in Ross' eyes, Macduff was doing the best he could and it was a valiant effort leaving his family to keep them out of danger. The way people perceive who we place our loyalties in creates the image of self worth. By saying he is disloyal to Macbeth, many would say that he has no self worth and is a traitorous scum, however there are those who know the truth of Macbeth and would perceive him as  a noble hero fighting for justice.
The scene also speaks of the strength loyalties can have over us/ bring us. For example, Lady Macduff is loyal to Macduff even if she won't admit it. Through out the beginning of the scene she stated that he was traitorous and dead to her, but when questioned by the murderer she defended him and proved she believed in what he was doing. It also raises the question of if loyalties can be influenced by other's, or if they truly represent what we believe is right. When the murderer attacks Macduff's son, he states that he is a "Young fry of treachery" (Act IV Scene 2 Line 95) and therefore his voice is worthless.  This statement expresses a belief that self worth is something we are born into. If you are the son of a traitor with questionable loyalties, you yourself become a traitor with questionable loyalties and can't be trusted.