Act four, scene 2 and 3

Act four continues with Lady Macduff, Ross and her son, discussing the fleeing of their father, Macduff to England. Lady Macduff thinks he is a coward and doesn't love them, or he would have stayed to protect them. Ross reassures her, stating that things can only get better from where they are now, and then leaves. However, we know that things will get worse, as a messenger arrives bearing the bad news that murderers are on their way to the castle. Lady Macduff doesn't know what to do, as she has done nothing wrong. However, she is too late, as a murderer enters and kills her son, and then she is chased off the stage and killed as well.

Next, we switch venues and move to England, where Macduff has arrived to try and convince Malcolm to round up an army to take back the throne from the tyrant Macbeth. First, though, he has to pass Malcolm's test to prove that he is indeed one of the good guys. Malcolm tests Macduff by making up a list of vices, such as lust and greed, to which Macduff responds politely, still convinced that Malcolm would make a better king. However, Malcolm finally convinces Macduff that he would be worse than Macbeth and would ruin the unity of the country. Finally, Macduff reacts and says that all hope is lost if this is true, and that Malcolm is not at all like his noble parents and doesn't deserve to be king. Malcolm now reveals that he made all the vices up and has actually never been with a woman. He says he now knows that Macduff wants a true, good king, and that he already has Old Siward and 10 000 men to go with him to Scotland. But, just when all looks good, Ross enters and tells Macduff that his family has been murdered. Macduff is shocked, but Malcolm encourages him to harness his anger and turn it into revenge. Macbeth and Macduff are now enemies and Macduff wants to fight him one on one. The scene ends with the decision to go to Macbeth and kill him.