ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -In what way is Macduff not of woman born? He was adopted as a baby. His mother was Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. He was born by cesarean section.

Detailed explanation-2: -Macduff’s ability to kill Macbeth suggests that his mother was irrelevant and he was born only to his father and was not “woman born". Thus ignoring her role in his birth.

Detailed explanation-3: -Although Macbeth believes that he cannot be killed by any man born of a woman, he soon learns that Macduff was “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” (Act V Scene 8 lines 2493/2494)-meaning that Macduff was born by caesarean section. The two fight, and Macduff slays Macbeth offstage.

Detailed explanation-4: -In an aside, the doctor says that if he could escape Dunsinane, no fee of any size could bring him back. Macbeth believes that Malcolm was born of a woman, and the apparitions told him that he need not fear harm from any man born of woman.

Detailed explanation-5: -Macbeth taunts Macduff but Macduff just wants to fight. Macbeth claims that he cannot be defeated because of the witches’ prophecy but Macduff then reveals that he was born by Caesarean birth.