The darkest moment in Macbeth, a very dark play, is the murder of Macduff's wife and children. It can be considered an illustration of what happens when a tyrant begins to feel threatened - that atrocity usually follows. The scene (4.3) during which Macduff is told the news (at the time he is gathering forces in England with which to oppose Macbeth) is very moving and thought-provoking. Malcolm repeatedly intercedes, hoping to convince Macduff to "let grief convert to anger", and we may feel torn, like Macduff, between the two. Particulary when we realize that Malcolm may be thinking rather more politically than empathetically - he needs Macduff to help him to reach the throne. At one point Malcolm tells Macduff to "dispute it like a man", and Macduff's reply is the following:

I shall do so;

But I must also feel it as a man:

I cannot but remember such things were,

That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on,

And would not take their part?

Emotions and questions such as these continue to follow disasters to this day, and will continue to do so as long as injustice exists. My point with all of this is as follows: If we are trying to move toward a world without violence, treachery and dictatorship, wouldn't we have a better chance of doing so if young people get the opportunity to read Macbeth?