All 4 Uses of
contend
in
Macbeth
- His wonders and his praises do contend
p. 21.3contend = competeeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "His amazement and his praise compete for dominance with each other."
- All our service
In every point twice done, and then done double,
Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith
Your majesty loads our house.p. 37.5contend = competeeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "If everything we did for you was doubled and then doubled again, it would not compete (would not compare) with the great honors you have bestowed upon our house."
- I have drugged their possets
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.p. 55.4 *contend = competeeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "I have put so much sleeping potion in their drinks that death and life are fighting over them."
- And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain),
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.p. 75.1 *contending = strugglingeditor's notes: This description of Duncan's horses as he was murdered, could be paraphrased as: "And Duncan's horses (a thing both strange and true), beautiful and fast, the favorites of their breed, turned wild, broke free from their stalls, struggling against their natural obedience, as if they were ready to wage war against mankind."
Definitions:
-
(1)
(contend as in: She contended that...) to claim that something is true
-
(2)
(contend as in: She contended with it) to struggle or argue
-
(3)
(contend as in: She contended for the gold medal) to compete