Macbeth: Act II
Mrs. Wiley- English IV
Summary:
Macbeth comes upon Banquo and his son, Fleance, after midnight as they are headed to bed. Macbeth and Banquo talk of the witches’ predictions and Macbeth again suggests a private talk with Banquo. After they leave, Macbeth imagines a blood-covered dagger before him. When the bell sounds, Macbeth steals away to commit the murder. Lady Macbeth drugged Duncan’s guards, but wasn’t able to murder Duncan because he reminds her too much of her father. Macbeth murders Duncan offstage and reenters, deeply troubled and dazed. Lady Macbeth scolds him and places the bloody daggers next to the sleeping guards, whom she smears with blood. A drunken porter responds to Macduff’s and Lennox’s knocking at the gate. Lennox describes strange things happening in nature last night while Macduff discovers Duncan’s body. When Macbeth states that he killed Duncan’s guards because they killed Duncan, Lady Macbeth faints. Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, run from the country fearing for their lives. Ross and an old man are talking about the strange things that they saw the night of and the day after the king’s murder. Macduff reveals that Duncan’s sons are suspects, and that Macbeth is going to become king. Macduff will not attend Macbeth’s coronation, because he has doubts about the new king.
Scene I:
1. Refer to lines 20-22. Do you think Macbeth is telling the truth here?
Yes- he took it into his own hands, so he is worrying less about the prophecy OR No- he doesn’t want Banquo to be suspicious.
2. Refer to lines 33-49. Describe, in detail, what Macbeth sees. Is it real?
A dagger; no- he is crazed, blurring imagination and reality
3. Refer to lines 50-56. How, in this soliloquy, does Macbeth reject grace and turn himself over to the powers of evil?
He knows that he has no good reasons to kill Duncan; He, instead imitates Tarquin (who was a famous Roman tyrant and rapist) and knowingly embraces evil
4. Refer to lines 62-64. In what ways does the bell toll not only for Duncan, but also for the tragic hero, Macbeth?
The bell…
Duncan- summons him to either Heaven or Hell
Macbeth- begins his journey to damnation
Scene II:
5. Refer to lines 30-31. What is ironic about Macbeth’s desire for a blessing?
He wants a blessing, although he has just finished committing a brutal murder.
6. In lines 14-42, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth believe that they hear many different noises throughout the night. List the two things that she hears and the sixdifferent statements that he heard from various people sleeping in the house.
Lady Macbeth:
a. owl screams
b. crickets cry
Macbeth:
a. “Murder!”
b. “God bless us!”
c. “Amen”
d. “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!”
e. “Glamis hath murdered sleep and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”
f.OMIT
7. Refer to lines 45-49. What is Lady Macbeth’s plan for framing someone for the murder?
She wants to take the daggers back to the crime scene and smear the guards with blood.
8. Refer to lines 49-56. Compare Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s frames of mind about the deed. How is it significant that he can’t finish it, but she is able to make sure that everything is finished as they planned it?
He is supposed to be “ruthless and manly,” yet she is the braver of the two.
9. Write line 59 below. (This is one of the most famous lines in the play.)
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood?”
______
10. Refer to lines 58-62 and 66-68. How does the imagery concerning blood and water in Macbeth’s speech contrast with that in Lady Macbeth’s speech?
He states that even all the water in the ocean couldn’t wash the blood from his hand. She says “a little water clears us of this deed.” She is practical- water washes away blood. He is speaking metaphorically- he believes his sins will contaminate the oceans of the world- the waters will turn red with blood.
11. Refer to lines 72-73. How serious is Macbeth when he says that he wished Duncan could be awakened by the knocking?
He is serious- he is feeling genuine regret/ remorse. (At the same time, he is not serous because he knows that it is impossible.)
Scene III:
12. Refer to lines 48-55. Lennox reports an instance of nature mirroring unnatural events in society. Although such theories are rejected today, Elizabethans firmly believed that when people committed horrible acts, darkness, storms, earthquakes, and unnatural occurrences, such as deformed births, followed. Name some of the occurrences that Lennox has seen or heard about that night.
a. screams of death (which is really the wind)
b. screeching owls
c. earthquakes
d. unnatural winds
13. Refer to lines 91-93. How do the styles of Macbeth’s and Macduff’s announcements of Duncan’s death to the king’s sons differ?
Macbeth- speaks in metaphors
Macduff- is very straight-forward
14. Macbeth goes on a ramble using extravagant imagery to describe Duncan’s death. His eloquence is meant to cover up his insincerity. His anxiety and guilt make him ramble on inappropriately. If you were there, would this behavior make you wonder whether or not he could possibly be guilty?
OPINION- answers will vary
15. Refer to the bottom of pg. 327. What words does Macbeth use to describe the dead Duncan that give him “saintly” and “royal” qualities?
silver skin, golden blood
16. Refer to line 112. What makes Lady Macbeth cry out here? (Think about question 13.)
She wants to look very sad; she wants to detract attention from her husband’s “rambling.” She is shocked by the death of the guards.
17. Refer to lines 124-126. What does the image of Banquo standing in the “great hand of God” suggest about his intent?
He plans to fight on the side of righteousness- fighting the treasonous malice that killed Duncan; He also doesn’t believe that the murder has been avenged- he doesn’t believe that the guards were guilty.
18. Refer to lines 129-134. What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do and why?
Malcolm goes to England and Donalbain goes to Ireland. They feared for their safety.
Scene IV:
19. Refer to lines 14-19. Here, Ross presents an image of Duncan’s horses gone wild and cannibalizing each other. How are the horses a metaphor for Macbeth?
Macbeth, too, has gone wild, broken rank, and killed one of his own.
20. Refer to lines 27-30. What is ironic about Ross’s comment on the motive for the murder?
He has the right motive, but the wrong suspect. (He thinks Malcolm and Donalbain killed Duncan for the throne.)
21. Refer to line 38. What warning does Macduff convey using the clothing metaphor?
He is worried about having Macbeth as king. He tells the men that their new “robes” (situations) may not suit them as well as their old ones did. (Ross and the old man)