Macbeth Act II

Scene I

Late Night Meeting Macbeth comes upon Banquo and his son Fleance Macbeth and Banquo talk about the witches predictions Macbeth suggests they talk privately later

Macbeth’s Soliloquy Macbeth hallucinates and believes he sees a dagger in front of him He is in the midst of his decision to act or not to act He compares his own dagger to the illusion

Kill or Not to Kill He seems to be reveling in his wicked dream or hallucination He makes the decision to kill Duncan The ringing of the bell is the signal from Lady Macbeth that she has completed her part of the plan

Comparison Macbeth is compared to Tarquin A Roman tyrant He raped a woman named Lucretia Macbeth in his decision to kill Duncan has knowingly embraced evil

Scene 2

Lady Macbeth’s Role Lady Macbeth has drugged Duncan’s guards She is unable to kill Duncan He looks like her father She is reveling in the murder

Committing Murder Macbeth kills Duncan We do not see the actual murder He enters the scene troubled and dazed Lady Macbeth scolds him He brings the guard’s daggers with him

Lady Macbeth Macbeth is too overwhelmed to go back Lady Macbeth must place the bloody daggers beside the sleeping guards She smears the guards with blood

Metaphors Shakespeare uses four metaphors to describe sleep/death in this scene A knitter who untangles the threads of care A bath that soothes a laborer An ointment that heals the mind The body’s greatest need for food

Blood and Water Macbeth Lady Macbeth All the water in the world cannot wash away the blood metaphoric Lady Macbeth A little water will make them clean realistic

Scene 3

Purpose of the Porter It is the morning after the murder A drunken porter responds to Macduff and Lennox’s knocking at the gate Provides comic relief Must release the emotional intensity from the prior scenes

The King is Dead! Macduff discovers Duncan’s dead body Macbeth states he has killed the guards because they murdered Duncan Not part of the original plan Lady Macbeth faints Probably as a distraction Duncan’s sons flee the country Malcolm to England Donalbain to Ireland

Similarities and Differences Macbeth Brave soldier Thane of Glamis and Cawdor Disloyal Dishonorable Macduff Brave soldier Thane of Fife Loyal Honorable

Standing “In the Great Hand of God” Image of Banquo standing in “the great hand of God” Intends to stand on the side of righteousness Will fight against the treasonous malice that killed Duncan Does not believe the guards killed Duncan

Weighing the Evidence Lennox Banquo Lady Macbeth Macbeth Guards are guilty Banquo Suspicious of Macbeth Lady Macbeth Feels Macbeth is revealing too much Macbeth Blames guards Blames Malcolm and Donalbain Malcolm and Donalbain Fear for their lives Don’t know who to trust

Scene 4

Right Motive, Wrong Person Reveals that Duncan’s sons are suspected of killing their father Guards were hired by them Ross has the right motive, but the wrong person Macbeth will inherit the crown Thinks the sons had their father killed

What Macduff Suspects Macbeth has gone to Scone to be installed as King Macduff will not attend Macbeth’s coronation Voices doubt about Macbeth’s reign Suspects Macbeth of the murder