Macbeth Act 2

Why does Lady Macbeth not commit the murder when she is in the room?

Duncan reminded her of her father sleeping so she couldn't kill him.

Who has been named King? Where will the coronation take place?

Macbeth has been named king and the coronation will take place in Scone.

What further unnatural acts are occurring? What do you think these happenings are meant to signify?

Animals are going savage and the horses are eating each other. The owl is eating a falcon. These happenings are meant to symbolize the people and all the unnatural happenings going on in the city. The falcon represents Duncan and the owl represents Macbeth.

Why do you think Macbeth lies to Banquo and tells him that he, Macbeth has not thought of the weird sisters?

He doesn't want to risk exposing the plan he and Lady Macbeth have to kill Duncan.

How would Macbeth's mental/emotional state be described at this point?

He is anxious and nervous but gradually he becomes determined about killing Duncan.

What has Lady Macbeth done to the guards?

She fed them alcohol that contained a drug to make them sleep but she thinks she may have put too much in it so they may die.

In this scene, how does Lady Macbeth criticize her husband and show herself to be stronger? In what ways is she just as weak?

She tells him he is a coward ans says she will just kill him herself. She is just as weak because she couldn't kill Duncan because he looked just like her father sleeping.

How does the form of the dialogue create a sense of urgency early in this scene?

The lines are short and fast and aren't as long and sophisticated as the other lines.

dudgegon

a handle

benison

blessing

suborn'd

bribed

scruples

doubts

What strange events of the previous night does Lennox describe? What theme do these evens reinforce?

He is describing an earthquake, the murder of Duncan, strange screams, chimneys blowing down and birds shrieking. This reinforces the fair is foul, foul is fair theme.

Macbeth goes on to describe how he thought he heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep..." What is the meaning of Macbeth's remarks about sleep?

He is hallucinating and he heard all of this in his head. This symbolizes Macbeth has murdered his own sleep because he killed Duncan. He will never sleep again.

Why do you suppose Banquo is having trouble sleeping?

He is having trouble sleeping because he is having bad temptations in his dreams caused by the prophecy and it bothers him.

What allusion does Macduff make to Greek mythology? What is his meaning?

He mentions a Gorgon which brought death upon anyone who looked at it. He means (metaphorically) that if you look at all the sin going on then you will die.

Macbeth enters and describes what he saw and heard. She tells him, "These deeds must not be thought/After these ways." Why?

He overheard and saw people praying. Lady Macbeth tells him to stop feeling regret because she thinks it will make him crazy. He thinks they are only praying because they saw him with daggers.

What does Ross have to say about the ambition that mus have led to the murder?

He says that the ambition and who committed the crime are in question.

What does Macbeth say about cleaning the blood off of his hands? How does Lady Macbeth's comments about their bloody hands contrast with his? What do their bloody hands symbolize?

He says there is so much blood that if he tries to rinse his hands in the ocean, the ocean will turn red. Lady Macbeth says her hands are the same color but a little water will clear it away. Their hands visualize their guilt of the crime they committed.

In his soliloquy after Banquo leaves, what does Macbeth tell the audience he sees? In what ways does Macbeth explain his sight?

He sees a floating dagger so he tries to touch it and see if it is real or not. He couldn't grab it but he could grab his own dagger so he knew he was awake. He says it is a visual of what he is about to do to Duncan because it is a bloody dagger.

In Greek theater, tragedies focus on the tragic hero. This tragic hero is a great man who has one tragic flaw, which brings about his downfall. As the hero accepts the consequences of his errors, he teaches the audience some truth to life. If Macbeth is a tragic hero, what is his tragic flaw?

His flaw is greed and how he is easily persuaded by everything. He also lacks a strong will.

The Porter's scene, or the "knocking at the gate scene," is frequently debated by scholars, but most agree it is a typical scene of comic relief often found in Shakespeare's plays. Why do you think a scene of comic relief has been placed in this particular part of the play? What is its purpose:? Why are the Porter's lines in prose rather than poetry? What lines contain the bawdy humor often found in these scenes?

It has been placed in this particular spot to lighten the mood of previous scenes and balances later scenes. His lines are in prose because it is used to show the situational irony because Porter is saying what is happening without actually knowing what's happening.

How does Macduff question Macbeth's actions? What does Lady Macbeth do to intercede?

Macduff questions why Macbeth killed both guards when earlier he hadn't been in the room and asked if the king had awoken yet and suddenly he saw the king dead so he killed the guards. Lady Macbeth pretends to faint to cause a distraction.

Instead of attending the coronation, Macduff plans to travel home. How might this choice be significant?

Macduff wants to make sure people at home, like his family to make sure they are okay. This is significant because this shows true loyalty and shows that he cares more about his family than politics.

Who is suspected of setting up the murder of Duncan? Why?

Malcom and Donalbain are suspected because the fled.

Who are Malcom and Donalbain? What do they suspect, and what decision do they make?

They are Duncan's sons. They suspect that Macbeth killed Duncan. They decide to flee away. Donalbain goes to Ireland and Malcom goes to England.

What role does the Porter imagine he is playing? How does he continue his joke? How is his characterization of his role in the castle ironic?

The porter thinks he is the gate keeper of hell but he is really the gate keeper of a castle where sin is frequent. This is ironic because he is talking about what is happening without ever actually knowing what's going on.

What does the ringing of the bell indicate to Macbeth? How does Macbeth say the ringing relates to Duncan? What kind of poetic form ends this scene?

The ringing indicates that the preparation is done and it is time to kill Duncan. Macbeth ends the scene with two rhymed couplets.

This is the first appearance of Banquo's son, Fleance. Why might the sight of him be significant to Macbeth at this moment?

This is significant because since Fleance is supposed to be king, Macbeth sees him as a threat and thinks he may need to do something about Fleance too. This puts Fleance in danger.

At the close of the scene, there is an incessant knocking at the door. What might this knocking symbolize?

This knocking might symbolize guilt and regret. It also shoes the sins committed by Macbeth.

warrants

justification, rationale

prate

to chatter

incarnadine

to make red

multitudinous

vast