MacBeth Act I & II (Needs Proofread)

How does Banquo's reaction to the witches differ from Macbeth's ?

Banquo does not desire to know more, and he treats the prophecies with curiousness and sarcasm. MacBeth desires for details and is after how he can become King. MacBeth is alot more gullible than Banquo.

Review De Quincey's interpretation of the porter's scene in the Connection on page 468, and review also the Critical Comment on page 470. What purpose do you see for this scene? Is it just for comic relief, or does it have other dramatic functions? Give reasons for you interpretation.

I think Shakespeare used this as a comic relief. I see it as a way to emotionally transition readers into future scenes. The death of Duncan hits hard on alot of people and Shakespeare probably wants to emphasize it ways that don't make readers wet their pages with tears.

What does the king determine to do for Macbeth? Why?

King Duncan decides to make Macbeth thane of Cawdor because Macbeth fought heroically for the king plus the thane of Cawdor was a traitor.

Find details in the play that show the contrasts between Lady Macbeth's character and her husband's. Who is more single minded and logical? Who is more argumentive and sensitive?

Lady MacBeth is the single minded and logical character. She creates a plan for Duncan's death and stays with the plan. MacBeth is the arguementive and sensitive character. MacBeth continually reconsiders murdering Duncan.

In act 1 , Lady Macbeth seemed to be planning to murder Duncan herself. But at the last moment, in act 2 she is unable to wield her dagger. What reason does she give? What do her actions and explanation reveal about her character ?

Lady MacBeth's excuse for sparing Duncan's life is Duncan looking like her father in his sleep. This reveals Lady MacBeth has a place in her heart for her family and can be weaker than her words.

In scene 2, as Macbeth kills Duncan, what does Lady Macbeth hear? What does Macbeth hear?

Lady Macbeth hears strange noises of creatures or animals. Macbeth hears the guards praying and a voice saying " sleep no more, Macbeth murders sleep..Macbeth will sleep no more."

What are Lady Macbeth's plans for Duncan when he visits the castle?

Lady Macbeth plans a murder on Duncan which will be framed on his guards. This is all done so Macbeth can become king.

What conflict rages in Macbeth after he hears the witches' prophecy? What resolution to this conflict does Macbeth express in his aside in scene 4?

MacBeth is met with the conflict of not knowing if fate will fulfill his prophecies on his own or he has to take actions. But, he soon realizes he has to take action if he want to be king.

In scene 2, how does Macbeth respond to Lady Macbeth's suggestion that he go wash the " filthy witness" from his hands?

MacBeth makes a claim that the entire Neptune's ocean will not be enough to cleanse blood from his hand, but instead he will make the water turn red.

Describe the vision that Macbeth has at the end of scene 1. What details foreshadow the action to come?

MacBeth saw the hallucination of a blood-covered dagger. This foreshadows the murder of Duncan, sleeplessness, and chaos.

What reason does Macbeth give for killing Duncan's two guards?

MacBeth used the excuse of avenging Duncan's death out of anger.

Explain the paradox, or the apparently contradictory nature of the witches greeting to Banquo in Scene 3: " Lesser than Macbeth, and greater." How is this paradox true?

Macbeth is king now, but Banquo's descendants will be king.

A terrible murder is committed in this act. How do various characters respond to the violence? How would people today react to the news that a ruler has been assassinated in cold blood and that a nation is in political chaos?

Macbeth reacts by killing the guards, Lady MacBeth reacts with fainting, Macduff becomes suspicious in response, and Malcolm and Donalbain leaves the country in fearful reactions. People today would start masses of conspiracies, but go back to normal lives with a small chance of rioting.

Why has Macduff come?

Macduff comes to wake King Duncan.

Though Macbeth encounters no actual opposition until long after Duncan is murdered, Shakespeare must foreshadow some trouble for him. To build up suspense, Shakespeare edges on character, and what inkling does he give of his dissatisfaction with Macbeth?

Macduff has suspicion about MacBeth. The suspicion is confirmed because he doesn't want to see MacBeth being crowned.

In scene 4, whom does Macduff suspect of Duncan's murder?

Macdugg suspects MacBeth for Duncan's murder.

Macduff becomes an important character in the three remaining acts. Describe how Shakespeare characterizes him in act 2.

Shakespeare characterizes Macduff as a person loyal to Duncan, suspicious of MacBeth, and cautious in Act 2.

Lady Macbeth's fainting spell, like everything else she has done so far, had a purpose. What message do you think Lady Macbeth wants he fainting spell to convey?

She diverts the attention of MacBeth to prevent further suspicion, and it shows her being "upset" with Duncan's death.

What would you say is the mood of act 2 ? What images and actions help to create this mood ? Why might images of blood and water appear in scene 2, and what do they symbolize?

The mood of Act 2 is tragedy and depression. Images of blood, daggers, etc help create this mood. The images of blood and water appears in scene two to emphasize the guilt and tragedy for MacBeth's actions.The unwashable blood emphasizes the tragedy that comes from Duncan's death and symbolizes guilt. Water symbolizes a cleansing tool, but the failure to cleanse emphasizes the scale of guilt.

In some productions of Macbeth, Scene 4 is cut. Why would this be done? Is there any dramatic purpose for keeping it? Why do you think the Old Man is included in this scene?

The scene is cut because it does impact the plot largely. The Old man could just be a symbol for how horrific murder is.

How does the weather in the brief opening scene of Macbeth reflect the human passions revealed in the rest of the act?

The weather foreshadows and hints the chaos that occurs after the witch's prophecies.

In Scene 1, where do the witches plan to meet again and why?

The witches planned to meet again on the heath planning to meet with Macbeth.

One critic has said that the witches are " in some sense representative of potentialities within" Macbeth. How could that statement be explained? Is there any evidence in Act 1 that Macbeth has wanted to be king before?

The witches reveals MacBeth potentials and gives him hope that he can become anything including King. There is no evidence in Act 1 that MacBeth has previously desired to be King.

What do the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo in Scene 3?

The witches tell Macbeth he will be thane of Cawdor and king thereafter. The witches told Banquo he won't be king but his descendants will.