The Tragedy of Macbeth The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare Act II Act

							The Tragedy of Macbeth

   William Shakespeare
Act II
      Act II, Scene i. - Preview

• Past midnight, Macbeth tells Banquo that
  they'll speak of the witches another time,
  and bids him goodnight.
• Macbeth sees "a dagger of the mind,"
  hears his wife's bell, and goes to kill King
  Duncan.
      Act II, Scene i. - Post view
• The clean air and pleasant environment of Inverness
  castle has changed to a tense foreboding atmosphere.
• The dagger scene is the first of many illusions that
  will occur n the play.
• The pressure on Macbeth is building. His sanity is
  now in question. It will continue to dissolve as the
  play continues.
• Notice Macbeth's lack of concern for Duncan. In the
  last few lines of the play he is clearly concerned
  about whether he will go to hell himself but he does
  not seem concerned about the fate of his intended
  victim, King Duncan.
            Act II, Scene i. - Quote
“Is this a dagger, which I see before me? The dagger speech is one of
the handle toward my hand?                     Shakespeare’s most famous
Come let me clutch thee                        soliloquies and emphasizes
I have thee not, and yet I can see thee still. the supernatural element in
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
                                               the play, Macbeth. It is also
                                               a study of Macbeth’s
to feeling, as to sight? Or art thou but
                                               psychology for unlike the
a dagger of the mind, a false creation,        three witches, who
proceeding from the heat oppressed             represent fate and were
    brain?”                                    seen by Banquo and the
-Macbeth                                       others, this dagger is a
             The The dagger points
                                         product of Macbeth’s own
             the way to Duncan and       mind.
            Macbeth climbs to kill the
                 sleeping King.
  Act II, Scene i. – E. Questions
• Consider the implications of the dagger
  hallucination? What does Macbeth mean
  by the fatal vision of the dagger?
      Act II, Scene ii. - Preview
• Lady Macbeth doesn’t believe Macbeth will do
  it at first.
• She goes to kill the King herself but she can’t
  do it because Duncan looks like her father.
• Lady Macbeth waits for Macbeth to come with
  the news that he has killed the King.
• Macbeth kills the King. When he is finished he
  hears 2 grooms who sleep in the room with
  Duncan speaking and saying prayers.
      Act II, Scene ii. - Preview
• Macbeth is so shaken by the murder that he
  brings the bloody daggers with him.
• Lady Macbeth takes them from him, to place
  them with the sleeping grooms so that they
  will be blamed.
• A knocking at the castle gate frightens
  Macbeth, and his wife leads him away, so that
  they can wash the blood from their hands.
    Act II, Scene ii. - Post view
• Macbeth makes an interesting comment
  in that in murdering Duncan, he has also
  murdered sleep. He will sleep no more.
  He will never rest easy in his own bed.
• Lady Macbeth rebukes her husband for
  having such thoughts, but ironically, it
  will be her that can gain no sleep which
  will lead to her own madness
         Act II, Scene ii. - Quote
  “My hands are of your          Lady Macbeth’s
   colour; but I shame to wear   performance in this scene is
   a heart so white.”            full of excitement and
                                 emotion. She is clearly keyed
- - Lady Macbeth                 up with the prospect of
                                 success for the murder plot.
                                 She is described as being
                                 drunk with boldness and on
                                 fire with passion. However,
                                 she is still concerned that
                                 they will be discovered and
                                 like her husband is agitated
                                 by the slightest noise or
                                 movement in the darkness.
  Act II, Scene ii. – E. Questions
• Macbeth imagines that a voice speaks to
  him. What message is spoken?
• How does Macbeth interpret this
  message?
     Act II, Scene iii. - Preview
• The Porter takes a while to get to the door but
  eventually lets Macduff and Lennox in.
• The porter explains that he drank too much and
  goes on about the provocations of drinking.
  This is a rare moment of humor in the play.
• Macduff discovers King Duncan's body.
• Macbeth, in pretended fury, kills the King's
  grooms.
• Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, fear
  that they will be murdered next and flee.
      Act II, Scene iii. - Post view
• When Macduff and Lennox eventually enter the castle,
  the audience is aware that Macbeth must be cleaning
  himself of the blood he acquired in the previous scene.
• When Macbeth enters, he conducts Macduff to the King’s
  bedchamber and Lennox remains and talks about the
  extraordinary weather, which has been coupled with
  unnatural events.
• Shakespeare is keen to create a foreboding atmosphere
  using all the special effects that are available – screaming,
  wailing voices, birdcalls and thunderclaps.
• The Macbeths act devastated and enraged over the death
  of Duncan. This puts them beyond suspicion at first.
            Act II, Scene iii. - Quote
  “Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,
   Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
   The expedition my violent love
   Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan,
   His silver skin laced with his golden blood;
   And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature
   For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
   Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers   Macbeth is
   Unmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refrain,
   That had a heart to love, and in that heart            initially very
   Courage to make 's love known?”
                                                          convincing in
-     Macbeth
                                                          his grief and
                                                          rage.
 Act II, Scene iii. – E. Questions
• Why do Malcolm and Donalbain secretly
  leave Macbeth’s castle? Where do they
  go?
     Act II, Scene iv. - Preview

• Ross and an Old Man discuss what an
  unnatural night it has been.
• Ross and Macduff doubtfully discuss the news
  that Malcolm and Donalbain are responsible
  for their father's murder. This makes Macbeth
  the next King.
• Ross heads for Scone, to see Macbeth crowned
  King of Scotland, but Macduff is going to stay
  home.
    Act II, Scene iv. - Post view
• Notice that Macduff and Ross are very
  doubtful. They are not convinced that
  Malcolm and Donalbain are guilty.
             Act II, Scene iv. - Quote
  “Ah, good father,
   Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
   Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
   And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp:
   Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
   That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
   When living light should kiss it?”
-       - Ross
                Ross and the old man are discussing
                the unnatural weather and considering
                whether it is linked to the unnatural
                events.
 Act II, Scene iv. – E. Questions
• Why are Malcolm and Donalbain
  suspects in the murder of their father?
• What motive is attributed to them?
• Why is this accusation ironic?
    Act II, Summary of Events
•   Past midnight the act begins. Macbeth bids Banquo goodnight.
•   Macbeth sees "a dagger of the mind," then goes to kill King Duncan.
•   Lady Macbeth doesn’t believe Macbeth will do it at first.
•   Lady Macbeth goes to kill the King herself but can’t.
•   Macbeth kills the King.
•   Macbeth is so upset that he brings the bloody daggers with him.
•   Lady Macbeth takes them from him, to frame the grooms.
•   A knocking at the castle gate startles Macbeth and both go to bed.
•   The porter lets Macduff and Lennox in.
•   Macduff discovers King Duncan's body.
•   Macbeth, in pretended fury, kills the King's grooms.
•   Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain flee.
•   Ross and an Old Man discuss what an unnatural night it has been.
•   Ross and Macduff doubt Macbeth.
•   Ross heads for Scone. Macduff goes home.
     1. What is Macbeth's lie to Banquo
        about the witches' predictions?
• a. He says he does not remember what they
  said.
• b. He says he does not even think about them.
• c. He says they made a lucky guess on their
  predictions, but they are wrong about him ever
  being king.
• d. He says only fools and women believe such
  nonsense.
2.      What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give
        Macbeth to let him know that she has taken
        care of the guards?
•    a. She will ring a bell.
•    b. She will send a servant to say she is ill and
     wants to see him.
•    c. She will light three candles in her bedroom
     window.
•    d. She will stand at the window and whistle
     like a bird.
 3. What excuse does Lady Macbeth
   give for not killing Duncan herself?
• a. It would diminish Macbeth's power if
  she did the killing.
• b. She is not a strong and might not be
  able to use the knife effectively.
• c. She saw in a dream that only Macbeth
  could commit the murder.
• d. He reminded him of her father sleeping
  there.
4.   After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady
     Macbeth and is concerned about not being able
     to say "Amen." What is her advice to him?

• a. He should keep trying and soon he will
  succeed
• b. It does not matter whether or not he can say
  it
• c. They shouldn't think about it or it will make
  them crazy
• d. After things calm down he can go to the
  priest and ask for forgiveness
5.   Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a
     voice saying, "Macbeth does murder sleep."
     What does Lady Macbeth then tell him to
     do?

• a. Have a glass of wine and relax
• b. Get cleaned up and forget about it
• c. Have the minstrel come and sing some quiet
  tunes to put them to sleep
• d. Go for a walk in the garden and get some
  fresh air.
6. Why won't Macbeth take the daggers
   back to the scene of the crime?
• a. He can't bear to look at Duncan again
• b. He is afraid to be seen and look
  suspicious
• c. He thinks it will be bad luck to touch
  them again
• d. He says he has done enough; Lady
  Macbeth can return the daggers
      7. Who was knocking?
• a. The servant was bringing a glass of
  wine to Macbeth's chamber
• b. Macduff and Lennox were at the gate
• c. A drunkard who had lost his way home
  wanted a place to sleep
• d. A messenger came with a note for
  Lady Macbeth
8. What three things does drinking
   provoke?

•   a. "Sin, ill tempers, and ruin"
•   b. "Poor health, nightmares, and poverty"
•   c. "Nose-painting, sleep and urine"
•   d. "Fighting, hatred and trouble"
9. How does Lennox describe the night,
   and what is Macbeth's response?

• a. Lennox says it was a terrible night, and it predicted
  terrible, confusing times ahead. Macbeth brushes it
  off and says it was merely a rough night.
• b. Lennox says it was truly beautiful and peaceful-
  looking. Macbeth says appearances can be deceiving.
• c. Lennox says it was an awful night. Macbeth agrees
  and blames the witches.
• d. Lennox says it started out looking like an ordinary
  night. Macbeth disagrees and says it was terrible.
  10. What did Macduff discover?
• a. A note containing the outline of a plot
  to kill Duncan.
• b. An unlocked gate and a drunk porter
• c. Another omen -- dead flowers in the
  garden
• d. Duncan's body
11. Macduff says, "Oh, gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to
    hear what I can speak. The repetition, in a
    woman's ear, Would murder as it fell." What is
    ironic about this?
 • a. He pretended to be brave, but he really
   wasn't.
 • b. He sounded concerned about Lady Macbeth,
   but he really thought women were
 • weak and foolish
 • c. He tried to sound upset, but he was glad the
   king was dead.
 • d. He didn't know about Lady Macbeth's part
   in the murder
12. What excuse did Macbeth give for killing
    the guards (grooms)? What is his real
    reason?
• a. He was drunk and didn't realize what he had done.
  He didn't want anyone to suspect Lady Macbeth.
• b. He did it out of pain and rage, but he actually
  wanted to be rid of any possible witnesses.
• c. They were attacking him, and he did it in self
  defense. He wanted it to look like a plot to murder
  him, too.
• d. The witches predicted it, and he could not help
  himself. He was afraid they would not be loyal to him
  once he became king.
13. Why do Malcom and Donalbain
    leave?
• a. They don't want to be accused of the
  crime.
• b. They are going to take the sad news to
  their mother.
• c. They are afraid the murderer will be
  after them, too.
• d. They want to start making the funeral
  arrangements
14. Why does Ross not believe Malcom and
     Donalbain were responsible for Duncan's
     murder?
• a. He was with them and knows they are
  innocent.
• b. It was against their personal natures and
  against nature as the ruling force in the
  universe.
• c. They know that killing their father would
  only provoke a fight between themselves, and
  one or both of them would probably be killed.
• d. Both are too weak, cowardly, and un-
  ambitious to want to be king.