Shakespeare's MacBeth - Act II

Act II Scene i:
1. At the beginning of this act, Macbeth is speaking with Banquo. Macbeth tells Banquo he wants to ask for his loyalty. What is Banquo’s response?


* Why is this response significant?
(Hint: How might it make Macbeth feel? How might Macbeth respond to that feeling?)

2. Summarize what Macbeth reveals in his soliloquy at the end of IIi.
(Hint: What does his grapple with? What points does he go over? What has he resolved by the end of the “dagger” soliloquy?)

3. Explain the importance of the tolling bell at the end of II i.


* Owls & Crickets = It was believed that owls hooting meant that someone was going to die and that when crickets made noise, a murder had occurred. They also believed that the devil took the form of an owl in order to speak to witches.
* There is a disjunction between talk and action, how Lady Macbeth talked about her ability to kill her own child, and her lack of action to kill King Duncan because he looked like her father.
* When Macbeth feels like he can’t say “Amen” it shows how he is separated from God. This connects to how earlier in time, it was thought that God appointed kings. Macbeth has violated political, ethical and moral boundaries by killing the king. He has also usurped God’s power by trying to make himself king.
Nature =
* Sleep - Macbeth’s inability to sleep shows his guilt.
* Water – Macbeth says an ocean of water cannot cleanse him, while Lady Macbeth thinks she only needs a little water to clean away her guilt.

Act II Scene ii

4. What has Lady Macbeth done during this scene?

5. What has kept Lady Macbeth from killing King Duncan?

 Explain how this is an example of the disjunction between talk and action.
(Hint: What did she say she would do to her own child in Act I?)

6. What is the importance of “Amen” in this scene?

 Who says it? How does Macbeth react to this?

 What does this tell us about Macbeth?


7. Macbeth violates three boundaries when he kills King Duncan. Explain the ramifications of the King’s murder in the following arenas:
- Political =

- Ethical =


- Moral =


8. Fill in the chart below by describing their reaction and quoting from the text to support your analysis:
Macbeth’s Reaction to the Murder Lady Macbeth’s Reaction to the Murder


9. Explain how the inability to sleep shows Macbeth’s guilt.

10. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth at the end of the scene?

11. Complete the chart below:
Macbeth & Water: Lady Macbeth & Water:


Explanation: Explanation:


Quote from the play: Quote from the play:




Act II Scene iii

12. What is the purpose of the porter’s long speech at the beginning of this scene?

 The porter’s comments about drinking parallel Macbeth’s indecision about following the witches’ prophecy. Explain this:


13. Who enters the castle?

14. Fill in the following chart:
Character: His/Her Reaction to the Murder of King Duncan:
Macduff

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Malcolm

Donalbain

Banquo
(Hint: What does Banquo suspect?)
Lennox

15. What action of Macbeth reflect a further deterioration of his moral character? How can that be used to make a prediction about his actions in the future?

Notes:
The porter’s comments about drinking parallel Macbeth’s indecision about following the witches’ prophecy. He has a desire to be king, but the inability to follow thought. It is interesting that Malcolm leaves for since he would now be king. He would rather leave, than rule. Malcolm suspects that someone, other than the servants, killed the King, since the servants did not have a motive for killing him. However, he knows that if he were killed, Macbeth would then be crowned as the king. Malcolm believes that his gives Macbeth a motive for killing.
Banquo is quiet amongst the chaos of the scene. He suspect Macbeth might be the murder. He is still being loyal to the King. This makes him an honorable character. This may be in part because he is a tribute to James I, who is supposed to be a descendant in Banquo’s family of kings.

Act II Scene iv

16. Shakespeare often uses references to the weather and strange occurrences to create an ominous mood. Give examples of this from this scene:





17. Ross and Old Man talk about how terrible it is at this time due to the death of King Duncan and how the Heavens have turned their back on the world. This is shown through several examples of unnatural disorder. Complete the chart below that offers examples of this disorder and what it symbolizes:
Nature – How it is upset/disordered: What it symbolizes:
Horses

Falcons

Weather



18. Who is under suspicion for the murder of King Duncan? Does this make sense?


19. Who will be King now?


20. Explain the following quote:
“God’s benison go with you, and with those that would make good of bad and friends of foes!”
(II iv 52)

Notes =
 Macduff plays up the chaos and disorder that come as a result of regicide. Earlier, Lady Macbeth wished for darkness, but we note here how the darkness has not covered up the bad deeds.

 The falcon being murdered by the a lesser bird is a metaphor for how Macbeth has killed King Duncan. The natural order of things is disjointed.

Shakespeare's MacBeth - Act I

We are reading "MacBeth" together in class. The following information contains some of the notes and study aids from class:

Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes

In his book, Shakespearean Tragedy, A.C. Bradley presents several characteristics typical of Shakespearean heroes.:
 All are exceptional people of high degree or of public importance;
 They are often kings or military leaders. Thus, their downfalls would have great consequences which could impacts the welfare of an entire nation or nations;

 These Shakespearean heroes always cause their own downfall. These events are not accidents, but usually sent from above, or so they believe;

 All of them have a tragic flaw that leads them to a course of action that results in their downfall, and ultimately, their death.
o There are several kinds of tragic flaws –

 They have a predisposition towards a certain direction. This means they are obsessed with something and must see it through to the end.

 The tragic hero is incapable of resistance towards some specific things. This lack of resistance will lead to their downfall.

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Act I scene i = Ii

Scene Summary & Information :

Three witches meet during a storm. They talk about meeting again when the trouble is done , when the battle is lost and won. They talk about meeting Macbeth. Then each of them responds to the call of their pets, Gray Cat, and a toad.

Then they say their famous lines,

“Fair is foul and foul is fair…” (I i 12)

This means that perception is important concerning how you look at things. Consider a snow day as an example. When there is a really bad storm with lots of snow we may have a snow day. Students usually see this as a good thing. For the people who have to struggle and find a way to get to work even though they can't get their car out of their driveway or garage, it is a bad thing. This famous line sets the tone for the entire play. From this line we know that they seek to create bad events for their own good.

The people in the audience would have been sucked into the play at this point. They would have believed that the foul weather was the doing of the witches. Their animals were all considered evil and bad luck.

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Iii

A wounded sergeant shows up. He is told about the battle. Macdonwald & Macbeth fought fiercely. Macdonwald is killed. His head is put on the wall as a warning to others.

The King of Norway shows up and attacks. Macbeth and Banquo were not frightened. They fought as if they were planning for a fight. The sergeant exits.

Macbeth and the King of Norway fought. Macbeth wins. The King of Norway asks for a peace treaty and to bury his dead. The men make him pay a lot of money for this privilege.

The King of Norway is killed. It is decided that Macbeth will be given the King’s title.

Historical Notes: This scene takes place in Forres. At the time it was the Scottish capital, and home to the famous cave where a group of witches allegedly attempted to shipwreck James I, the King of England and Scotland.

Representations: The camp is the very model of order and procedure. It is in direct contrast to the chaos of the witches’ storm camp.

Good & Evil: It was thought that witches controlled storms. Since the King of Norway showed up during a storm, he is linked with the evil the storm represents. This means that he would have been seen as evil right from the start.

Power & Temptation: This is a warrior’s society. Titles and power are given to those who succeed on the battlefield.

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Act I,iii Scene: At the witch’s field.

One of the sisters shows up and tells the others how she had asked a woman for food and was refused. They decided to cast a spell on her husband, a sailor. (see historical note from I,ii.)

Macbeth & Banquo show up. They are confused by the witches. They are not sure what the witches are.

The witches greet the men by name. They even tell Macbeth that he is to become king. Banquo is still confused. He asks them if what they are saying is a prediction or a telling of the future. Macbeth is amazed at what he is hearing!

The witches disappear. Banquo thinks they might have been a hallucination. He keeps thinking about how the witches said that Banquo’s sons will be king and how they also said that Macbeth would be king. His is puzzled!

Noblemen arrive, telling Macbeth how happy the king was to hear how brave Macbeth had been. They also tell him that the king awards him the title of Thane of Cawdor as a way of thanking him for his brave deeds.

Macbeth & Banquo are amazed to see the witches’ first prophesy come true! They are tempted to believe the witches and “the forces of Evil!” Macbeth thinks to himself that he is afraid to believe, but that things he imagined have come true!
“ My thought…” (I iii 147)

Macbeth thinks, “if this is my fate, it will come true and I cannot do anything thing to change it.” (Where does his responsibility end?)

They all leave to go see the king.

Notes: The witches’ desire to shipwreck the husband connects to the famous event when witches allegedly tried to shipwreck the king, James I. He claims that his faith saved him. This invites comparison between when the witches meet Macbeth & Banquo as the men go from the chaos of the battlefield to the order of the city. Macbeth’s description of the weather, “Fair is foul…” (I iii ) echoes what the witches had said earlier. It was intended to remind the audience that things are not at all right!

Banquo’s struggle to figure out the gender of the witch sisters show how they are out of order in nature.
Calling Macbeth by the new title is an attempt by them to manipulate him. Their predictions make Macbeth fearful. Banquo asks for his prediction. Since titles are only passed one once someone dies, Macbeth does not fully understand what the witches are saying. Later, he changes his mind.

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Act I, iv Scene: Forres. A room in the palace

The king’s son, Malcom, says that the Scottish king died well, as if he had been practicing to die his entire life.

Macbeth & Banquo arrive. The King greets them and thanks them heartily. They are very humble in return. The King announces that Malcolm will inherit the throne and that he wants to honor Macbeth. The King also states that he want to go to Inverness, Macbeth’scastle that evening. Macbeth leaves before the King.

Macbeth says to himself that Malcolm will be in his way to become king, so he must deal with it. He thinks about killing Malcolm.
“Stars, hide…”

Historical Notes: Just a few generations before, the Scottish Council of Thanes would elect the next king. Now, the first born male of the king inherits the throne. Under the new system, Malcolm is the logical choice. Under the old system, Macbeth would have likely been chosen to become king.

Reality & Illusion: Macbeth realizes what he is thinking about doing is wrong, but his ambition pushes him forward, to a point.

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Act I,v Scene: Inverness, Macbeth’s castle

Lady Macbeth read the letter from Macbeth that tells her about the witches & their predictions. She says that Macbeth is “…too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness…” (I v 15) or too soft-hearted to do the dirty deeds that need to be done. She wants him to take short cuts (murder) so that he can become king. She bids him to come home so that she can talk him into doing what she thinks needs to be done.

A messenger says the king is on his way. At the same time, a raven caws outside the castle.

Lady Macbeth takes the raven’s caw to me a hearld of the King’s death. She asks the spirits to transform her from a weak woman into a cruel, murderous machine that can commit crimes without remorse. This is her famous “Unsex me here…” (I v 43) speech

Macbeth arrives. Lady Macbeth tells him of her plans to kill King Duncan. She warns Macbeth that he must look innocent, even while he knows of this bad deed. He should look “…like an innocent flower…” (I v 70-73) bush with a snake hidden underneath. She also tells him to leave it all to her – she will take care of business!

Notes: Lady Macbeth’s strong actions in the scene help the audience develop sympathy for Macbeth since he is being pushed around. The sympathy comes from knowing how tormented Macbeth feels since he can still tell right from wrong, and is being pushed to murder the King.

Like Macbeth in a previous scene, Lady Macbeth asks the darkness and the “smoke of Hell” to disguise her evil actions.

Reality & Illusion: Lady Macbeth reminds Macbeth that his face needs to cover up what he is really thinking. He need to look innocent and welcoming, even while he is planning murder.

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Act I,vi Scene: Inverness, Macbeth’s castle

King Duncan arrives and is greeted by Lady Macbeth. They fuss over each other, each saying how thankful they are for the other. Then the King asks to be taken to Macbeth.

Reality & Illusion: There is a disjunction between the mild and fresh air that the King comments on and the impending danger that hangs over the castle.
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Act I,vii Scene: Inverness, Macbeth’s castle

Macbeth agonizes as he thinks about the murder of King Duncan. On one hand, he thinks if it could be done quickly and without consequence, it would be okay. However, he is conflicted since he know that the King should be able to trust him, and the he has been a good, kind king. Macbeth feels that to kill the King would be such an injustice that the angels in heaven would cry for him. He knows the country would be very sad. Macbeth realizes that ambition is the only thing pushing him forward.

Lady Macbeth enters. She calls Macbeth a coward. She says that he wants good things without having to pay a price for them. Macbeth asks her not to push so hard. Lady Macbeth asks him where his ambition went. She reminds him that he made a promise that he needs to keep. She even goes on to say that she would kill her own child, a smiling babe in arms, if she had promised to do so.

Lady Macbeth plans to get King Duncan’s guard drunk, go into his bedroom and kill him. Later she would frame the guards for the murder. She believes no one would suspect her since she would cry so loudly.

Notes: The consequences of regicide would be big.
 Macbeth realizes that he would risk his “afterlife” since murder is a mortal sin;
 If he became king, he would become a target for regicide himself;
 Murder would break his bond with the King as both a loyal subject and relative;
 The murder would cause the country much grief;
 Killing the King would diminish Macbeth’s manhood
 Lady Macbeth thinks honoring a promise is more important that the sin of murder (i.e. she would kill her own child, if she had promised to do so.) However, since she has not child, this is no real threat, no actual possibility that she will have to prove that she meant what she said.

 Emotions/Reality - Lady Macbeth speaks only from her own emotions. Macbeth is in the midst of rational exploration. Although he knows it is wrong to murder, he agrtees to it when he understands how another person can take the blame for it.

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1) What two enemies does the kingdom of Scotland face? How are they dealt with?

2) What powers do the three witches possess?

 What three names do they use to greet Macbeth?


 What predictions do they make for Macbeth?

o How does Macbeth react to what the witches have told him? What does this tell us about Macbeth?


 What do they predict for Banquo?

o How does Banquo react to what the witches have told him? What does this tell us about Banquo?

3) Describe what kind of person and leader King Duncan is.

4) How does Macbeth react to the news when King Duncan announces that his son, Malcolm, will be the next king? Why does he react in such a manner?

5) After reading her husband’s letter, what does Lady Macbeth say or think about him?

6) Describe what kind of person Lady Macbeth is.

7) What is ironic about King Duncan’s impression of Macbeth’s castle in contrast to what it actually is?

8) What does the following quote mean?

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (I i 12)