Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2

1. L.Macbeth: "'Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy."

   • Conventional
     • She is saying they would be better off dead, like Duncan, rather than live with fear and guilt
   • symbolises partnership is being destroyed - "Doubtful Joy" - shows their "joyous" relationship is starting to be destroyed
     • Turns on Macbeth with "direst cruelty" - accusing him of cowardice, or lack of love and torturing him with image of dead child
   • "doubtful joy" - they must expect rebellions from thanes who suspect regicide - can't get too comfortable
   • use of "we" suggests that she knows she is equally to blame for the destruction of her marriage - the love they shared in marriage was more joyful than becoming queen - rejects own ambition
   • Macbeth probably interprets this as his kingship not being secure, because Fleance will one day become King - however she is questioning joy in their marriage - his kingship has forced Macbeth into a different relationship and no longer wants her advice
     • L.Macbeth has lost power
       • she secretly regrets killing Duncan

2. L.Macbeth: "Things without all remedy should be without regard: what's done is done"

   • She follows her other quotation with this to show that Macbeth should forget any guilt for killing Duncan, she is talking about the relationship
   • disguise of real feelings - she regrets killing Duncan and she is saying it to herself as much as she is saying it to Macbeth
   • Alternatively, if she is being honest she is asking to enjoy being king
     • and enjoy their relationship
       • suggests his guilt is preventing him feeling joy in his kinghsip
     • "whats done is done" - asks for an end to the killing
       • doesn't want his "remedy" to be to kill more people - bloodlust

3. Macbeth: "We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it: She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth."

   • Shakespeare makes Macbeth respond in Animal imagery
     • she identified herself with "the raven" - darkness and death
     • This animal imagery suggests savagery
   • In the metaphor, Macbeth is hunted by a "snake" - the regicide has scorched the snake
     • "former tooth" - Malcolm
     • Links to Lady macbeth's image of the "serpent"
       • Links Macbeth's actions to satanic evil - reminds his audience that his soul will go to hell for regicide
         • also for denying god
   • scene is about Macbeth's obsession with losing his kingship to Fleance
     • kingship is being hunted
   • Banquo is never mentioned in scene, but Duncan is
     • suggests that Macbeth's ultimate fear is not Fleance, but Malcolm
       • Malcolm is a grown man with resources and allies, while Fleance is still a young boy
   • Implies Bloodlust
     • Juxtaposition - Regicide, worst sin, is reduced to a simple injury, a "scorch"
       • his evil act is described as "poor malice"
         • thinking of making his "malice" much worse, so it is no longer poor
           • suggests he is planning a killing spree
             • makes duncan seem insignificant "poor"
               • Way of dealing with psychological guilt
                 • If he continues killing, he can dismiss killing Duncan as just one murder amongst many
                   • Fits with Shakespeare's theme with regicide and the great chain of being
                     • No matter how many people Macbeth kills, it will never be equal to the sin of regicide
                       • Shakespeare implies he will never be able to dismiss it

4. Macbeth: "Duncan is in his grave; After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;"

   • Envy for Duncan
   • Suggests he sees his own life as a "fitful fever" and an illness
     • "fever" could be ambition/desire
       • suggests that Duncan lived the same "fitful fever" as he does
     • Implies Macbeth has a "nihilistic viewpoint" - life is not worth living now that he is king
       • A nihilist believes there is no purpose to life, no God
         • "he sleeps well" - Death is simply an end to life for Macbeth - end to misery
           • Reminded of his words as he prepared to kill Duncan- "heaven or to hell" - interchangeable ideas - not real places
   • Reminds us of L.Macbeth's desire that Macbeth should have "the illness" which should "attend" ambition
     • suggets L.Macbeth is responsible for this "fitful fever"

5. Macbeth: "O, full scorpions in my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives."

   • Shakespeare implying that killing a king leads to even worse sins - denying god.
     • Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as becoming less than human - explain continued animal imagery
   • "scorpions" - murderous thoughts - fatal sting of the scorpion represents the murder he will commit
     • his mind is "full of scorpions" - suggests he is contemplating numerous murders
   • Speaks to her affectionately "Thou" and "dear"
     • Turning point - either turns away or begins to think of her welfare

6. Macbeth: "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,"

   • Macbeth trying to protect her from the "knowledge" that he is going to murder Banquo
     • wants to protect her from guilt and unhappiness
       • Echoed - "be though jocund" - recognising that she is unhappy becuase he has deviated from her plans
         • Wants to protect her from the "scorpions" in his own mind
   • Original sin
     • Serpents temptation - implies he does not blame Lady for her part in persuading him to kill Duncan, and realises that it has damaged her as much as himself
       • her "knowledge" of evil has damaged her - he wants to return to her to an innocent state
   • Alternatively, he keeps her "innocent" because he does not want her to intefere with his plans for murder
     • imagery is dismissive and belittling
       • "chuck" is loving, yet makes her seem unimportant
         • doesn't want to hear any more of her insults and emasculation of him during and after Duncan's murder
     • less likely to be true - she insults him during Banquo's ghost's visit - he doesn't use a single harsh word toward her

7. Macbeth: "Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; While night's black agents to their preys do rouse. Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still; Things had begun make strong themselves by ill. So, prithee, go with me."

   • Strong echo of her soliloquy before Duncan's murder
     • As if he has absorbed her vision of the world
       • her "marvelling" at his "words" could suggest her love for him - amazed to hear her own imagery in Macbeth's thoughts as though they share one mind
         • Macbeth's "but hold thee still" - suggests that she is suddenly moved by sexual desire for him
           • Alternatively she is trying to break away
   • Alternatively we can argue "so, prithee, go with me" doesn't really fit that positive relationship
     • "Thou marvell'st at my hands" is a response to Lady's negative reaction to those words - trying to get away
       • horrified at what he is about to do to Banquo
         • She fears that Macbeth is leading her towards more murder
           • or she is disgusted that he will not let her into his plans - maybe he uses "thou" to mask his lack of love
   • Shakespeare hints that she is rejecting him
     • Scene doesn't end on a rhyming couplet, Macbeth adds a further six syllables with uncertain stresses
       • internal rhyme of "prithee" and "with me" - suggests Macbeth wants close unity reflect in a closer rhyme
   • Could be a sexual seduction
     • toys with idea of "innocense" because he is going to satisfy her desire when he tells her Banquo is murdered nad will "applaud the deed"

8. Now that Macbeth has become king they have grown further apart

   • Shakespeare sets up a dramatic contrast to our first meeting, where she and Macbeth were apart because of war and she longed for his return
     • but now, she has to send for him and ask for time together, by the end of this scene she is silent, with Macbeth having a much greater proportion of the lines