Macbeth - Act 2

Macbeth - Act 2

1. The Dagger

   • "Their candles are all out"
     • It is very dark
       • This symbolises the evil that Macbeth is about to do
   • Macbeth's soliloquy
     • Macbeth talks about "witchcraft", "Hecate's offerings", and "a ghost"
       • This links Macbeth to the Witches
       • This shows how he is affected by the predictions
     • The Supernatural
   • It is not clear if the vision is leading Macbeth to commit murder or warning him against it
   • Macbeth promises that if Banquo supports him, he'll 'honour' him
     • However, Banquo replies that he'll only help Macbeth if he can keep his 'allegiance clear'
       • This shows that he is loyal to Duncan

2. King Duncan's murder

   • Lady Macbeth is startled by every noise
     • She says she couldn't kill Duncan because he reminded her of her father
       • This suggests she isn't as merciless as she appears
   • "Macbeth does murder sleep"
     • He feels very guilty about it
     • Lady Macbeth isn't as concerned at this point
     • Sleep has connotations of peace and a clear conscience
       • Murdering sleep shows how Macbeth is wracked with guilt

3. Macbeth is going to be King

   • This scene is a bridge between Act 2 and Act 3
     • This creates a sense of fear and uncertainty
   • Strange events happened since Duncan's death
     • This shows that the natural order has been disrupted
     • These events are bad omens for Macbeth's reign as a country's well-being is linked to its king
   • "dark night strangles the travelling lamp"
     • It's dark during the day
       • This symbolises that evil has come over Scotland
   • A falcon has been savagely killed by an owl
     • The falcon represents Duncan, and the owl represents Macbeth
       • It is unnatural for an owl to kill a falcon
         • Emphasises the fact that Duncan's murder has disrupted the natural order of things
   • Macduff isn't going to the coronation
     • This suggests he is suspicious of Macbeth
       • This sets him up as Macbeth's main enemy

4. Duncan's body is found

   • The character of the Porter
     • The comedic monologue is used to relieve tension but also builds suspense before Duncan's body is found
     • "Hell-gate"
   • Macbeth confesses to killing Duncan's servants out of rage
     • Lady Macbeth faints
       • This could be to distract the other characters from Macbeth's suspicious behaviour
       • This could be because she is horrified by Macbeth's violence, which she didn't help plan
   • Malcom and Donaldbain run away because they fear for their lives
     • This makes them look guilty
     • This allows Macbeth to take the throne
   • Macduff finds Duncan's body
     • His reaction shows how horrified he is
       • This makes the murder seem even worse
   • "silver skin laced with his golden blood"
     • Macbeth's poetic language seems false