Macbeth Act 2

Page 1

Scene 1 - Macbeth hallucinates

Banquo and his son, Fleance, go for a walk at night

Fleance is a reminder of the Witches' prophecy that Banquo's sons will be kings

There aren't any stars: "Their candles are all out" - it's very dark

Darkness symbolises the evil that Macbeth is about to do

Starless night sky also echoes Duncan's speech in Act 1 Scene 4 about stars shining on the deserving - Macbeth is undeserving

Macbeth promises that if Banquo supports him, he'll "honour" him

Banquo replies that he'll only help Macbeth if he can keep his "allegiance clear" - shows that he's loyal to Duncan

Banquo

Banquo's response shows that he's more moral than Macbeth

But his "cursed thoughts" and mention of the Witches may hint that he's thinking about acting on the prophecies

The Supernatural

In his soliloquy, Macbeth talks about "witchcraft", "Hecate's offerings" and "a ghost"

This links Macbeth to the Witches and shows how he's affected by their predictions

He starts seeing visions of a dagger - it's not clear if it's leading him to commit murder or warning him against it

The dagger can be seen to symbolise his ambition - he can see it but he can't act upon it

Or represent his desire - he knows it's wrong but wants it anyway

Page 2

Scene 2 - Macbeth has killed the King

This is the peripatetic moment of the play - Macbeth has committed his first murder

Lady Macbeth awaits Macbeth's return from killing Duncan

She's startled by every noise, and she says that she couldn't kill Duncan because he reminded her of her father

Suggests that Lady Macbeth isn't as merciless as she appears

Murder takes place off-stage - increases the suspense and makes the audience imagine the killing which makes it more horrific

Also lets the audience see how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are affected by their experience

There's a lot of foreshadowing this scene:

Macbeth doubts "Neptune's ocean" will clean the blood off his hands - feeling guilty

LM doesn't seem as bothered as Macbeth - ironic foreshadowing of her frenzied state in Act 5

References to insanity - LM talks about Macbeth going "mad" and being "brain-sickly" - ironic, foreshadowing her own madness later

Stage directions add to the tension - repetition of a knocking sound, which gives a sense of urgency

Seems to echo Macbeth's pounding heart and is a sign of his fear and guilt

Page 3

Scene 3 - Duncan's body is discovered

Porter's comedic monologue relieves the tension - also builds suspense before Duncan's body is found

Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to increase the audience's anticipation - audience knows Duncan has been killed - although characters don't know, they can sense evil:

Porter describes Macbeth's castle gate as a "hell-gate" and makes a joke about a man sent to hell who "committed treason"

Lennox comments on how "unruly" and stormy the night was - tells Macbeth that the wind sounded like "strange screams of death"

Also says storm was "prophesying with accents terrible/ Of dire combustion and confused events" - reflects terrible events that have taken place and foreshadows events to come

Macduff finds Duncan's body - his reaction shows how horrified he is, and makes the murder seem even worse

Macbeth confesses to killing Duncan's servants out of rage

When LM hears this she faints/pretends to faint

Could be to distract other characters from Macbeth's suspicious behaviour, or she may actually be horrified by Macbeth's violence

Malcolm and Donnalbain run away as they fear for their lives

Makes them look guilty and allows Macbeth to take the throne

Writer's Techniques - Language

Before Duncan's body is found, Macbeth speaks in short sentences - "Twas a rough night", "Not yet"

He seems distracted and tense - highlights his guilt and nervousness

When Duncan's body is discovered, Macbeth's language changes - he describes Duncan's "silver skin laced with his golden blood"

His poetic language seems false

Page 4

Scene 4 - Macbeth is about to be made king

This scene is a bridge between Act 2 and Act 3

Its purpose is to create a sense of fear and uncertainty

Strange events have happened since Duncan's death, which shows how the natural order has been disrupted

A country's well-being is linked to that of its king, so these events are bad omens for Macbeth's reign

It's dark during the day: "dark night strangles the travelling lamp" - symbolises the evil that has come over Scotland

A falcon has been savagely killed by an owl - falcon symbolises Duncan and owl symbolises Macbeth

Horses have been eating each other - which is unnatural

Scene ends with Macduff telling Rosse that Macbeth will be King

Macduff isn't going to the coronation - suggests he's suspicious of Macbeth and sets him up as Macbeth's main enemy