Act 2

• Engels
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Lesson objectives 

Homework check 

You will consider the setting and atmosphere of act 2 scene 1 

You will consider the changing relationship between Banquo and Macbeth 

You will analyse and understand Macbeth's soliloquy in act 2 scene 1

You will explore the changing relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth 

Lady Macbeth's persuasion 

Tactic	Example	Effectiveness
Flattery
Accusing Macbeth of cowardice	"And live like a coward in thine own esteem,/ Letting I dare not wait upon 'I would,'/ Like the poor cat i'the adage?"	Here Lady Macbeth is referring to a proverb in which a cat wanted to catch fish but didn't want to get its paw wet. It is effective because Lady Macbeth is suggesting Macbeth won't be able to have self-respect if he doesn't commit the murder.
Questioning Macbeth's Manhood
Reassurance
Emphasising her own determination

Complete this table in your exercise book. 

Act 2 scene 1 up to Macbeth's soliloquy 

Answer these questions in your exercise book: 

1. What clues are there at the beginning of this scene to indicate that the castle is in darkness? ​

2. What is Banquo’s state of mind at the beginning of this scene?​

3. How do we know that Banquo is nervous? ​

4. What information does Banquo give Macbeth about the King’s visit?​

5. How are the audience reminded of lady Macbeth in this scene?

6. How does Macbeth respond to Banquo’s comment about the witches and what does this show us about him? ​ ​

7. How does Macbeth try to test Banquo’s loyalty to him?​

Act 2 scene 1 up to Macbeth's soliloquy 

1. moon, night (lines 1,2, p.23​)

 ‘their candles are all out’ ( line 5, p. 23) -Banquo comments on how dark it is- darkness is a recurring theme in the play and symbolizes evil. ​

2. : (lines 6-9, p. 23) ​

“A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,/ and yet I would not sleep”- he desperately needs to sleep but does not want to.​

“Merciful powers!/ Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature /Gives way to in repose.”- he shows that his distrust of the witches turns into fear and he prays to God for help against temptation. ​

3.(line 10 -12)​

“ What, sir! Not yet a rest? The king’s a-bed.”​

Banquo is uncomfortable and nervous when he sees Macbeth's sudden appearance). ​

Act 2 scene 1 up to Macbeth's soliloquy 

4. lines 12-18, p. 23-24

“ He hath been in unusual pleasure, and /Set forth great largess (gifts) to your offices./This diamond he greets your wife withal,/By the name of most kind hostess- and shut up/ In measureless content.” – Banquo speaks well of  the King, and gives Macbeth a diamond from the King for Lady Macbeth - irony. 

5. : lines 31-32, p. 24

“Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,/ She strike upon the bell.”- this is a prearranged signal from Lady Macbeth for Macbeth to do the deed. She will ring when the chamberlains have fallen asleep after plying them with drink. 

 ​

Act 2 scene 1 up to Macbeth's soliloquy 

6. ​Banquo is honest about his evil thoughts vs. Macbeth who does not speak the truth when saying that he is ‘a friend’ (line 11, p.23) and mentions that he does not think of them (“I think not of them”- line 22, p.24) ​

7. lines 25-26, p. 24

“If you shall cleave to my consent, when ‘tis,/ It shall make honour for you.” – 2 meanings: a) if you follow my advice; b) if you’ll support me when the time comes.​

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy 

This soliloquy can be divided into three separate parts that focus on a different idea. 

1. How would you divide it up? Explain what made you consider that division in the speech. 

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy 

Lines 33-48, p. 55- Macbeth speaks to the dagger he seems to see in front of him. ​

He wonders if the vision comes from his feverish mind (‘heat oppressed brain’- line 40). ​

It seems to draw him to murder. ​

By saying ‘there is no such thing’ in line 47, he decides he is imagining things.​

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy 

Lines 49- 62, draw us into the atmosphere of the crime about to be committed.​

• It is night, nature seems dead and Macbeth is about to commit a crime which is against nature.​
  
• He imagines witchcraft, wicked dreams and murder accompanied by a howling wolf. ​
  
• He compares murder with the rape committed by the Tarquin (a prince in Rome famous for raping another man’s wife)-line 56.​
  
•  His (fearful) imagination even makes him afraid that the stones on which he walks will speak out and give him away- lines 57-60 ​
  

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy 

Lines 60-64,: Macbeth pulls himself together, realising that he must stop talking and get on with the murder. ​

He hears the bell that is lady Macbeth’s signal.​

With a rhyming couplet, he seems to wrap up his speech. ​

As if he has finally made up his mind, he goes into action. ​

Lesson objectives 

Homework check 

You will explore the changing relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth 

You will explore the 'comic relief' in the act 2 scene 3

You will explore the background information given in act 2 scene 4 

You will watch act 3 scene 1 

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy - find the quote 

These statements are not in order 

Statement	Quotation
In his desperately nervous state Macbeth imagines a dagger floating before him.
Nature and natural feeling seems dead.
It is the time of wicked dreams, murder, wolves and rape.
Macbeth begs the earth not to hear his footsteps, as the sound may give him away.
Macbeth tries to dismiss the vision, realising he is overwrought.

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy 

Statement	Quotation
The dagger seems to be leading him to the King's presence.
Blood appears on the dagger.
He reaches out for the dagger wondering if it is real or a hallucination.
Silence best suits what he has to do as talk cools the ardour of his actions

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy - find the quote 

These statements are not in order 

Statement	Quotation
In his desperately nervous state Macbeth imagines a dagger floating before him.	" Is this a dagger which I see before me,/ The handle toward my hand?"p.24 l. 33-34
Nature and natural feeling seems dead.	" Now o'er the one half-world/ Nature seems dead" p.25 l. 49-50
It is the time of wicked dreams, murder, wolves and rape.	"wicked dreams abuse the curtain'd sleep ...towards his design" p.25 l. 51-55
Macbeth begs the earth not to hear his footsteps, as the sound may give him away.	"Thou sure and firm-set earth,/Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear/ Thy versions prate of my whereabout," p.25 l. 56-58

Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth's soliloquy 

Statement	Quotation
Macbeth tries to dismiss the vision, realising he is overwrought.	"A dagger of the mind, a false creation,/Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain" p. 24 l.38-39
The dagger seems to be leading him to the King's presence.	" Thou marshal's me the way that I was going,/And such an instrument I was to use" p.25 l.42-43
Blood appears on the dagger.	"And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood/Which was not so before" p.25 l46-47
He reaches out for the dagger wondering if it is real or a hallucination.	"Come, let me clutch thee/I have thee not, and yet I see thee still" p.24 l. 35-36
Silence best suits what he has to do as talk cools the ardour of his actions	"Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives" p.25 l. 61

If you were directing a film of Macbeth, would you show the scene in which Macbeth murders Duncan? What would you gain by showing it and what would you lose? 

The murder to show or not to show?

Act 2 scene 2 Lady Macbeth's soliloquy 

1. The first 9 lines (to “Whether they live, or die”) are spoken by Lady Macbeth as she awaits news of Duncan’s murder. Shakespeare uses a number of techniques to create suspense within these lines. Find examples of each of the following techniques and explain how they create a feeling of tension and suspense:

• Punctuation
  
• Sentence/ line length
  
• Use of opposites (e.g. shriek vs. snore, bold vs. quench)
  
• Dramatic images
  
• Sound
  

Owl

The shrieking owl is described as a ‘fatal bellman’. The owl, as a bird of death, is compared to the night watchman who rang the bell to give the  “stern’st good-night” to condemned prisoners the night before their execution. Keep an eye out for this symbol. 

Act 2 scene 2

2.  Why doesn’t Lady Macbeth murder Duncan herself?

3. In lines 14-21, how does Shakespeare convey Macbeth’s guilt and terror? Look carefully at the use of language, punctuation, sentence length and Macbeth’s constant need for reassurance.

4. Macbeth believes that Donalbain and presumably Malcolm:

• laugh in their sleep
  
• cry murder
  
• wake and pray
  
• cry “God bless us” and “Amen”
  

as Macbeth kills their father. It is almost as if they are aware that a murder is being committed. Why is Macbeth unable to say “Amen” in response to their words “God bless us”?

Act 2 scene 2

 5.  What does Macbeth’s speech about sleep tell us about his state of mind? What metaphors can you think of that describe the benefits of sleep? Write at least three metaphors or similes. 

6. a) Write down a line from this section that shows that Lady Macbeth thinks her husband is being a coward.

b) Write down a line from this section that shows that Lady Macbeth does not (at this stage) feel as guilty as him.

7. At the end of this scene, how does Lady Macbeth intend for them to appear innocent and cover up their involvement in the murder?

8. Write down a line that suggests that Macbeth is beginning to regret the murder of Duncan.

Act 2 scene 1 

Find quotes in Act 2 scene 1 and 2 where references to these are made: 

Give page and line numbers

Share with the class. 

animals	weapons	sleep
blood	darkness	nature

The Porter: this reminds the audience that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who have been the only two characters on stage for most of the last two scenes, are not the only people in the world of the play. Everyday life is still going on as usual for others. 

 It offers “comic relief,” a humorous break in the play that Shakespeare’s audience would have expected and enjoyed. It also gave the clown in The King’s Men, Shakespeare’s company, a role to play.   

 

 

Act 2 scene 3

Act 2 scene 3 

1. In his words, the Porter unwittingly echoes some of Macbeth concerns. Some of the words or phrases that do this are “hell,” “Beelzebub,” “equivocator,” “treason”. Explain why.  
   
2. What has the weather been like during the night? Why is this important?
3. Whom does Lennox blame for the murder? 
4. Why does Lady Macbeth faint? There are several possible answers.
5. Where do Malcolm and Donalbain go, and why? 
   

Act 2 scene 3 

Scene setting and reporting events 

1. What does Ross report about King Duncan’s horses? 
   
2. Since Malcolm and Donalbain have fled, who is anointed King and already at Scone for the coronation? 
   
3. Does Macduff attend the coronation? 
   

 

Act 2 scene 4

Pick out all the evidence that shows that nature has been disrupted due to the act of regicide (killing a king). 

What role does this scene play in the plot as a whole?