~~Scene 1~~ | … |
Fleance | Banquo’s young son |
Banquo | Introduces the motif of sleeplessness—thinks about the “cursed” witches |
MacbethLines 25-26 | Tries to garner Banquo’s support with a knifeBanquo’s response: not what Macbeth wanted |
Macbeth’s soliloquyLines 33-34 | “Is this a dagger…” ➡ Macbeth hallucinates—he is unsure whether the dagger is real or an illusion -shows Macbeth’s vivid imagination -chooses evil over grace -personification—describes murder as an old man walking slowly toward his victim |
~~Scene 2~~ | … |
Owl shrieked | Symbol of death |
Lady Macbeth’s first sign of weakness | She couldn’t kill Duncan because he looked like her own father |
Motif -nature out of order | -heard owl scream/crickets cry-Macbeth has disturbed the natural order |
Macbeth’s state of mind | a. Thinks he hears the guards speaking; cannot reply “amen” because he feels guilty (separated from God) for the murderb. Hears voice “sleep no more” -motif=can’t sleep—Macbeth will never get his innocence restored |
Lady MacbethLine 33 | “it will make us mad”—irony |
MacbethLines 59-62 | Macbeth’s profound guilt is shown as he states that the blood on his hands would turn the ocean red |
Lady MacbethLines 66-67 | (Irony) -“a little water cleans us of this deed” |
Ending | Ends with suspense—someone is knocking |
~~Scene 3~~ | (Porter Scene) |
Porter | Comic relief: 1. Heightens suspense 2. Relieves tension |
Irony | Pretends to be a gatekeeper in hell |
Macduff | Thane of Fife |
Lennox | Gives examples of nature out of order |
MacbethLines 85-87 | (dramatic irony) -grace and renown are dead for Macbeth |
Line 100 | Macbeth kills the guards—not in the plan (He didn’t want them to tell the truth that they had not killed Duncan) |
Malcolm & Donalbain | -Neither believed the guards acted alone-They flee: ⚫Malcolm to England ⚫Donalbain to Ireland |
Lady Macbeth | Faints to divert attention from Macbeth who is trying too hard to defend his actions |
~~Scene 4~~ | … |
Motif | Nature out of order |
Malcolm & Donalbain | Suspected of murder because of fleeing |
Macduff | Won’t attend Macbeth’s coronation as King—shows he is not comfortable with Macbeth becoming King (an insult to Macbeth) |
Macbeth Act 2 Notes
August 28, 2019