Macbeth by William Shakespeare | Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis
Summary
TLDRIn Act 2 Scene 2 of 'Macbeth,' Lady Macbeth's assertiveness contrasts with Macbeth's guilt-ridden conscience after the murder of King Duncan. She takes charge, cleaning up the aftermath and framing the guards. Macbeth's internal struggle intensifies as he hears voices predicting his doom, unable to find solace even in prayer. The scene highlights the couple's dynamic and foreshadows the tragic consequences of their actions.
Takeaways
- 🔪 Lady Macbeth expresses her readiness to commit murder, revealing her ruthlessness and ambition.
- 👥 Macbeth reveals to Lady Macbeth that he has killed Duncan, showing the completion of their treacherous plan.
- 🗣️ Macbeth hears a cry of 'murder' from another room, indicating the immediate aftermath and potential discovery of the crime.
- 🙏 Macbeth is unable to say 'Amen' with the men, suggesting his guilt and internal conflict.
- 🧼 Lady Macbeth instructs Macbeth to wash his hands, highlighting the need to erase physical evidence of the crime.
- 🗡️ Macbeth refuses to return to Duncan's room with the daggers, showing his reluctance and emotional turmoil.
- 🩸 Lady Macbeth's hands are bloody after cleaning up, symbolizing her direct involvement in the cover-up.
- 🚪 The knocking at the castle gate adds tension and urgency to the situation, potentially leading to discovery.
- 🛌 Lady Macbeth suggests they pretend to sleep, indicating a strategy to avoid suspicion.
- 💤 Macbeth expresses regret, wishing the knocking could awaken Duncan, showing his remorse and the irreversible nature of their actions.
- 🧐 Lady Macbeth's assertiveness contrasts with Macbeth's guilt, illustrating the dynamic between the two characters and their differing reactions to the murder.
Q & A
What does Lady Macbeth feel after the night's events in Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth?
-Lady Macbeth feels emboldened and energized by the night's events.
Why would Lady Macbeth have killed King Duncan herself if given the chance?
-She remarks that she would have killed Duncan herself if he didn't look so much like her father while sleeping.
What does Macbeth carry when he enters after the murder of Duncan?
-Macbeth carries two daggers, and his hands are bloodied.
What did Macbeth hear after the murder that made him dwell on the act?
-Macbeth heard men waking in another room, one of whom cried out 'murder,' but they then said a short prayer and fell back asleep.
Why couldn't Macbeth say 'Amen' with the men after their prayer?
-Macbeth could not say 'Amen' because he felt he needed a blessing but was burdened by the murder.
What does Lady Macbeth advise Macbeth to do regarding his thoughts on the murder?
-Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth not to think too much about the murder, or it will drive him mad.
Why does Lady Macbeth notice that Macbeth is still carrying the daggers?
-She notices because Macbeth was supposed to leave the daggers with the guards to frame them for the murder.
What does Macbeth hear while Lady Macbeth is away that makes him worry about being discovered?
-Macbeth hears the sound of knocking and worries about being discovered.
What does Lady Macbeth do when she returns from Duncan's room?
-When Lady Macbeth returns, her hands are bloody, but she says her conscience is clean.
How does Lady Macbeth react to the continued knocking at the castle gate?
-Lady Macbeth suggests that they should wash and get in bed to look as if they've been sleeping.
What does Macbeth express as a final note of regret?
-Macbeth expresses regret, saying he wishes the knocking could wake Duncan.
How does Lady Macbeth's behavior contrast with traditional feminine roles?
-Lady Macbeth rejects a traditional feminine role by plotting a murder, drinking with the guards, and cleaning up after Macbeth's botched cover-up.
What is the closest thing to femininity and goodness that Lady Macbeth displays?
-The closest thing to femininity and goodness Lady Macbeth displays is her decision not to murder Duncan herself due to his resemblance to her own father.
How does Macbeth's behavior differ from Lady Macbeth's in terms of guilt and remorse?
-Macbeth finds it difficult to hide his actions and is becoming more concerned with the state of his soul, feeling he needs a blessing and hearing voices condemning him and his family, while Lady Macbeth denies having any feelings of guilt.
What do the voices that Macbeth hears predict?
-The voices that Macbeth hears predict the downfall that awaits him, though it is unclear whether these voices are supernatural, the products of his own guilt, or both.
Outlines
🔪 The Murder and Its Aftermath
In this paragraph, Lady Macbeth is depicted as a strong-willed character who is emboldened by the night's events. She is ready to take matters into her own hands, even considering killing Duncan herself if he resembled her father less. Macbeth enters with bloodied hands and two daggers, confirming the murder of Duncan. He is troubled by the aftermath, particularly his inability to say 'Amen' after a group prayed following the murder. Lady Macbeth, pragmatic and assertive, urges him not to dwell on the act and takes charge of cleaning up the crime scene, including returning to Duncan's room to plant the daggers on the guards. Macbeth is increasingly haunted by the sound of knocking, which he interprets as a sign of impending doom. The paragraph concludes with Lady Macbeth's hands stained with blood but her conscience clear, contrasting Macbeth's growing guilt and concern for his soul.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Act 2 Scene 2
💡Lady Macbeth
💡Emboldened
💡Murder
💡Daggers
💡Conscience
💡Guilt
💡Blessing
💡Knocking
💡Femininity
💡Downfall
Highlights
Lady Macbeth feels emboldened and energized by the night's events.
She remarks that she would have killed Duncan herself if he didn't resemble her father.
Macbeth carries two daggers and has bloodied hands, confirming he has killed Duncan.
Macbeth overheard men waking after the murder, one of whom cried out 'murder'.
The men said a short prayer and fell back asleep after crying out 'murder'.
Macbeth could not say 'Amen' with the men after their prayer, feeling a need for a blessing.
Lady Macbeth advises not to think too much about the murder to avoid madness.
Macbeth hears voices saying he and his house would sleep no more.
Macbeth was supposed to leave the daggers with the guards to frame them, but refuses to return.
Lady Macbeth cleans up after Macbeth's botched cover-up, showing assertiveness.
Lady Macbeth's hands are bloody upon returning, but she claims her conscience is clean.
The knocking sound worries Macbeth about being discovered.
Lady Macbeth suggests washing and getting in bed to appear as if they've been sleeping.
Macbeth expresses regret, wishing the knocking could wake Duncan.
Lady Macbeth is more assertive than Macbeth, rejecting a traditional feminine role.
Macbeth finds it difficult to hide his actions and is concerned about the state of his soul.
Macbeth hears voices condemning him and his family, possibly supernatural or a product of guilt.
The voices predict the downfall that awaits Macbeth.
Transcripts
[Music]
in act 2 scene 2 of Macbeth Lady Macbeth
feels emboldened and energized by the
night's events when she hears Macbeth at
the door she wonders if something went
wrong
she remarks that she would have killed
Duncan herself if he didn't look so much
like her father while sleeping when she
lets Macbeth in he carries two daggers
and his hands are bloodied he confirms
that he has killed Duncan he realized
that after the murder he overheard men
waking in another room one of whom cried
out murder but that they then said a
short prayer and fell back asleep
Macbeth dwells on how he could not say
Amen with the men after their prayer
even though he felt like he needed a
blessing
Lady Macbeth tells him they shouldn't
think too much about the murder but
Macbeth continues to worry he says he
heard voices that said he and his house
would sleep no more she tells him again
not to think about it or it will drive
him mad she then sends him to wash his
hands and notices he is still carrying
the daggers which he was supposed to
leave with the guards in order to frame
them Macbeth refuses to return to
Duncan's room so Lady Macbeth goes
instead while his wife is gone Macbeth
hears the sound of knocking and worries
about being discovered when Lady Macbeth
returns her hands are bloody but she
says her conscience is clean the
knocking continues and Lady Macbeth
realizes someone is at the castle gate
she says that they should wash and get
in bed to look as if they've been
sleeping Macbeth expresses a final note
of regret saying he wishes the knocking
could wake Duncan Lady Macbeth's words
and actions again demonstrate that she
is more assertive than Macbeth she
rejects a traditional feminine role
plotting a murder as the hostess
drinking with the guards and cleaning up
after Macbeth's botched cover up
returning covered in blood
the closest thing to femininity and
goodness she seems to display is her
decision not to murder Duncan herself
the
reason being Duncan's resemblance to her
own father Lady Macbeth denies having
any feelings of guilt in contrast
Macbeth is finding it difficult to hide
his his actions and words demonstrate
that he is becoming more concerned with
the state of his soul feeling he needs a
blessing and hearing voices condemning
him and his family it is unclear whether
these voices are supernatural the
products of his own guilt or both but
they accurately predict the downfall
that awaits Macbeth
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