Macbeth by William Shakespeare | Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis

Course Hero

8 Jun 201802:47

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

00:00

🔪 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

Act 2 Scene 2 refers to a specific part of a play, in this case, 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare. It is the second scene of the second act where key events unfold that drive the narrative forward. In the video's context, it is during this scene that Lady Macbeth feels emboldened by the night's events and the murder of King Duncan is confirmed by Macbeth.

💡Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is a central character in 'Macbeth' and is depicted as a strong-willed and manipulative woman. She plays a crucial role in the video's theme of ambition and its consequences. In the script, she is shown to be more assertive than Macbeth, encouraging him to commit murder and later taking charge of the aftermath.

💡Emboldened

To be emboldened means to gain confidence or courage. In the video, Lady Macbeth is emboldened by the night's events, which signifies her readiness and determination to carry out the murder plot. This term is closely tied to the theme of ambition and the lengths one is willing to go to achieve it.

💡Murder

Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with malice aforethought. It is the central act that drives the plot of 'Macbeth' and is a key concept in the video. The murder of King Duncan by Macbeth is the pivotal event that sets the tragic course of the play and is discussed in detail in the script.

💡Daggers

Daggers, in the context of the video, are the weapons used by Macbeth to commit the murder of King Duncan. They symbolize the violent act and its immediate consequences, as Macbeth's hands are bloodied when he carries them after the murder.

💡Conscience

Conscience refers to an individual's moral compass, guiding their actions and decisions. In the script, Lady Macbeth claims her conscience is clean after she cleans her hands of blood, contrasting with Macbeth's growing guilt and remorse, which is a central theme in the play.

💡Guilt

Guilt is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, or wrong. Macbeth experiences guilt after the murder, which is evident when he cannot say 'Amen' with the men and hears voices condemning him. This internal struggle is a key element in the video's exploration of the psychological impact of one's actions.

💡Blessing

A blessing is a form of divine approval or a wish for happiness or prosperity. In the script, Macbeth feels the need for a blessing after the murder, indicating his desire for absolution. This reflects the theme of seeking redemption in the face of one's wrongdoings.

💡Knocking

The sound of knocking in the script serves as a symbol of impending danger and discovery. It heightens the tension and fear in the scene, as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth worry about being found out for their crime, which is a central element in the video's portrayal of the consequences of their actions.

💡Femininity

Femininity, in the context of the video, refers to traditional female roles and qualities. Lady Macbeth rejects these roles by actively plotting the murder and taking on a more assertive and dominant position. Her actions challenge the traditional gender norms and contribute to the video's exploration of power dynamics.

💡Downfall

Downfall refers to a person's decline or ruin, often as a result of their own actions. In the script, the voices that Macbeth hears predict the downfall that awaits him and his family, foreshadowing the tragic end that is a central theme in the video and the play.

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.