Macbeth+Act+2-2

Katherine Rivera Act 2 Scene 2

Meredith Gardner Period 3 IB English Act 2 scene 2 Macbeth SUMMARY  Duncan kills the king and emerges from the room shaken. He worries about not being able to sleep or say amen. LMB tells him not to think about it, and after Macbeth refuses, she goes into dead Duncan’s room, takes his blood on her hands and smears it on the drunk servants. Macbeth seems extremely unnerved and Lady Macbeth does not.

QUESTIONS How does Lady Macbeth show weakness and what does it say about her character? How are the motifs of water to wash away guilt and blood as a sign of guilt used in this scene?  What are the fundamental differences between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

THE LANGUAGE (II.ii.56) “Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me every noise appalls me? What hands are here? Ha!” The use of short rhetorical questions that Macbeth asks himself show how flustered he is at this moment perfectly and enhance his feeling of panic and guilt. What has he just done? This also includes the motif about water washing away guilt. The imagery of the green water turning red demonstrates MB’s extreme sense of guilt which demonstrates his character as a man who was good turned bad. THE BIG IDEA  · The psychological burden of sin As soon as Macbeth murders the king he acts differently. “how is’t with me when every noise appalls me?” he says meaning that he is scared of every noise. He feels so guilty that he could turn the ocean red with his guilt.  · Sleep and innocence This is the first time the sleep motif is introduced. Macbeth hears voices that he will sleep no more because he killed someone in their sleep.

__Character Development Macbeth__ ---“but wherefore could I not pronounce ‘Amen’?” (II.ii.29)This shows a character switch back to the innocent good man before the plotting of Duncan’s murder ---“I’ll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare not” (II.ii.49) MB feels very guilty for what he has done ---“will all the great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” (II.ii.56) This further shows MB’s guilt and a different between he and LMB ---“To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knowing I wish thou couldst” (II.ii.71) This again illustrates MB’s guilt and was-good nature. He regrets the murder.

__Character Development Lady Macbeth__ ---“Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t” (II.ii.13)- this reveals a weakness in LM that we have not seen ---“those deeds must not be thought after these ways. So, it will make us mad.” (II.ii.32) this shows that LM is able to put aside her guilt to do what is necessary, unlike Macbeth. ---“the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil” (II.ii.52) She is able to put emotion aside completely for ambition “My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white” (II.ii.62) LM does not feel guilty. She believes that is weak,

VOCABULARY Neptune: Roman god of the ocean Possets: drinks Hark: listen <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Wherefore: why <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Thane: lord, or a hereditary tenant of the Scottish crown <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Incarnadine: to make something crimson <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Multitudinous: innumerable

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">CONNECTIONS

The control of Macbeth by lady Macbeth in __Macbeth.__ Lady Macbeth’s powerful and manipulative nature used on Macbeth is much like Abigail’s. -->

The control of the girls of Salem by Abigail in __The Crucible.__ Abigail’s powerful and manipulative nature on the whole town of Salem is much like Lady Macbeth’s on Macbeth.