Quotations – Act 2

Analyzing Quotations Who is the speaker? What are the circumstances? (where, when, why, to whom it is said) What is the meaning? What is the dramatic importance? What does the quotation mean to the play?

Act 2, Scene 1 “It must be all imaginary. I’m so obsessed with murder that I’m seeing things” (Act 2, Scene 1)

Macbeth is speaking to himself This happens outside Duncan’s bedroom just before Macbeth murders the King. Macbeth is hallucinating We learn about Macbeth’s character and the way his mind is affected by his obsessive thoughts about murder and his emotions – especially guilt. The bloody dagger is a symbol of crime and especially guilt. The destructive impact of guilt is a theme in the play.

“Still the voice cried “Sleep no more. ” to all the house “Still the voice cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house. “Lord Glamis has murdered sleep, and so Lord Cawdor shall sleep no more – Macbeth shall sleep no more!” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Macbeth has murdered sleep Macbeth is speaking to Lady Macbeth in the courtyard just after he kills King Duncan. Once again, Macbeth is imagining things. Lady Macbeth warns him that “…you’ll wear yourself out thinking about things so dementedly” Macbeth’s guilt and fear is obvious when he talks about “murdering” sleep – the “rejuvenator of life” He knows what he has done is very wrong! But this also foreshadows what will happen to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth – they can’t sleep, and both go mad

“Is there enough water in the oceans to wash my hands of this blood? No! More likely my hands will stain the vast green seas blood-red.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Macbeth is speaking to himself. Lady Macbeth has just gone to return the daggers and smear the guards with blood. Macbeth is horrified by his bloody hands This is in contrast to Lady Macbeth who says “a little water will wash away all traces of the deed” The image of the blood red ocean is an exaggeration, but it tells us how guilty he is feeling He believes that nothing will ever “wash away” his guilt. He also says that “every noise scares me” By the end of the play, nothing scares him anymore!

My hands are the same colour “My hands are the same colour as yours – but I’d be ashamed to have a heart as white as yours!” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Lady Macbeth is speaking to Macbeth after she returns from smearing the guards with blood, a job Macbeth refused to do. He said “I’m afraid to think of what I’ve done.” Lady Macbeth’s hands are now bloody. Lady Macbeth called Macbeth a coward earlier and that’s what she means now. She is a tough woman! The “white heart” is a metaphor for Macbeth’s lack of courage – a great image!

“A little water will wash away all traces of the deed” (Act 2, Scene 2)

A little water will wash away this deed Lady Macbeth tells her husband that the traces of the murder can be washed away with a little water. Unlike Macbeth, Lady Macbeth seems unaffected by the murder. She is still calming planning, taking charge of matters. This is an ironic foreshadowing of what happens later when Lady Macbeth sinks into madness caused by guilt, hallucinates blood on her hands, and washes her hands over and over again. By that time, her husband does not seem to care about anything!

“If Duncan hadn’t looked like my father in his sleep, I’d have done it myself.”

Lady Macbeth is talking to Macbeth just after she gives the guards wine and makes them drunk She says Duncan reminds her of her father. Otherwise she could have murdered him herself. This is in contrast to Macbeth, who is terrified by the prospect of killing the king. We are reminded of the words later when she says “who knew the old man would have so much blood in him?” She is now sick with guilt over their crimes.

“Here lay Duncan – his white skin streaked with his precious blood, and his stab wounds obviously fatal. There were the murderes, steeped in the colours of their trade, their daggers dripping blood. Who could hold back, that had a loving heart and the courage to show it?” (Act 2, Scene 3)

Macbeth is speaking to the men who have gathered after the discovery of Duncan’s murder. Macbeth is explaining why he killed the guards. The image of Duncan with his white skin and “precious” blood makes us think of a martyr. Macbeth’s words are ironic because we know that he is the killer. His words are a little too dramatic – he sounds like he is suspiciously overdoing it. Lady Macbeth’s response – pretending to faint to draw attention shows us that she is always thinking.

“We’ll be safer if we go our separate ways “We’ll be safer if we go our separate ways. Here, smilers have knives beneath their cloaks. Our closest relatives have most reasons to murder us.” (Act 2, Sc. 3)

Donalbain is talking to his brother Malcolm after King Duncan’s body is discovered. He is warning that their lives are in danger because those that seem friendly are their enemies. Because Malcolm is Duncan’s successor to the throne, those who are related to them (like Macbeth) have the most to gain by killing them. Donalbaine will go to Ireland and Malcolm will go to England. However, by leaving they will make some people suspect that they are guilty. It will also allow Macbeth to become King. Donalbaine’s words also remind us of the great paradox and a theme of the play: Nothing is what it seems! The serpent lies beneath the innocent flower. Smiling faces hide assassins, and Fair is foul and foul is fair!

“Ah, good father, the heavens are showing their displeasure at mankind’s behaviour!” (Act 2, scene 4)

It is the morning after Duncan’s murder. Ross and an Old Man are talking about what happened the night before. Ross says that the heavens (God) is angry because of the murder. It is daytime, but it is dark, and other strange things have happened. (owls, falcons, horses) Killing a king is a the worst sin of all and upsets God and nature.