“Macbeth” – ACT II Reading Guide

ACT II, Scene 1 1) Banquo’s son; Witches told Banquo that he father a line of kings. 2)Yes – bc/ Macbeth has to take things into his own hands and he doesn’t want Banquo to be suspicious; Thinks he sees a dagger and there is not one in front of him. (conscience bothers them) 3)The bell signals the murder of King Duncan. 4) The same bell that tolls for Duncan’s death shows Macbeth’s journey to damnation.

Act II, scene 2 5) Duncan resembles her father as he sleeps. 6) Macbeth just killed the king who rules by divine right. 7) a-A knitter who unties the threads of care B – The death of the life of each day. C- a bath that soothes the laborer D- ointment that heals the mind E- Body’s great nourisher 8) Macbeth – “all of great Neptune’s ocean” could not clean his hands. Lady Macbeth – “a little water clears us of the deed” 9) King Duncan’s blood 10) Smear the blood on the guards 11) Acts like dazed and confused. 12) He knows he cannot undo the murder, but would if he could

Act II, scene 3 13) Relieve the tension of the play – Thinks he guards hell’s gates – irony – the King’s murder took place in the castle. 14) Weather mirrors unnatural events in society – winds, voices, screeching owls – parallel the death of Duncan. 15) Sick with anxiety.

Act II, scene 3 16) Speaks of the king as a temple which lost its life. 17) Macbeth uses metaphors while Macduff is straight forward. 18) Killing the 2 grooms (guards) – Probably not – Makes it more complicated. 19) Royal and a saint 20) Serious and shocked; hysterical – Pretends to faint to take the suspicion away after Macbeth continues to talk. 21) No – “as it seemed” shows doubt.

Act II, scene 3/4 22) She tries draw attention away from Macbeth bc/ he is talking too much. 23) Does not believe that we know who killed the king. 24) Lennox – Assume the grooms are guilty, but he is doubting; Banquo – Not sure, but may be suspicious of Macbeth; Lady Macbeth – Think her husband talks too much; Macbeth – Shows confidence - evidence is away from him; Malcolm and Donaldbain (king’s sons) – Don’t suspect anyone – Fear for their lives and flee; Macduff – agrees with Banquo. 25) The closer to the crown; the closer to death. They will flee Scotland in fear. Malcolm – ENG; Donalbain - IRE

Act II, scene 4 26) Disorders in nature; Disruption of natural law. 27) Blames Malcolm and Donalbain – they fled; but his motive is correct – to gain the crown. 28) Destructive ambition is his tragic flaw where he casts aside humanity for evil. 29) Clothes imagery – “old robes” – Duncan; “new robes” – Macbeth – The new situation may not suit Scotland as well.

Page 333, 2-7 2) Macduff questions why Macbeth killed the grooms and he skipped Macbeth’s coronation. 3) Can’t murder Duncan bc/ he looks too much like her father as he sleeps. Proves she is human. 4) Macbeth feels guilty though not guilty enough to confess…May feel he has ruined his own life by committing murder. 5) Take the attention away from Macbeth who is explaining why he murdered the grooms. 6) Macduff - Courteous, loyal, sly, and sensitive 7) Violent mood – Macbeth sees the vision of the dagger; the dead vision of Duncan; the horses eating each other --- Symbols of blood and water = death and repentance bc/ Macbeth faces grave consequences for his actions.