1. Macbeth
Act 2

2. Macbeth Act 2
Scene 1

3. Characters and Themes Characters Themes Macbeth Banquo Fleance
All Themes are present

4. Banquo and Fleance
Banquo is struggling with his ambition just like Macbeth
Banquo informs Macbeth of troubling dreams of the weird sisters
Macbeth: “I never think about them, lets meet and talk later I will reward you greatly if you stand by me”
Banquo: “I will follow you to greatness as long as I do not lose honor”

5. Macbeth Alone
Macbeth sees a dagger, but can not figure out if it is real
Macbeth realizes that the thought of the murder is driving him to hallucinations
Macbeth’s guilt is beginning to eat away at him and make him paranoid

6. Themes Ambition Fate Violence Nature and the Unnatural Manhood
Both Banquo and Macbeth struggle with their ambition
Fate
Both Macbeth and Banquo’s knowledge of their futures cause them to act
Violence
Macbeth goes off to kill Duncan at the end (notice that kills are offstage)
Nature and the Unnatural
The stars are hidden/Macbeth losing his mind
Manhood
Unlike Macbeth honor is what makes a man a man

7. Macbeth Act 2
Scene 2

8. Characters and Themes Characters Themes Macbeth Lady Macbeth
All themes

9. The Murder Lady Macbeth waits in agitation for Macbeth
Would have murdered him myself if he didn’t look like my father
Does this foreshadow guilt?
Macbeth enters with the murder weapons
Has bloodstained hands and is freaking out
If someone has bloodstained hands (figuratively) and is sleepless, what might it symbolize?
Macbeth realizes the consequences of his actions

10. The Aftermath
Lady Macbeth can not believe Macbeth still has the weapons
He can not bring himself to look upon the scene
Lady Macbeth brings the weapons back
Notice the difference in their composure
A knocking startles Macbeth who realizes that all the water in the world will not wash his hands
Literally the blood will come off but what will never leave his heart?

11. Lady Macbeth’s Return Has a calm demeanor to her
States that water will wash the blood right off her hands
Being naïve to think that such an action can be swept under the rug
Macbeth wishes the knocking will wake Duncan

12. Themes
Ambition
Violence
Fate
Manhood
Nature and the Unnatural

13. Macbeth Act 2
Scene 3

14. Characters Characters Themes Macbeth Lady Macbeth Macduff Malcolm
Donaldbain
Porter
Banquo
Lennox
Themes
All but manhood

15. A Moment of Comedy The Porter delivers a much needed comedic moment
Doorkeeper of hell
Makes jokes about being drunk and what it does to people
What does the Porter pretend to be the gatekeeper of? (iii, 1-18) How is this symbolic?
Based on his response to Macduff’s question about drinking, what other purpose does the Porter seem to serve in this play? (iii, 24-31)

16. Macduff and Macbeth/ Macbeth and Lennox
Macbeth pretends to have just woken up
Macduff informs Macbeth that Duncan wished to see him early
Macbeth and Lennox
Lennox comments on the horrible storm the night before
Anything to do with Duncan?

17. Macduff Finds Duncan
Macduff’s cry of horror lead Lennox and Macbeth to the chamber
What is the first reaction to the King's death and who's is it? (iii, 64-65)
What does Macbeth do to the supposed murderers and why? (iii, )
Malcolm and Donaldbain enter as well as Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth pretends she knows not of what is going on
Macbeth says he wish he never saw such a scene
Macduff is horrified
Macbeth wishes he didn’t kill the attendants and Macduff asks him why he did.
Lady Macbeth faints

18. Malcolm and Donaldbain’s Dilemma
The thanes decide to meet in the hallways but The two sons stay behind
Realize that the unnatural hides behind the face of natural to give a false persona
The boys realize that they’re in the midst of a traitor
Malcolm: England
Donaldbain: Ireland
Why do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee? (iii, , ) Where do they decide to go?

19. Themes

20. Macbeth Act 2
Scene 4

21. Characters and Themes Characters: Themes: Ambition Violence
Nature and the Unnatural
Fate

22. Nature Nature has been acting crazy ever since the death of Duncan
Ross and the old man believes them to be connected to something

23. Macduff Informs the two that the guards have been found guilty
Main suspects: Malcolm and Donalbain
Macbeth has been named king
Ross goes to the coronation
Macduff returns to this castle instead

24. Themes
Ambition
Violence
Fate
Nature and the Unnatural

25. Act 2 In your groups complete the following:
Complete the worksheet in your folders
Create a symbol for the following characters
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth
Macduff
Banquo
Add to the Shakespearean Tragic Hero list if you can
Connect the following quote to the play
“He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.”
Answer this on the back of the worksheet

26. Act 2 Assessment: Due Monday
Create a timeline by (drawing and writing the event) of the play so far. There has been 11 scenes so you should have 15 events. Pick out the main idea of each scene and if the scene has a secondary idea use that as well. Put the 15 scenes in order.
Answer the following open-ended with a paragraph for each bullet:
“He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.”
Explain the quote
Which character in the play has displayed honor? Explain.

27. Act 2 Assessment: Due Monday
Create a timeline by (drawing and writing the event) of the play so far. There has been 11 scenes so you should have 15 events. Pick out the main idea of each scene and if the scene has a secondary idea use that as well. Put the 15 scenes in order.
Answer the following open-ended with a paragraph for each bullet:
“He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.”
Explain the quote
Which character in the play has displayed honor? Explain.