macbeth study guide act 2

About what time does this scene 1 take place? what is significant about this time?

around midnight. Midnight is considered the witching hour, and that bad things happen around midnight

Who is Fleance? Why would Fleance make Macbeth anxious about the future?

Fleance is Banquo’s son. This makes Macbeth nervous because the witches said that Banquo will father kings—and Macbeth wants to be king.

Banquo brings up the witches again. Why does this bother Macbeth?

This bothers Macbeth because Banquo is the only one who knows what the witches said, and if the king is suddenly dead Banquo might get suspicious

After Banquo leaves, what does Macbeth see?

Macbeth begins to hallucinate and see a dagger floating in front of him, leading him to kill the king

What is Macbeth’s emotional state at this time?

He is not very stable—he is hallucinating, delusional, and rambling

Who rings the bell? Why?

Lady Macbeth rings the bell to signal Macbeth that is time to kill the king

What do you notice about the last lines of this scene?

They rhyme—meaning something bad is coming

How does Lady Macbeth make sure that the grooms will not wake up?

She drugged them

Who is Donalbain?

Duncan’s younger son

What stops Lady Macbeth from killing Duncan?

She was reminded of her father when she saw him, and couldn’t kill him

What does Macbeth hear a voice say as he kills Duncan?

God Bless us, Amen, Macbeth shall sleep no more.

Why is Macbeth being unable to pray important?

He can’t say Amen, and that was supposed to mean that he has sinned

Why does the murder scene occurs off-stage?

it was too hard to pull of a realistic murder on stage

At the end of this scene, how does Lady Macbeth show herself to be stronger than her husband?

She is not as freaked out about the murder as Macbeth is—she is able to go back and plant the daggers

What does the hand washing symbolize?

Washing off their guilt—blood on hands=guilty

Who are Macduff and Lennox?

Thanes that have come to collect Duncan to go to their next stop

What is the purpose of the porter scene?

To provide comic relief

Who is the porter?

The person guarding the castle gate

What is the condition of the porter and what is he joking about?

The porter is drunk from the party that night. He is joking about guarding the gates of hell—saying that the knocking are sinners knocking on the gates of hell

Why is the porter’s joke ironic?

It is ironic because Macbeth has just killed the king—so the situation inside the castle is hellish

What is an equivocator?

An equivocator is someone who uses ambiguous language on purpose—it can be interpreted in different ways on purpose

How do equivocators tie into the “fair is foul…” theme?

because you never really know the real meaning of what is being said

How is Macbeth’s demeanor different when Macduff and Lennox enter?

He is totally sane and calm—no longer crazy and hallucinating

What are the strange natural events that happened during the night?

Strong winds, screams, earthquakes, and owls hooting. When unnatural, evil things happen, nature reacts

Who discovers Duncan’s body?

Macduff

How does Lady Macbeth react to the news?

She faints

Who is suspected of the murder and why?

The guards because they were found with the daggers and Duncan’s blood on them

What is the next murder that Macbeth commits?

He killed the guards

Why did macbeth kill the guards?

He says it is because he was so overcome with grief once he found out Duncan was dead that he had to kill his killers. However, it also destroys the evidence that Macbeth was the one that killed duncan

What do Malcom and Donalbain do next? Why?

They flee to England (Malcom) and Ireland (Donalbain). They fear for their safety and think someone might try to kill them next

What three natural/unnatural events happen in this scene?

1. it is the middle of the day, but it is as dark as night

2. a falcon was caught by an owl

   1. duncan’s horses went wild and ate themselves

What does the theme “crimes against nature” mean?

humans doing things they shouldn’t do=nature doing things it shouldn’t do

Who is suspected of hiring the grooms to kill Duncan? Why?

They suspect Malcom and Donalbain because they fled

Who will now become king of Scotland instead of Duncan’s sons?

Macbeth, because the sons are suspected of killing their father

Why is the coronation not performed on stage?

It is too hard to execute on stage

Who does NOT attend Macbeth’s coronation? What might this foreshadow?

Macduff doesn’t attend the coronation, foreshadowing that he will become Macbeth’s nemisis

What do you notice about the last lines of this scene ?

they rhyme