LEARN MORE...
Macbeth
William Shakespeare
Contributed by Sharon Fleming
Content
Overview
Context
Characters
Motifs
Themes
Symbols
Plot Summary
Chapter Summaries
Act 1 Scene 1
Act 1 Scene 2
Act 1 Scene 3
Act 1 Scene 4
Act 1 Scene 5
Act 1 Scene 6
Act 2 Scene 1
Act 2 Scene 2
Act 2 Scene 3
Act 2 Scene 4
Act 3 Scene 1
Act 3 Scene 2
Act 3 Scene 3
Act 3 Scene 4
Act 3 Scene 5
Act 3 Scene 6
Act 4 Scene 1
Act 4 Scene 2
Act 4 Scene 3
Act 5 Scene 1
Act 5 Scene 2
Act 5 Scene 3
Act 5 Scene 4
Act 5 Scene 5
Act 5 Scene 6
Act 5 Scene 7
Act 5 Scene 8
Act 5 Scene 9
Get 24/7
Homework help
Our tutors provide high quality explanations & answers.
Post question

Newest Questions

Act 2 Scene 2
Summary

After murdering King Duncan, Macbeth leaves the chamber, and he descends into the courtyard. There, he meets Lady Macbeth. She has just killed the king's servants. Macbeth frets over what he has just done. He has a guilty conscience. Upon realizing this, Lady Macbeth accuses him of lacking firmness of conviction and masculinity. She wants Macbeth to remain strong and confident in his actions. However, Macbeth still holds the dagger he used to murder King Duncan, and its presence may jeopardize the success of their plot. Lady Macbeth salvages the situation by returning the dagger to the murder scene and smearing the servants with the king’s blood. Suddenly, there is a loud and persistent knock on the door.

Analysis

Emotions run high in Scene II. Fear of being caught now supplants Macbeth’s initial fear of failure. After Macbeth murders King Duncan, Lady Macbeth becomes fearful and jumpy. Despite her previous boldness and courage, her speech changes, and she appears conflicted. She startles at the knock on the door.

Nonetheless, Lady Macbeth makes incriminating statements. She says that she could have murdered the king by herself had she not seen that he resembled her father. Previously, she said she would smash out the brains of her own child if necessary. Despite these statements, however, Lady Macbeth is incapable of committing her husband’s crime. There is nothing left for Lady Macbeth to do.

Before and after the murder, it is evident that the speech between the couple is not normal. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem frightened before and after the murder, although they attempt to mask their feelings. Macbeth fears he will never again sleep at night. He says, “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!” (41-42).

Macbeth also feels guilty for the blood on his hands. He has caused an innocent man’s death, and his culpability haunts him. Although he and his wife can frame the servants, Macbeth knows the truth of King Duncan’s murder. Unlike his wife, Macbeth demonstrates heightened awareness of his actions’ ramifications. He expresses discomfort and regret by saying, “in blood stepped in so far.”

<
Act 1 Scene 1
Act 2 Scene 3
>
info_outline
Have study documents to share about Macbeth? Upload them to earn free Studypool credits!

Popular Book Guides