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"Macbeth" Act 2 (Act 2 Scene 1 (Key points (Banquo continues to…
"Macbeth" Act 2
Act 2 Scene 1
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Key points
Banquo continues to be used as a tool to show Macbeth's poor choices. He has integrity and honesty, where Macbeth hasn't.
The witches have had a lasting effect on Banquo, causing him to have nightmares. This establishes his purity.
Macbeth struggles with his conscience and his soliloquy shows his internal conflict, but he resolves to kill Duncan.
Macbeth is sounding Banquo out to find out if he is loyal to Macbeth - the issue Macbeth has is that not only have the witches prophesied that Banquo's sons will become king but he also heard that Macbeth will become king which means that if Duncan dies Banquo would be suspicious ; he could create an awful lot of trouble for Macbeth. Banquo goes on to tell Macbeth that he won't be part of anything dishonest or immoral.
Language and structure
The scene is dark and Banquo uses the metaphor "candles are all out" to suggest that physical darkness is also moral darkness.
Macbeth's star-of-mind is unsettled - he is asking lots of questions and using lots of simple sentences showing his doubts. In his soliloquy he sees the manifestation of a dagger which further emphasises that he is taken in by evil. He is beginning to lose his humanity being able to see things others can't and losing the control of his senses.
Context and theatre
Remember that in Shakespeare's day the theatre had no special effects and the dagger wouldn't have been visible, but Macbeth would still be speaking to it. It would have made Macbeth seem unstable, evil and unworthy of becoming king.
Tarquin was an infamous criminal of early Roman society, known for his raping and murdering of young women. “Ravish” in this sentence therefore translates to “rape” or “violate” to refer to Tarquin’s actions. “His design” is his victim. This makes up more of the wolf metaphor, adding more emphasis to the violation which the “wolf” is conducting. This gives an insight into how profoundly affected Macbeth is by these plans and how he feels that his morality is being “ravished” by them.
Act 2 Scene 2
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Key points
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Shakespeare demonstrates the scale of the terrifying guilt that causes great warriors like Macbeth to be reduced to abject fear.
Lady Macbeth is steely, determined and serves as a contrast to Macbeth who flounders and appears indecisive.
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Language and Structure
Macbeth switches between highly elaborate language and very simple language. The sophisticated language is used to show that Macbeth is clouding his actions and when he uses simple terms he is closer to the truth.
Macbeth can't say "Amen" because he knows that he has acted against God and Nature, suggesting that he would have been able to save himself earlier on.
Lady M.'s reference that it's easy to wash away the blood is highly ironic, but won't become obvious until later in the play.
Macbeth's mind seems to be disintegrating because he is hearing voices and this links closely with the previous scene (the dagger) where is seeing things.
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Context and theatre
The divine right of kings - kings were put in place by God and people had no right to challenge their monarch.
Lady Macbeth would have been a frightening character to the Shakespearean audience as she was so headstrong, manipulative and controlling. It would have been considered unnatural for a woman to take charge in this manner, which then links to the witches.
Women who were strong-willed were often accused of witchcraft as men needed to excuse their perceived weaknesses.
Act 2 Scene 3
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Key points
The Porter scene is Shakespeare 's way of providing brief comic relief after a very bleak and intense scene. He is crude and rough , making the audience laugh. However, he also provides other functions such as showing that Macbeth's reign will be "hell".
Deception is further developed as a theme as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth throw the blame unto the guards and they pretend to have no inkling of what has happened.
The fact that Donalbain and Malcolm flee gives Macbeth his justification to become king as it makes them look guilty, but as they are alive they could easily be plotting against him and so he wears the crown uneasily.
Language and structure
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Dramatic irony - we already know that Duncan has been killed so this heightens the tension because the characters don't know.
Much of the language used in this scene is linked to Hell, implying that the castle has turned the castle into the underworld.
The Porter 's reference to the castle as hell is ironic considering what has taken place there that night.
Context and theatre
The Porter makes links to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Henry Garnet was hanged for lying about his knowledge of the plot. The suggestion is that there is evil in society not just in Macbeth's shadow.
Shakespearean audiences often made predictions about their lives based on the weather. Thunder on a Monday was believed to mean a woman would die while thunder on a Thursday promised plenty of sheep to be born. Earthquakes were seen as a sign of God' s anger, sent to make sinners repent.
Act 2 Scene 4
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Key points
The old man is important because he represents the people and due to his age he would be considered wise and in his memory the crimes are unparalleled.
Macduff is very suspicious of Macbeth and will not attend the coronation - this would have been unheard of and a very clear sign that he is against Macbeth. Foreshadows the death of his family.
The unnatural events in the natural world clearly shows that Macbeth has upset the natural order of the cosmos and has brought chaos upon the world.
Language and structure
This scene is used as a buffer between the high drama of the previous scene and the next when we meet the new king, Macbeth.
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This scene allows us to: reflect on what has happened, highlights Macduff's integrity by showing he is different to Ross who will attend the coronation and the old man gives an unbiased commentary on the unnatural events.
The imagery used by the old man clearly suggests that the world has been turned upside down as the falcon has been killed by an owl who normal eats mice.
Tasks - answer the following questions: according to the Holinshed Chronicles, Banquo was an accomplice to Macbeth rather a more honourable contrast to him. Why do you think Shakespeare chose to make Banquo different to the historical character in the play? If you had to direct the play, would you choose transposition (moving the setting and/or period of the original to different time period or setting) or would you stick with the original setting? Why?