Act 2, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis
Act 2, Scene 2
Lady Macbeth waits while Macbeth does the deed. She has already drugged Duncan’s servants so heavily that their sleep seems close to death, and she laid out their daggers, which Macbeth will use to stab Duncan. She remarks that if the sleeping Duncan had not looked like her father, she could have killed him herself.
Macbeth enters and tells his wife that he has done the deed and killed Duncan. He is highly agitated, believing he has heard various disturbing sounds, including a cry of “murder.” He also thought he heard someone praying and wanted to say “Amen” but could not. He takes this as a sign that he is cursed, since he was in need of blessing but could not speak the sacred word.
Lady Macbeth largely ignores his nervous babbling, more concerned with practical matters. She tells her husband to wash the blood from his hands and angrily asks why he brought the daggers back with him, when he was supposed to leave them beside Duncan’s sleeping servants. Macbeth is afraid to return to the scene of the crime, so Lady Macbeth takes the daggers herself and returns to Duncan’s chamber to plant them on the servants. As she leaves, Macbeth thinks he hears the sound of knocking. He reflects that, however much he washes his hands, they will never be truly clean again.
Lady Macbeth returns, having planted the daggers and smeared Duncan’s servants with blood. She too hears the knocking, which turns out to be not a figment of Macbeth’s imagination, but someone really demanding entry at the castle gate. She takes charge of the situation and hurries Macbeth off to bed so that they may both appear to have been sleeping when Duncan’s dead body is discovered.
Analysis
At the beginning of act 2, scene 2, Lady Macbeth shows her first hint of human weakness. Although she later berates Macbeth for his weakness, he actually kills Duncan, whereas she could not, as she says, because Duncan looked too much like her father as he slept. Despite this brief flash of humanity, she is mostly indifferent to Macbeth’s remorse and nervousness and remains committed to carrying out their plan as efficiently as possible.
Macbeth is implied to be a man of action; the captain’s description of his brave conduct in act 1, scene 2 suggests that he is not usually one to stop and philosophize about morality in the heat of battle. Now, however, while Lady Macbeth’s thoughts are exclusively focused on escaping detection, Macbeth can’t help but meditate on his own spiritual pollution. Unable to focus on the practical matters at hand, he worries about why he could not say “Amen” upon hearing a prayer and waxes eloquent on the joys of peaceful sleep, which he fears he will never enjoy again. While Lady Macbeth is returning the daggers to Duncan’s chamber, he thinks about how his new role as a traitor and murderer has marked him forever:
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
The image of the blood on his hands turning the oceans of the world red underscores just how unnaturally Macbeth—who is no stranger to killing on the battlefield—has acted in killing his king. It’s clear that Lady Macbeth has no similar qualms about the enormity of what they have done: when she returns from the King’s chamber, she remarks briskly, “A little water clears us of this deed.” At this point, Lady Macbeth is still firmly in charge, directing her husband on what he must do next, while he continues to dwell on the moral implications of their actions.
Expert Q&A
Explain Lady Macbeth's line from Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth: "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers."
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Macbeth, when Lady Macbeth says "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers," she is chiding Macbeth for his lack of courage and resolve after killing Duncan. She criticizes him for fearing the dead and compares him to a child scared of a painted devil. Furthermore, she scorns him for his imprudence in bringing the murder weapons with him, instead of leaving them at the crime scene.
What is the analysis of this quotation from Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth?
Whence is that knocking?—
How is’t with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
This quotation from Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth reveals Macbeth's deepening guilt and foreboding after murdering King Duncan. In his soliloquy, Macbeth reflects on the irreversible nature of his actions and the need to continue his violent path to secure his kingship. His fear and paranoia are evident as every noise alarms him, and he is haunted by the sight of his blood-stained hands, questioning if even "great Neptune’s ocean" could cleanse him. This marks the beginning of his mental unraveling and foreshadows the further violence he anticipates committing.
In Macbeth, act 2, scene 2, how does the imagery of water affect the scene?
In act 2, scene 2 of Macbeth, water is used as an image to represent redemption, forgiveness, and purity. The effect of the repeated image of water is to suggest that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have committed a crime so impure as to place them beyond forgiveness and redemption.
In Macbeth, what does Lady Macbeth do to the guards in act 2, scene 2?
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth drugs the guards' drinks to render them unconscious. After Macbeth kills King Duncan, she takes the daggers and smears the guards with Duncan's blood to frame them for the murder. She chastises Macbeth for his fear and ensures the guards appear guilty by leaving the daggers with them.
Why does Lady Macbeth change her mind about killing Duncan in Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth and what does it reveal about her character?
Lady Macbeth hesitates to kill King Duncan herself because he resembles her father while sleeping, revealing a complex aspect of her character. Despite her murderous intentions, this hesitation indicates a lingering emotional vulnerability and respect for her father. Her admission of being willing to murder Duncan highlights her ambitious and ruthless nature, though she ultimately relies on Macbeth to commit the act, demonstrating her manipulative influence and shared guilt in the murder.
What does the pathetic fallacy in Act 2, Scene 2 reveal about Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's characters?
The pathetic fallacy in Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth uses nature to mirror the characters' emotions. The shrieking owl and crying crickets reflect the horror of Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth's lack of remorse is shown through her satisfaction with the "fatal bellman," while Macbeth's hallucinations of "Sleep no more" reveal his guilt and anxiety. This contrast highlights Lady Macbeth's resolve and Macbeth's deep regret and unease.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth, what sounds do Lady Macbeth and Macbeth hear when Duncan is killed?
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth hear several ominous sounds during and after Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth hears an owl shriek and crickets cry, interpreting them as sinister omens. Macbeth hears a voice crying, "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep," indicating his guilt and fear. Both are startled by knocking at the gate, heightening tension and reflecting their paranoia about being discovered.
Macbeth's Breakdown and Dramatic Tension in Act 2, Scene 2
Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth is pivotal, marking a dramatic turning point as Macbeth murders King Duncan. The scene is emotionally intense, highlighting Macbeth's psychological breakdown and Lady Macbeth's manipulative resolve. Macbeth's remorse and hallucinations reveal his unraveling conscience, while Lady Macbeth's practical approach contrasts sharply. The dialogue and Macbeth's vivid imagery, like his blood-stained hands, illustrate his horror and guilt. The scene effectively uses imagination to convey the murder's impact, creating dramatic tension without depicting the violence on stage.
What signs in Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth show Lady Macbeth isn't as strong as she believes? What warning does she give Macbeth about overthinking their deeds?
In Act 2, Scene 2, Lady Macbeth's reliance on alcohol for courage hints at her underlying weakness. She admits the drink that made the servants drunk gave her boldness, suggesting she needed it to fortify her resolve. After Duncan's murder, she warns Macbeth against overthinking their actions, cautioning that such thoughts could drive them mad. This foreshadows her eventual mental breakdown, indicating she may not be as strong as she initially appears.
What does the appearance of blood on the hallucinated dagger signify in Macbeth's speech in Act 2, Scene 2?
"And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. / It is the bloody business which informs, / Thus to mine eyes" (2.2.58-61).
The blood on the hallucinated dagger in Macbeth's speech symbolizes the impending murder of King Duncan and foreshadows the guilt that will haunt Macbeth. This motif of blood represents the psychological torment of having "blood on one's hands." While Macbeth is initially overwhelmed by guilt, believing no amount of water can wash it away, Lady Macbeth dismisses the concern. However, she later experiences her own guilt-driven hallucinations, indicating blood as a central motif of guilt in the play.
In Macbeth, what is the effect of Macbeth's entrance in Act 2, Scene 2, after the murder?
Macbeth's entrance in Act 2, Scene 2, following Duncan's murder, is dramatic and pivotal, confirming the king's death and advancing the plot. His recounting of the murder allows the audience to imagine the unseen event, while his shaken demeanor and anguished cries, such as "Macbeth shall sleep no more," reveal his immediate emotional turmoil. This scene foreshadows the psychological repercussions and madness that will ensue, deepening Macbeth's character development.
Analysis of Macbeth's presentation in act 2, scene 2 of Shakespeare's play
In act 2, scene 2 of Shakespeare's play, Macbeth is depicted as increasingly anxious and guilt-ridden. After murdering King Duncan, he is overwhelmed by fear and paranoia, hearing imaginary voices and becoming fixated on his blood-stained hands. This scene highlights his moral turmoil and the psychological consequences of his ambition and actions.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
