MACBETH STUDY GUIDE
Act 2 Scene 1
Banquo and Fleance at Macbeth's castle: Banquo is worried and tells Macbeth that he
dreamt about the three witches and how their prophecies to Macbeth have partly been
fulfilled already. Macbeth dismisses this and says they will talk about it some time in the
future.
Macbeth alone sees a vision, a dagger:
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? (2, 1,36-37)
There are drops of blood on it.
Question:
1. What is the dramatic effect of this vision?
Scene 2 - Murder most horrid!
Lady Macbeth has drugged the king's guards and would have killed Duncan except that
he resembles her father.
Macbeth has 'done the deed.' (2, 2, 15)
There is a series of short statements between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in lines 16-25.
Question:
1. What is the effect of this exchange?
Macbeth is worried because he could not say 'Amen' when the guards woke and blessed
themselves. This shows that Macbeth is in a condemned state, he feels guilty. He also
thought he heard a voice saying ‘Sleep no more!/ Macbeth does murther Sleep’ (2, 2, 3940).
Macbeth will not be able to rest again because of his wicked deed.
Questions:
1.
How does Lady Macbeth react to this?
2.
What does she tell him to do?
3.
Is Macbeth convinced?
Someone starts knocking at the door. Macbeth says 'Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I
would thou couldst.'
Scene 3
The porter of the castle wakes up and goes to open the door. He complains about the
cold, saying that 'this place is too cold for Hell.' This is another example of dramatic
irony. What does the audience know that the Porter doesn't?
Macduff is at the gate and he and the Porter have an amusing conversation. This
humorous scene comes immediately after the murder scenes.
Question:
1.
What is the dramatic effect of this scene?
Macbeth enters the scene and the people in the castle start waking up. Lennox tells what a
rough night it was:
The night has been unruly...
Some say the earth was feverous, and did shake. (2, 3, 61-69)
Question:
1. The king has been murdered and the natural world has been stormy. What does
this suggest about the relationship between the two worlds: the world of humans
and the world of nature?
Macduff discovers the murdered king: 'O Horror, Horror, Horror!' (2, 3, 72).
There is general chaos and uproar as each character reacts to the news. Macbeth kills the
guards but reacts fairly calmly, giving a measured speech full of exaggerated description
about the dead king.
Malcolm leaves for ____________ and Donalbain goes to ____________. They fear for
their own lives if they remain in Scotland.
Scene 4
An old man and Ross discuss the rough night and how unnatural it was. They also reveal
information about the current state of politics: the rumour is that the king's sons are guilty
of corrupting the guards and Macbeth is to be crowned King of Scotland.
Macduff is not going to Scone to see the coronation. He is not convinced of Macbeth's
goodness but he has no proof against him.