The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II Questions
Scene 1
1. What do Fleance and Banquo note about the night? How is this image tied to the events that are being
planned by others in the castle?
2. Why isn’t Banquo asleep? What is his mood?
3. Of what does Banquo inform Macbeth about the king? What does the king have for Lady Macbeth?
4. Of what or whom has Banquo dreamt?
5. Macbeth says, “I think not of them.” What are two ways this may be interpreted?
6. What stipulation does Banquo put on what Macbeth may suggest to him in the future when they talk?
7. In Macbeth’s soliloquy, what does he envision? Why is this? What does it reflect about Macbeth’s
mind?
8. How does Macbeth’s attitude toward the “wicked dreams” differ from Banquo’s?
9. How is Macbeth knowingly embracing evil?
10. What sound does he hear? How does he interpret it?
Scene 2
11. What has Lady Macbeth done to contribute to the plot?
12. What sound does she hear? How does she interpret it?
13. When thinking the servants may be awake, what does Lady Macbeth fear?
14. Why couldn’t Lady Macbeth kill King Duncan herself? What does this suggest about her character?
15. What do the two men do in their sleep that seems contradictory?
16. Why couldn’t Macbeth say “Amen” after the prayer?
17. What is ironic about the fact that Macbeth desires God’s blessing?
18. What does Lady Macbeth say will make them “mad”? Why?
19. Of what does the voice Macbeth thinks he hears accuse him? What does sleep itself represent?
20. What does Lady Macbeth instruct her husband to do? What mistake has he already made in their
plans? Who has to fix this problem?
21. How does Macbeth feel about the blood on his hands? What does this say about his mental state?
22. How does Lady Macbeth feel about the blood on her hands? What does this reveal about her
character? What might blood and water represent?
23. What does Macbeth mean by “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself”?
Scene 3
24. What is the purpose of the drunken porter? (Hint: see page 70)
25. Why are his words in prose?
25. To what does the porter compare the castle?
26. What does the porter say are the three effects of alcohol? What does it do that is paradoxical?
27. What is ironic about the king’s instructions that Macduff wake him early and Macduff’s comment that
he has “almost slipped the hour”?
28. How does Lennox describe the night?
29. What is ironic about Macduff’s views on women as he speaks to Lady Macbeth?
30. What has Macbeth done that was not part of the plan? Was this wise? What is his justification for this
action?
31. What are some possible reasons for Lady Macbeth’s fainting when she does?
32. What do Banquo’s words about knowing the work “further” suggest he suspects? What does he mean
in saying, “In the great hand of God I stand”?
33. What does each of the following characters seem to think of the evidence: Lennox, Banquo, Macduff,
Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Malcolm, and Donalbain?
Scene 4
34. What does Ross note is strange about the daylight hours on this day?
35. The old man says the strange signs parallel what?
36. The old man has recently witnessed what strange event in nature?
37. What other strange even has occurred with animals? What might this parallel?
38. What does Macduff tell the men about who killed the king? What does he suggest as their motive?
39. Because the sons have fled, Ross believes it is likely that who will be king?
40. Where does Macduff go instead of attending Macbeth’s coronation? Why might this be?
41. What does Macduff suggest with his clothing metaphor?
42. What is reinforced by the closing words of this act, “… make good of bad, and friends of foes”?