Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2
Darianne Bane, Celena Calabro, Jason Higgins, and Julia Havel
Question 1
1. Lines 11- 27: What animal imagery does Macbeth use? What does he mean
by “scorched the snake, not killed it”? In what ways is the image of a snake
ironic coming from Macbeth?
a. Macbeth talks about a snake and he means that he hurt the “snake”
badly but has not killed it. It’s ironic that Macbeth says that about the
snake because he is the snake. He tricked Duncan and the guards to fall
right into his plan.
Question 2
What is the meaning of Lady Macbeth saying: “Naught’s had, all’s spent,/ where
our desire is got without content”?
a. Nothing has been gained; everything has been wasted. It would be
better to be dead like Duncan than to live in uncertain joy. Macbeth does
not know what the future holds for him and his wife. He does not want to
live his life wondering if he will become king and if he will get caught for
killing Duncan.
Question 3
3. Lines 18-28, from affliction does Macbeth suffer?
a. He would rather have the world fall apart than to be afflicted with such
fears and nightmares. Death is preferable to life on the torture rack of
mental anguish. He can no longer “sleep” or say “Amen” due to his
actions of killing Duncan.
Question 4
Lines 29-34: What instruction does Macbeth give Lady Macbeth with regard to
speaking about Banquo? Which phrases suggests the should hide their true
feelings? What does Lady Macbeth’s comment in line 34 tell the reader about the
difference between Macbeth’s words and the way he might be acting?
a. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth to pay special attention to Banquo. “And make
our faces vizards to our hearts”. Macbeth is telling Lady Macbeth to falsify
their feelings. Macbeth says one thing but then acts a different way.
Question 5
5. Lines 51-52: Explain how Macbeth describes the ending of the day. Which
words describe the images of predators and prey? What might “black agents” refer
to? How does this imagery contribute to the overall mood of scene 2?
a. The day was good but then it got worse. The black agents are the witches.
They are getting inside Macbeth’s head again. This creates a spooky mood.
Question 6
In line 39, Lady Macbeth says, “You must leave this.” What does she mean?
a. She does not want Macbeth to go through the plan. She does not want him
to kill anyone else because people will start to suspect that they are the ones
doing it because the deaths are all related.
Question 7
7. Examine Macbeth’s dialogue and explain the reason Macbeth gives for
ordering Fleance killed in lines 133-136.
a. Fleance is always with his father, Banquo, and he wants both of them dead.
These two people are “threats” to the throne that Macbeth is after and he
does not want anyone else to get in his way. He wants the throne all to
himself his is willing to kill anyone who he thinks will get in his way.
Question 8
How is the planning of Banquo’s murder quite different from that of Duncan’s. Cite
text evidence from scenes i and ii.
a. Macbeth is more “ready” for this murder. When he was killing Duncan, he
was having many thoughts about what will happen and he was listening to his
conscience, but now he is not listening to his conscience, he is killing anyone
who gets in his way. “We have scorched the snake, not killed it.” “Something
from the palace; always thought that I require a clearness.” Macbeth means
that killing Duncan opened opportunity for others to be king but Macbeth will
kill anyone who he thinks will get in his way. Also, he wants the murders to
occur far away from his home so he is not in any way a person they suspect
to have killed them. He will be blameless.
Literary Device
Example
Personification
In lines 15-16 Macbeth states “we have slashed the snake but not
killed it, it will heal and be as good as new.” This is an example of
personification because he says the snake will heal and be as good
as new. This is a human quote and snakes can't necessarily heal
themselves after being “slashed”.
Conflict
Conflict in this scene is internal between Macbeth and himself.
Throughout most of the scene Macbeth is upset at himself for what
he has done. In lines 39-40 Macbeth says “I feel like my mind is full
of scorpions.” What he means by this is that his mind and
conscience is in pain and stings because of what he has done.