Act Two

Act Two Analysis

Scene 1

  • Macbeth’s Soliloquy: Macbeth hallucinates a dagger leading him towards Duncan’s chamber, symbolising his guilt and fear.
  • Banquo’s Role: Banquo admits his disturbed sleep due to the ‘cursed thoughts’. Unlike Macbeth, he remains loyal and hasn’t acted on his prophesied future.

Scene 2

  • Regicide: Macbeth kills Duncan off-stage, a respect for the divine right of Kings dictated by the conventions of Shakespearean tragedies.
  • Guilt’s Impact on Macbeth: After the murder, Macbeth is deeply affected - he forgets to leave the daggers; he refuses to return to the scene, exposing his mental vulnerability.

Scene 3

  • Discovery: Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, find Duncan dead. Macbeth kills the grooms hastily to cover up his deed, which raises suspicion.
  • Dramatic Irony: Macbeth’s dialogue about the grooms’ death is full of irony as he is the real murderer.

Scene 4

  • Political Instability: Malcolm and Donalbain flee Scotland, suspecting a conspiracy against their lives, leading to greater chaos in the kingdom.
  • Natural Disorder: There are reports of unusual natural phenomena – earthquakes, darkness at midday, an owl killing a falcon – echoing the unnatural act of regicide.

Character Analysis

  • Macbeth: His guilt after the murder evidences his initial moral resistance towards his murderous deed. His fear forces him into further lies and violence.
  • Lady Macbeth: She seems calm and composed after the murder, even reprimanding Macbeth for his irrational fear. However, this later leads to her downfall.

Themes Analysis

  • Guilt: Macbeth’s guilt begins to show and will continue throughout the play. It becomes a stark contrast to Lady Macbeth’s initial composed disposition.
  • Ambition: The deadly consequence of uncontrollable ambition takes shape with the regicide.
  • Natural vs Unnatural: The traditional belief of divine right of Kings is emphasised by natural disorder upon Duncan’s murder.

Symbolism

  • Dagger: Macbeth’s hallucination reflects his mental turmoil and the influence of supernatural elements.
  • Nature’s Rebellion: Eerily corresponding to regicide, nature’s revolt symbolises the murder’s opposition to the divine order.