Act 2: Themes

Fate and Free Will

Quote 1: “I dreamt last night of the three weïrd sisters:  To you they have showed some truth.” (II. i. 20-21)

Explanation: The three witches have made some prophecies about the fate of Macbeth and of Banquo.  Banquo tells Macbeth that what the witches said would happen to him was true.  This would mean  that maybe all you do has already been decided before.

Violence

Quote 1: “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.” (II. iii. 108-109)

Explanation:  After killing king duncan, Macbeth decided it was safer to murder the 2 guards they were going to frame.  Macbeth will continue to murder anyone he sees as a potential threat.

Act 2: Motifs

Visions

Quote 1 : "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still." (p.25)

Explanation: Macbeth is haunted by the thought that he will be murdering his king, Duncan, which is why he sees the dagger. He feels guilty of the act he will make therefore seeing the dagger.

Quote 2: "Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee." (p.25)

Explanation: He's vision of the dagger is an example of guilt but reaching for the dagger is a sign of ambition and the desire if being king.

Sleep

Quote 1 : Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets. That death and nature do contend about them, whether they live or die. (Act 2, page 27, 5)

Explanation: Dying is a natural thing and they wil be mocked wheather they are alive or dead.

Quote 2 : Methought i heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (Act 2, page 28, 35)

Explanation: He is going mad as he killed someone in his sleep. He goes on saying that he is paranoid that someone will kill him in his sleep

Quote 3: There’s one did laugh in s’sleep, and one cried “murder!” That they did wake eachother. I stood and heard them. But they did say their prayers, and adressed them again to sleep. (Act 2, Page 20, 20)

Explanation: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are plotting the murder, comparing it to sleep and death. They are therefore foreshadowing what will happen.

Blood

Quote 1 : Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red. (Act 2, Page 30, 60)

Explanation: Macbeth is explaning that in order to wash off all the blood on his hand, he would need a whole sea, and that their is so much blood that if he were to wash them in a sea, the water would redden.

Quote 2 : “Is’t known who did this more than bloody deed?... Malcolm and Donalbain the king’s two sons, are stolen away and fled, which puts upon them suspicion of the deed.” (II, iv, 22-27)

Explanation: Blood is mentionned many times when they talk about the death of the characters.  In this they talk about the suspicion caused by the blood that was spilled when Duncan was murdered.

Quote 3 : "...and on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, which was not so before." (p.26)

Explanation: Macbeth sees blood appearing on the dagger which represents death and guilt towards killing Duncan.

Quote 4 : Go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand. (Act 2, Page 29, 45)

Explanation: Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to go wash the blood of the witness off his hands as it could potentially be used as evidence.

Quote 5: ‘Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If e do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt. (A)ct 2, Page 29, 50

Explanation: Lady Macbeth is explaning that Macbeth should not feel guilty and that he should not act like a child. She explains that only children would be scared if they killed someone and that they would think that their fears are devilish.

Weather/Nature

Quote 1 : “By th’ clock ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp: Is’t night’s predominance, or day’s shame…” (II. iv. 6-8)

Explanation: Strange things, such as Duncan’s death, are happening and the sun isn’t rising even though it’s already day.  The weather reflects the actions of the characters. This quote shows pathetic fallacy.

Quote 2 : “ Ross:  And Duncan’s horses-a thing most strange and certain… Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, contending `gainst obedience, as they would make war with mankind.

Old man: ‘Tis said they eat each other “ (II, iv, 14-18)

Explanation :The weather and the nature are connected and the animals are acting as strange as the nature is while there are strange events with the characters.