Overview
This lecture covers Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth, focusing on Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's reactions to King Duncan's murder and their contrasting responses to guilt and responsibility.
Lady Macbeth’s Reactions and Actions
- Lady Macbeth feels energized by the night's events and awaits Macbeth after the murder.
- She states she would have killed Duncan herself if he hadn't resembled her father sleeping.
- She urges Macbeth not to dwell on the murder, fearing too much thought will drive him mad.
- Lady Macbeth takes charge by returning the daggers to Duncan's room to frame the guards.
- She claims her conscience is clean, despite now having bloody hands.
- She insists they wash up and go to bed so they appear innocent.
Macbeth’s Reactions and Actions
- Macbeth returns from Duncan’s chamber with bloodied hands and two daggers.
- He confirms he has killed Duncan but is immediately consumed by guilt.
- Macbeth overhears men wake, pray, and fall back asleep, but finds he cannot say “Amen.”
- He expresses guilt, saying he needs a blessing and fears eternal sleeplessness.
- He is afraid to return to the murder scene to plant the daggers.
- Macbeth is anxious about being discovered, especially when knocking is heard at the gate.
- He expresses regret, wishing the knocking could wake Duncan.
Themes and Character Contrasts
- Lady Macbeth displays assertiveness and rejects traditional feminine roles, handling the crime’s aftermath.
- Her only moment of traditional femininity is her refusal to kill Duncan due to his resemblance to her father.
- Macbeth is tormented by guilt and worries about his soul, hearing voices that predict his downfall.
- The source of Macbeth’s voices is unclear—possibly supernatural, psychological, or both.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Guilt — The emotional distress following Macbeth’s crime, making him feel cursed and unable to pray.
- Conscience — The moral sense that affects Macbeth but seems suppressed in Lady Macbeth.
- Foreshadowing — Hints of future consequences for Macbeth, shown in the voices he hears.
- Femininity — Traditional traits and roles of women, which Lady Macbeth subverts throughout the scene.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Act 2, Scene 2 in the play for specific lines illustrating guilt and assertiveness.
- Prepare examples of how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth contrast in their responses to the murder.