Macbeth Act 2 Quotations

Question 1

Analyse the quotation - “_____ vision”

Answer 1

Fatal

This metaphor demonstrates how Macbeth’s conscious is not dealing well with the concept of killing Duncan. Seeing daggers not only foreshadows Duncan’s death but also demonstrates how fearful and tentative Macbeth is towards commiting sin at this point in the play.

Question 2

Analyse the quotation - “Heat-__________ brain”

Answer 2

oppresséd

This is a metaphor for Macbeth being overly stressed and conflicted due to the guilt from potentially killing Duncan. He is also implying he is a victim in his lack of clarity and a breaking mind.

Question 3

Analyse the quotation - “A _____ that summons thee to heaven or ____”

Answer 3

Knell, hell

This metaphor of a funeral bell demonstrates the end of his conflict as regardless of what happens, he is going to kill Duncan at this point. It also implies his distrust in God and the natural order, as normally kings are appointed by God and saying he could go to hell questions Duncan’s legitimacy and attempts to rationalise his grief and deal with it. This is symbolic of the eternal and perhaps inevitable struggle with sin for humans.

Question 4

Analyse the quotation - “Who’s _____? What __?”

Answer 4

There, ho

This question demonstrates how Macbeth is paranoid and perhaps mentally ill, further implying that sin has a grave consequence for those who commit it. This could be an attempt to appeal to James I, since he Shakespeare is reinforcing that the killing of a king will lead to torture beyond belief for the person responsible.

Question 5

Analyse the quotation - “I have ____ the ____”

Answer 5

Done, deed

This example of euphemistic language demonstrates how Macbeth is fearful of the ramifications even after it has been done since he knows that God’s wrath will coming crashing upon him, and this is why he is in denial or his actions. This could be an attempt by Shakespeare to appeal to James I by defending the contemporary chain of being, by telling the masses watching his play that any moves against the King will lead to eternal damnation and eternal fear of God’s wrath.

Question 6

Analyse the quotation - “Glamis hath __________ sleep”

Answer 6

murdered

This repeated motif sleep indicates that Macbeth will never achieve peace, since he has sinned greatly by killing the King, and foreshadowing his downfall since the wrath of God will coming crashing down on them.

Question 7

Analyse the quotation - “The _____________ seas ___________”

Answer 7

Multitudinuous, incarnadine

This metaphor indicates that Macbeth feels he had blood on hands and that he cannot be forgiven, this further demonstrates his separation from God, since contextually God would forgive anyone if they submitted to him no matter how grave the sin. This shows his connection to satan.

Question 8

Analyse the quotation - “____ Duncan with thy _________”

Answer 8

Wake, knocking

This repeated motif demonstrates how Macbeth regrets giving into his innate desires, since he is now facing the consequences for his actions. This could further be a representation of how he let his ambition get the better of him.

Question 9

Analyse the quotation - “Who can be ____, amazed, ________ and furious?… No man.”

Answer 9

Wise, temp’rate

This rhetorical question is a representation of his duplicity, since he is justifying killing two innocent guards under the pretext that he is so overwhelmed with emotion, masking the true nature of his actions - to cover up his tracks. This further demonstrates how he is incredibly deep within sin and perhaps always destined to give into it.