Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 Flashcards
Act 2, Scene 2 Scene two begins with Lady Macbeth admitting to having consumed alcohol in order to be able to fulfill her role in the murder of Duncan.
What does this suggest about her strength of character?
Lady Macbeth drinking alcohol to gain courage shows that she’s not as strong as she pretends to be. She needs help to block out her guilt, which means she’s not completely fearless.
Explore how Shakespeare builds tension throughout the scene.
Shakespeare builds tension with the sharp, quick dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and the knocking sounds in the background. Macbeth’s growing panic also adds to the sense of urgency and fear.
What does Macbeth mean when he says that he has murdered sleep?
When Macbeth says he has “murdered sleep,” he means that his guilt will never let him rest peacefully again. His conscience will keep him awake, haunted by what he’s done.
Closely examine the statement, “A little water clears us of this deed.” Why “a little” water? Why is Lady Macbeth choosing to minimize this issue?
Lady Macbeth says “a little water” can wash away the blood to make it seem like the murder isn’t a big deal. She wants to downplay the seriousness of their crime so that they can move on quickly without feeling guilty.
How do we interpret the vague statement “this deed” rather than the more descriptive word “murder”?
Using “this deed” instead of “murder” shows that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are trying to avoid fully facing what they’ve done. They don’t want to acknowledge the crime because it’s too awful for them to admit directly.
