Universitt Leipzig Institut fr Anglistik SS 2010 HS: Re-reading Macbeth

Macbeth - Act II: Form, Conflicts and Themes

Form
Climax of the play: Murder of Duncan: crisis of the play once the deed is done the Macbeth's tragic fate seems to be settled Soliloquy: Macbeth shows his darker side by expressing his urges and he openly announces his plan reference to Tarquinius Elision: murdering of Duncan is left out (enhances pace of the play) murdering of the guards is also left out also the naming/coronation of Macbeth is left out Comic Relief: Porter-Scene: slows down the pace relieves the tension Sounds: ringing of the bell as a signal for finally committing the murder Screaming of an owl and crying of the crickets as harbingers of death knocking as the inevitable doom of Macbeth

Conflicts
Macbeth vs. Banquo Banquo brings up the prophecies of the three witches

Banquo is sceptical: He will only cling to Macbeth's counseling if it leads to honourable acts

Macbeth's inner struggle (Dagger-soliloquy vs post-regicide comments): strong urge to kill the king, but he doubts that the hallucination is real after the killing: regret, fear he is frightened by every sound , unwillingness to complete his task later on (after the murder is discovered): Macbeth is becoming more and more active Macbeth vs. Lady Macbeth: Lady Macbeth is calculating and calm, while Macbeth is confused and (later) afraid Macbeth is able but not fully convinced to kill, Lady Macbeth is willing but unable to kill she's the one who sticks to the plan and completes it; she's condescending to her husband and his feelings of remorse unlike her husband Lady Macbeth thinks that A little water clears us of this deed Macbeth vs. Macduff: Macduff is the personified doom knocking on his door, foreshadows the downfall of Macbeth suspicious after Macbeth tells about the killing of the guards doesn't attend the coronation of Macbeth

Themes
Nature: dark setting: the moon is down, no stars indicates danger Animals as harbingers of death: Owl scream, crying of crickets weather as a symbol for disorder or chaos: the earth was feverous and did shake, never ending darkness disorder in animal hierarchy: falcon killed by an owl, horses gone wild and eating each other

The Supernatural: the hallucinatory dagger leading to Duncan's room, while being still just a dagger of the mind Macbeth's inability to say Amen; divine intervention or sincere doubt of Macbeth? Guilt

Blood is Guilt: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are both guilty and eventually cannot wash their hands clean Opening the Gate of Hell: After opening the door there is no way of hiding their deed Insomnia: by killing the innocent and sleeping, they have killed their own innocence and sleep as well