Act Two: Macbeth Reading Journal

Scene I:

Gothic connotations – night time, the moon

Shakespeare contrasts Macbeth and Banquo. Banquo says – ‘Restrain in me the cursed thoughts’ – which shows how he is being honourable. He does not want to betray Duncan. This is reinforced when he says ‘keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear’, emphasising his loyalty as well.

Macbeth on the other hand is full of deception and scheming. He lies about Duncan. He says he was ‘unprepared’ and that he did not entertain Duncan as much as he wished - quite in contrast to his plans of killing him. He also lies when Duncan said he dreamt about the wishes by replying – ‘I think not of them’. He then tries to recruit Banquo and force him into his plans when he says – ‘If you shall cleave to my consent… It shall make honour for you’.

Macbeth’s soliloquy – He is hallucinating about a dagger, referring it to death – ‘fatal vision’. He says that the vision is ‘proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain’. This could have a double meaning. He could mean that he is just feverish because he is nervous about what he is about to do. However, the reference to oppression could mean Lady Macbeth’s domination over his mind and his morality.

He pulls out his own dagger, telling it to ‘marshall’st’ the way to Duncan’s death. He is, in a way, personifying the dagger. It has authority power over him. It’s as if he is displacing the deed he is about to perform to the dagger. It is going to be the dagger’s fault and not his. His hallucination then intensifies as he starts seeing ‘gouts of blood’ on the imaginary dagger. This is the turning point to his speech because the dagger represents his thoughts and the blood is almost like a premonition about what is going to happen next. His mind is decided.

His speech then turns rather sinister. It’s as if the balance of his morality has altered. He thinks the evil things are good and the good things are bad which leads up to his final decision to kill the king. (Image – slowly turning evil)

Scene II:

An owl shrieking – nocturnal creature that preys on small animals
The owl shrieks while Lady Macbeth is talking. She calls it ‘the fatal bellman’ – a connotation of the deed that had just been performed. The owl could be her character, who preys on the helpless king, or even Macbeth who seems to oblige to her whims.

Macbeth shows his nervousness through the short rapid lines showing paranoia while Lady Macbeth keeps her calm and justifying everything, trying to ease Macbeth’s worries. The short lines also show how quick their conversation is going, emphasising on the suddenness of the deed and also Macbeth’s nervousness. There is an imbalance of power between both characters, Lady Macbeth taking the lead (‘Give me the daggers’, ‘Go carry them’) The imperative verbs that she uses emphasise her control.

There is a clear moral difference between both of them. Macbeth is conscience-striken. He struggles to say ‘Amen’, which suggests that his prayer is thwarted or suggests that even if he finished the deed, it will still live on and he will still carry it forever. He has self-condemned himself as he hears voices that drill into him what a horrible thing he has done. Lady Macbeth seems in control and devoid of neither conscience nor fear, as opposed to Macbeth who is full of both. As Macbeth is in shock, appalled at what he has done, Lady Macbeth’s only concern is to avoid blame.

Scene III:

The porter comes in and gives the audience a space for laughter after the very dramatic scene previously. Some may argue that this part of the scene was completely unnecessary but some of the jokes the porter makes seem to have implications of what was going on so far in the play. For example, his reference to ‘th’everlasting bonfire’ could be the damnation that Hamlet is feeling after he committed Duncan’s murder.

Macbeth shows Macduff to Duncan’s room and Macduff comes out horrified after finding out. Macbeth continues as if he doesn’t know anything. Lady Macbeth also pretends concern and amazement. There is a huge buzz around the castle and the scene seems very alert, contrary to what it was like in the past two scenes where the atmosphere has been quiet and secretive.

Macbeth uses very elaborate words to convince people that he is devastated by the news (‘renown and grace is dead’, ‘The wine of life is drawn’). His calmness and way with words completely contrast his fear and paranoia in the previous scene. Lady Macbeth faints and Macduff becomes suspicious. As the king’s son’s fear for their lives, Donaldbain says – ‘There’s daggers in men’s smiles’. The theme of deception comes up again suggesting a mysterious air in the Macbeth castle.

Scene IV:

The old man’s appearance in the play shows the event’s universality – how the murder of Duncan reflects in nature and society. It brings an outsider’s perspective into account, which is a nice break from all the royalty. It emphasises how people from the outside can still be affected by what happens with royalty. The old man’s speech also reflects on Macbeth’s soliloquy in the first scene of this act – ‘nature seems dead’. Everything is weird and strange and not how they are supposed to be. Macbeth’s deed has altered what is morally right. We also learn that Macbeth is going to be named king during this scene.

Gothic connotations – supernatural taking over?