1. With what words does Banquo reaffirm his loyalty to King Duncan?
2. What lie does Macbeth tell Banquo and why?
3. How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth differ in their reactions to the murder?
4. Who are Macbeth's other victims? Why does he commit more murders?
5. Considering journal entry number 3, what are some recurring motifs in Act 2?
CARTER
ReplyDelete1) He affirms his loyalty with the words "Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to in repose," (II.i.7-10). He is praying that he can restrain his want to force the predictions of the witches into action, as they would infringe upon the wants of the king and the people.
2) He tells Banquo, "I think not of them," (II.i.22). He tells this to throw off suspicion that he is trying to enact the prophecies. This is going along with the plan to frame the murder on the chamberlains.
3) While Lady Macbeth is stoic and stalwart in the murder, Macbeth begins to freak out. it starts with "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle towards my hand?" (II.i.34-5). He starts hallucinating, and begins to wonder if they can succeed. Lady Macbeth assures him of this, and chastises him for worrying that the blood will never leave his hands.
4) Macbeth's other victims (at this point) are the chamberlains. He claims "Oh, yet I do repents me of my fury, that I did kill them," (II.iii.108-9). He really does this to cover up, in case the alcohol did not take full effect and they have memories of what really happened.
5) Some recurring motifs throughout the Act, and the entire play for that matter, are blood and manhood. Blood comes up as a symbol of guilt, from the framing of guilt upon the chamberlains with the bloody knives, to the thought of Macbeth that the blood on his hand would never be washed away.
CARTER
ReplyDelete1) Banquo represents the path of good in this play. He reappears later as a phantasm of Macbeth's mind, showing him what could have been if he did not become a tyrant for power.
2) This deceit later helps Macbeth, as Banquo is not aware of the danger he poses to Macbeth. Little does he know that Macbeth remembers his descendants will be kings, so Macbeth has to remove them to keep his throne.
3) Lady Macbeth's chastising of Macbeth later becomes ironic, as she imagines that there is blood on her hands, even though she was not even the one who committed the murder. As it is not real, the blood cannot be washed off, and she later *spoiler* commits suicide because of her guilt.
4) This act, however, creates some suspicion, mostly among Macduff, who does not believe that Macbeth is as kind and noble as he plays he is. this later becomes important, as Macduff eventually turns on Macbeth and attempts to remove the tyrant he has become.
5) Manhood also comes up in the difference between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is worrisome and is afraid to do the deed, which are, in this time, womanly fears. His lady, on the other hand, plots the entire thing and almost commits the deed herself, having the audacity and ambition often reserved to men.
CARTER
ReplyDelete1) Banquo's loyalties eventually end him. Macbeth realizes that the witches prophecies will give Banquo the true victory, so he must stop that from happening.
2) Later in the sentence, Macbeth asks Banquo to talk about the prophecies as a later time, presumably when it is time for Banquo to exit stage left.
3) Later in the story, the two reactions switch their characters. Lady Macbeth becomes nervous and worrisome, and Macbeth becomes an unshakable kind with an iron fist.
4) Macbeth has other victims, though he does not kill them. His victims are Malcolm and Donalbain, who through fear and trickery, force them to flee and abdicate their right to the throne, and indeed throw suspicion onto them.
5) Another recurring point is the prophecy. It is what drives the character's actions, from the murder of Duncan to the attack on Banquo. Another prophecy is later revealed, and its words bring the end of the story into action.
1. In Act 2 Scene 3, after the word has gotten out about the murderings and Banquo is informed he says: "Too cruel anywhere. Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict myself and say it is not so." I think this is a change in Banquo's character and that he is reaffirming his loyalty when he says "contradict myself and say it is not so."
ReplyDelete2. Macbeth lies to Banquo about thinking about the witches. Banquo first says, " All's well. I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters. To you they have showed some truth." and then MAcbeth says, "I think not of them..."(45). Banquo is explaining that he has been having dreams of the witches and points out that they did tell them true facts about Macbeth. Macbeth says that he isn't htinking of them at all when he really is.
3. There is a big difference between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's reactions to the murder. Lady Macbeth continues to act as she did before the murder being unfeeling and cold. Macbeth was upset and astonished about what he did. Macbeth looks at his hands and says, "This is a sorry sight.", but Lady Macbeth corrects him and says, "A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight." (49).
Lauren Steiner
3. Macbeth goes on, "Still it cried "Sleep no more!" to all the house; "Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more." (51). and Lady Macbeth, "Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength to think so brainsickly of things. Go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hand." Everything Lady Macbeth says seems indifferent about the whole situation while MAcbeth seems as though he is traumatized.
ReplyDeleteLauren Steiner
4. Macbeth's other victims are the chamberlains. I think he killed them to prevent people from thinking it was him and to cast blame. He even confessed to killing them when Duncan's dead body was found: "Oh, yet i do repent me of my fury, that i did kill them." (63).
ReplyDelete5. I think one of the main motifs of Act 2 is for sure blood. This is the Act where so many people die. i also think a common theme is honesty and loyalty. Honesty being telling everyone the truth, which i guess doesn't happen so i guess the theme could be dishonesty haha. Macbeth tried to be loyal to his wife and to his good friends, but was conflicted with each.
Lauren Steiner
1. When Banquo speaks of King Duncan in Act 2 he shows a different kinder side. He starts by telling Macbeth about the diamond that Duncan gave Lady Macbeth and tells Macbeth: "By the name of most kind hostess, and shut up in measureless content." (43).
ReplyDelete2. Macbeth gets sketchy and unpredictable in this Act. It could be considered lying when Macbeth talks of killing Duncan after Banquo talks so nice of him and does not expect Macbeth to be thinking of killing him: "I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell." (47).
Lauren Steiner
CARTER
ReplyDeleteTo Lauren: I like how you added the quote about Macbeth murdering sleep. However, I don't think he murdered the chamberlains to prevent others from thinking it was him as much as to prevent them from saying anything they may remember, and to show some sort of negative, dreading emotion from it.
ROY-
ReplyDelete1. “So I love none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counseled.” (Shakespeare, 2.1, 27-30)
2. “I think not of them, yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, we would spend it in some words upon that business, if you would grant the time.” (Shakespeare, 2.1 22-25)
3. Macbeth- “One cried ‘Glod bless us!’ and ‘Amen!’ the other, as they had seen me with these hangman’s hands. List’ning their fear, I could not say ‘Amen’ when they did say ‘God bless us!’” Lady Macbeth- “Consider it not so deeply…” (Shakespeare, 2.2 30-34)
4. Macbeth kills the guards that were present during the murder, as to cover up his deeds by making sure that they would have no recollection of what happened that night.
5. Foreshadowing is a major Motif that is ever-present within the story and once again recurs in Act 2. Also, the heavy presence of Lady Macbeth is very abundant in Act 2 as well.
ROY-
ReplyDelete1. Banquo declares his allegiance by rebuking Macbeth's request for him to go against the King's wishes. He states that his heart is still loyal to king duncan no matter the circumstances. He does this in the face of Macbeth, his most trusted ally.
2. Macbeth tries to shift the blame of the witches and the murder off of him by denying the profesy. He tries to ignore/dismiss the witches in an effort to take the stench off of himself. He does this to clear his guilt and to foster suspicion on the other parties at hand.
3. Macbeth begins to become paranoid after the murder. He begins seeing things not normally seen by the sane. He also begins halleucinating and becoming very paranoid. Lady Macbeth, as shown in the quote above, is very calm and clear about things. She tries to calm Macbeth down and sees Macbeth as a week spouse.
4. Macbeth kills the Chamber men in order to be sure that they would not provide evidence that he did in fact commit the murder. He portrays this killing as his rage taking over him when he found Duncan lying on the ground.
ROY-
ReplyDeleteTo Lauren:
5. I love the point that you bring up about blood beinga major motif in the second act. Blood has never been so present as it has been now in any literature that we have read up to this point. I think blood is at the cornerstone of this act/scene and should be recognized. I'm glad that you posted something about it, as I would have missed it completely if you didn't!
CARTER
ReplyDeleteTo Roy: I like how you say that Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth as weak and that he should be better. I also like how you stated that Banquo defied Macbeth's wishes to his face, making the point even more poignant.
Amelia
ReplyDelete1) "In seeking to augment it, but still keep/ My bosom franchised and allegiance clear"
2) "I think not of them" is what Macbeth states to dismiss Banquo's thoughts about the Weird sisters. Macbeth is attempting to take away power from the witches and give it to himself, while also turning suspicion away from himself by insinuating he doesn't want the power all that much
4) He ends up murdering the two guards to cover up what he has done. He is afraid they might remember something, and he claims that he killed them out of grief and anger over Duncan's murder.
Amelia
ReplyDelete1) Well, its pretty obvious that Lady Macbeth wears the pants in their relationship. Even though she is supposed to be the quiet, polite housewife, she is the driving force behind these actions! Because of this, currently Lady Macbeth is calm and collected, but it is obvious that will fall apart soon. Macbeth on the other hand, is a mess. Hallucinating, scrubbing his hands, freaking out in general, the whole nine yards. As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become more and more power hungry, they'll just drag each other down till there's nothing left.
Amelia
ReplyDeleteWhoops! That's actually question three.
What can I say? Numbers are hard.
ANYWAY. On to question cinco.
5)"Things are not always as they seem"
It pops up everywhere. The witches practically preach about it. "Fair is foul and foul is fair". The hallucinations Macbeth has is the epitome of this, he sees a dagger that isn't actually there. He's trying to take power that he thinks should be his, but isn't. In Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's relationship, to those around them it would seem that Macbeth is the stronger of the two, the one who leads the relationship, while it is actually Lady Macbeth who controls it all. Even the murder of Duncan falls into this motif. A war hero and his wife murder a beloved king? Never! They do not seem to be murderers, but they are.
CARTER
ReplyDeleteTo Amelia: I like you answer to number 3, and how they will drag each other down. I also like how you add that to the public, Macbeth has no reason to perform the deed. But on number 5, Is the power is not his, how does he have it? He was voted king by the council, does that not make the power his legitimately?
Amelia
ReplyDeleteTo Carter: It goes hand in hand with Macbeth hallucinating the dagger and not being able to grab it. He sees the power, he wants the power, he thinks he has the power, but it will always elude him.
1. Banquo goes back to being on Duncan's side. It is both foreshadowing and ironic when he says "So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear, i shall be counseled." (45).
ReplyDelete2. Macbeth obviously lies when he says that he has not been thinking of the "three Weird Sisters" at all, when Banquo says he has.
3. Macbeth reacts by feeling horrible and convinced that someone heard or knew it was him while Lady Macbeth is not sad or scared of anything and is just as for it as she was before. Macbeth shows this when saying: "To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself." (53).
4. Macbeth kills the chamberlains to confuse everyone even more and so it is not just directed towards Duncan. it will also keep people wondering about the chamberlains before they even know Duncan was killed. Then i think Lady Macbeth made it seem as though the chamberlains did it because Lennox says, "Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done't. Their hands and faces were all badged with blood; So were their daggers, which unwiped we found upon their pillows." (63).
5. When i think of recurring motifs i think of hands and blood. They symbolize what happened with hands resembling guilt, action, and trust and blood being the reoccurring result.
Lauren Steiner
To Amelia
ReplyDelete4. i agree that he killed the guards as a cover, but i was very confused as to why or what happened when he told everyone he did it. It would make sense that he would kill them over grief and anger so i think that is a very good point.
To Roy
5. i never thought of foreshadowing as being a motif but i guess it is when thinking back along with irony.
Lauren Steiner