English 12 Assignment 10 Macbeth 1. Lady Macbeth has many strengths but being persuasive is her biggest asset.

Duncan's death would have not been sought out if Lady Macbeth did not convince Macbeth to do so. Lady Macbeth's weakness is being condescending and hypocritical. For example, after the murder, she makes Macbeth return the bloody daggers but he is unable to do so. She is willing to accept the reward but never takes the risk involved to achieve it. Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to do all the dirty work and only believes the outcome will be good, but if he fails, it will be assured that they both go down together. 2. The most memorable mental picture formed from reading Act 2, Scene 3 was Shakespeares Porter, who begins by having an entire, humorous conversation with himself at the knock on the gate. He sees himself as the gatekeeper at hell, and various crooked criminals are making their way in. But, it is when MacDuff and Lennox arrive that the conversation gets very funny. The Porter admits that he has had a long night drinking. He further explains that drinking causes three problems: Marry nose-painting, sleep, and urine. But his best line is It provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. 3. Before the murder, Macbeth strictly opposed the killing Duncan and wanted nothing to do with it. "Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood, and his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature. Duncan was near to Macbeth's heart, for Macbeth loved Duncan, but with the help of Lady Macbeth, he seems to be consumed with power and the prophecy of the witches. After the murder, he seems nervous and not thinking clearly, he has not fully taken in the extent of his act. Then, he pulls himself together and within a short while he is off to be crowned king! I do not feel sympathy for Macbeth because it was not the right thing to do, greed and persuasiveness was what made him do it. There is nothing noble in his mission to kill the king to fulfill the wild prophecy. 4. Guilt has overcome the new king and queen, for Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are unhappy because of the choices they made to get to this point. Duncan's death remains on their minds and are now consumed with guilt for have killing an innocent friend that meant no harm. Not only that, but what started as one murder to become King has turned into many murders with more being arranged. They both cannot seem to get over the heart wrenched guilt that fills them. Further, the knowledge that Banquos sons are next in line for the throne is very unsettling to the MacBeths because it kind of suggests that there is only one way that is going to happen! 5. This active imagination reveals that Macbeth is haunted by his own guilt and truly knows that what he did was not right. The murder has done more harm than good, leading to multiple murders. Macbeths

monkey mind, or head full of scorpions represent his own guilt and conflict over committing the murders. He is literally being haunted by his deeds.