GRADE 12 FAL

‘Macbeth’ – William Shakespeare

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 » The act opens with a storm –
Act II summary: foreboding
Scene One » Banquo and his son (Fleance) are
Building to the climax talking. Banquo exposes his concern
» Foreboding
» Macbeth enters the scene and claims to
be a “friend” (l. 11)
» Dramatic irony
» Foreboding
» Banquo questions Macbeth, but does
not suspect his friend as of yet
» Macbeth makes a dramatic
monologue
Act II summary: » Macbeth’s dramatic monologue:
» We are introduced to see the theme of
Scene One appearance vs reality
» Macbeth imagines a dagger before him
» The dagger represents his ambition,
but its fickleness (because it is not
real) represents his hesitation
» A lot of reference to mythology:
» Hecate: head witch
» Tarquin: a Roman king who crept through
the night to rape his host, a woman
named Lucrece
 » Lady Macbeth opens the scene, having
Act II summary: completed part of her plan (making the guards
drunk)
Scene Two » There is fear present, however. Macbeth hears
his wife and asks “Who’s there” (l. 8) and Lady
Macbeth is also worried
» When they come to realise who was there, their
partner, they relax but they are still a bit worried
» There is blood on Macbeth’s hands, which is a
symbol of his guilt
» They were nearly caught by Malcom and
Donalbain
» This is a climactic moment, as Macbeth is
forever changed: he can no longer “pronounce
‘Amen’” (l. 31)
» But Lady Macbeth begs him not to focus on this
 » Despite Lady Macbeth’s confidence, she is
Act II summary: concerned that her husband will betray their
Scene Two crime
» She notices her husband is weak so she takes
it upon herself to frame the guards
» There is more reference to mythology
» Neptune – god of the sea
» Lady Macbeth’s hands are now also covered
in blood – showing she is equally guilty
» Macbeth accepts that he is never going to be
the same
» “To know my deed, ‘twere best not to know
myself” (l.73)
» There is a knocking from outside the castle
 BAIE
DANKIE

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