NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Macbeth, Act ii ~ Plot Summary Scene 1: Macbeth? s Castle, The courtyard-There are no stars in the sky, Banquo is with France, then Macbeth joins them. Banquo tells Macbeth that the King is very grateful for the hospitality shown to him. Banquo says that he dreamed of the witches, Macbeth replies with a barefaced lie, saying that he hasn? t that about them at all. Macbeth tries to tempt Banquo into betraying the King, but Banquo will have none of it.
Then Macbeth is left on his own and he hallucinates about seeing a dagger, guiding him the way that he was going-towards Duncan? s chamber to kill him. A he approaches the chamber his thoughts become filled with evil images. A bell rings and he goes to do the deed. Key Phrases: ? There?
s husbandry in heaven? ? Banquo says that they economise in heaven, because there are no stars. ? Thou marshall? st me the way that I was going? Macbeth believes that the dagger he sees guides him towards Duncan? s chamber.
Scene 2: Macbeth? s Castle, Near Duncan? s Room-Lady M is exhilarated by drink, she has that she has drugged the drinks of Duncan? s bodyguards, but that she is worried that Macbeth won? t have gone through with the murder. He returns to tell her that he has.
Macbeth is worried because he could not say? Amen? after he had murdered Duncan, what he had done deserves no blessing. Also he is hearing voices saying that he has murdered sleep, which may be telling us that he has killed tranquillity. That he shall not ever get any more rest. Lady M says that he is being foolish and tells him that he must return the daggers to the scene of the murder.
He says he can? t look on what has done again so she returns them. Knocking frightens Macbeth, Lady M tells him to pull himself together. Key Phrases: ? That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold; /What hath quenched them, hath given me fire? -Lady M saying that the drink she has had has given her power and that the same has made others drunk. ?
A foolish thought to say a sorry sight? -Lady M telling M that he is being foolish. ? These deeds must not be thought/After these ways; so, it will make us mad? -Another example of the above. Lady M trying to control M, to calm him down. ? The multitudinous seas incarnadine? -M thinks that he will turn all the seas red if he tries to wash his hands in them. ?
My hands are of your colour, but I shame/To wear a heart so white? -Lady M saying that she too now has blood on her hands, and that she is ashamed for them to be so as she has a clear conscience, because she was not the murderer. ? Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst? -M telling the person knocking at the gate to try and wake Duncan, saying also that he wishes that Duncan could wake up. He regrets the murder instantly. Scene 3: Macbeth? s porter imagines that he is the keeper of the gates of hell rather than of M? s castle, he s drunk.
He then opens the gate to Macduff who he talks to about the effects of drink. M enters and Macduff says that he has come to meet Duncan. M takes him to Duncan? s chamber.
Then he talks to Lennox about the strange events in the night. It should be noticed that his reply is so very short and abrupt, compared to the long description that Lennox gives. He is trying not to draw attention to himself, but in doing that he may have the opposite effect. Macduff returns from Duncan? s chamber horrified, he reveals the murder and tells M and Lennox to go and look for themselves, then he shouts to awake Banquo and the king?
s sons. Lady M and Banquo enter. Banquo asks Macduff to say that it? s not true.
M and Lennox enter; M talks a lot, saying that Duncan? s death empties the world of meaning. The Duncan? s sons enter and hear the news from Macduff.
M says he killed the bodyguards and defends this by saying that he was in a rage, yet what he says in line 83 and onwards is not what a man in a rage would say. Then Lady M faints to draw attention away from the murder. Malcolm and Donaldbain, fear that they too will follow in their father? s footsteps. Banquo says that they should go and get dressed and then investigate the murder. Everyone agrees that this is a good idea.
The sons decide to flee, Malcolm to England and Donaldbain to Ireland. Key Phrases: ? ? The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood/Is stopped, the very source of it is stopped? -M telling Duncan? s sons that their father is dead. ?
This murderous shaft that? s shot/Hath not yet lighted? -Malcolm, saying that he and Donaldbain are going to be next to be killed if the person who killed Duncan wants to get rid of the King? s of Scotland Scene 4: Outside Macbeth? s Castle-an old man is talking to Ross about the strange goings on, the night of Duncan? s murder.
They mention that there is no sun, that an owl killed a falcon and that Duncan? s horses ate each other. Everything is UPSIDE DOWN! Macduff enters and says that Macbeth killed the murderers (the bodyguards). Then he says that Duncan? s sons have fled and that now they are suspected of bribing the killers.
Says that Macbeth will become King and that he has gone to be crowned in Scone, but he will not go to see M crowned, Macduff leaves. Key Phrases: ? That would make good of bad, and friends of foes? -Old man in his farewell to Macduff-will Macduff be the one who fixes everything, who puts the world back round the right way? 340
Free research essays on topics related to: draw attention, king , sons, duncan , macbeth
Research essay sample on Duncan Macbeth
