Macbeth Scene 2 act 2

Scene 2 act 2 is one of the most important scenes in the play. This is because it is the culmination of the previous events that were part of the plot to kill King Duncan. Macbeth starts off as someone who is very loyal to the King. Macbeth has the title Thane of Glamis and then is rewarded with the Thane of Cawdor because of his bravery. At first Macbeth has doubts about killing King Duncan because he sees that the king is a good leader who had the respect of his subjects throughout the land. Macbeth also felt that he was the king's kinsman, but his "vaulting ambition" and love for his wife who he refers to as "dearest partner of greatness", eventually led him to gain courage to kill the king. In scene 2 act 2 we are shown Macbeth in a state of shock and anxiety. His wife, although agitated, finally has the courage of taking charge to take the daggers back and think of a way to avoid their own actions being discovered. Macbeth realises that he has done something terrible and he knows that he can not be forgiven for what he has done. Scene 2 act 2 is set at night when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are in the courtyard of their castle in which they are the King's host for the night. Certain sounds were heard and Lady Macbeth says "I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry". All these images symbolise death and the significance of these settings is to show that Macbeth had

  • Word count: 1179
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Act 2, Scene 2 MacBeth

Nathan Corlett Macbeth Coursework In this piece of coursework I am going to respond to the questions asked. In the lead up to this scene, the audience are waiting for Macbeth to kill Duncan, they have been since the beginning of the play, when Macbeth first thought about killing Duncan. Also they have met lady Macbeth and know that she is evil. She also doubts Macbeth's courageous to carry out the murder. Therefore, the audience wonder whether he will kill Duncan or not, this builds tension. Act 2, Scene 2 is an important scene because it reinforces the relationship between Macbeth and lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth seems to be the "boss" of Macbeth and she clearly organises the murder. But Macbeth is now seen as the evil one as he commits treason. Everything that happens in the rest of the play is a result of the murder of Duncan. There is no going back for Macbeth and everyone is against him. I will now breakdown the seen and talk about different sections of it. In one of the first lines it says "It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman", It is believed that death is imminent when the owls shriek is heard and gives the audience an idea that the murder will be committed soon. Also it says "The surfeited grooms do mock their charge with snores", this implies that the grooms are almost mocking the king as they are asleep and snoring whilst the king is about to be

  • Word count: 708
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Shakespeare's Macbeth - Act 2 Scene 2.

Shakespeare's Macbeth Coursework Act 2 Scene 2 Shakespeare's Macbeth is set in Scotland. It follows Macbeth's transformation from a battle hero to a murderous tyrant. At the start of the play Macbeth feared evil and any consequences that would follow an act of immorality. He then met three weird sisters. He believed what they told him fate had planned for him. Being lead by the truth he found in the first of their predictions, he found himself thinking he would become king after King Duncan. In my chosen scene, act 2, scene 2, Macbeth's original fear is demonstrated in his hallucinations after his immoral act of murdering King Duncan. Macbeth was never willing to kill the King, for he saw him as a virtuous man and a good ruler. However Macbeth was weak and allowed Lady Macbeth to convince him that murder was the only way to fulfil his destiny. The consequences of this murder follow later in the play as the couple are driven into madness and death. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in Elizabethan times when people had a strong belief in the supernatural. It was thought that witches owned vile powers, could fly and allowed the devil to suck their blood. These beliefs are shown in the way Shakespeare has portrayed the weird sisters as witches, who purposely mislead Macbeth, bringing both him and Lady Macbeth to their deaths. In the Elizabethan times men were seen as the dominant sex,

  • Word count: 2661
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Act 2 Scenes 1&2

Macbeth Coursework: In this essay I will be looking at Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2 of Macbeth and producing a detailed analysis of the scenes, providing examples of how I would direct them and comparing this with how it may have been directed in Shakespeare's day. I will also be discussing the context in which the play was written and discussing the impact this had on Shakespeare's writing. I am setting Macbeth in the time period of which it was originally set in, the 11th century. To uphold historical accuracy, the actors will also be dressed in medieval clothing and so their outfits won't be that grand but practical and warm, broaches and smocks. The scenery that I will have will be of a built up castle with a staircase and an upper level but also a curtain to fall in front with just an empty field for front-of-tabs work when they are not near a castle. The stage will there for have to be set in open-end staging. I have kept with the original setting for many reasons: one is that people were more suspicious at that time and were a lot more likely to believe that there are witches that make psychic predictions, also less foolish that Macbeth believes them if it was set in time when people were less sceptical toward the supernatural. If it was set in modern day Macbeth would be seen as foolish to believe them and put his life at risk for things that they have said are truths.

  • Word count: 3266
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Act 2, scenes 1 and 2

(Act 2, scenes 1 and 2) In Act 2 Banquo is found with his son Fleance, in the courtyard of Macbeth's castle at "witching hour". The night is cold and dark, with fog surrounding the castles boundaries. Banquo is becoming nervous and this is evident from what he says to his son, Fleance, "Hold, take my sword. - There's husbandry in heaven, Their candles are all out. - Take thee that too." Even though it is obvious he would like to rest, he is fearful of nightmares whilst he sleeps, the following quote suggests this, "A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep; merciful powers, Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in response." As Banquo was patrolling the area he hears a noise, "Who's there?" startled and scared at this he says to Fleance, "Give me my sword." Banquo is tired and is trying to maintain full alert, showing he is on edge; listening out for any anything and everything that might occur. As Macbeth steps out of the dark, slightly visible by Banquo, Macbeth replies: "A friend" Banquo feels relieved as he can now put his mind at rest, because he has seen a friendly face at such time of night and hostile surroundings. After Macbeth had been socialising with Banquo, Banquo remembers to ask Macbeth a question that had been troubling him about the witches, "I dreamed last night of the three weird sisters; To you they

  • Word count: 1256
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Act 2 scenes 1 and 2.

Macbeth Act 2 scenes 1 and 2 GCSE coursework Shakespeare's Macbeth was written between 1603 and 1606, in the time of King James I. The play was written because King James was a past Scottish king (King James the VI) whose ancestors featured in the historical story that Macbeth was based on. It also included the supernatural, a subject that King James was fascinated by and even wrote a book on, 'Demonology'. Such supernatural points include the three witches that start the chain of events, the strange occurrences that happen after Duncan's murder and the apparitions that appear to Macbeth throughout the play. Witchcraft was believed in Shakespeare's times and being a witch was punishable by death as they were allied with Satan. The play also compliments King James as in the true story, the character Banquo (James' ancestor) was a traitor who helped Macbeth and in Shakespeare's story, Banquo was cast as a hero who was murdered by Macbeth. In this essay I will attempt to show how I would direct Act 2 scenes 1 and 2 (the ones before and after the murder of King Duncan) as a film. For scene 1 I will begin by describing the surroundings in the scene. The film will be set in the time of medieval Scotland, as it is the most appropriate time to place the play. The sky will be pitch black with very little lighting in the area, only dribbling candles and small fires. The moon will be

  • Word count: 717
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth - Directing Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2

Macbeth Coursework- Directing Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2 From the director's point of view, this scene is very dramatic because of the impact on Macbeth's decision in Act 1 scene seven. In this scene Macbeth almost decides that he has talked himself out of killing the king, but his wife Lady Macbeth has other plans and forces him into a decision that will lead to the death of the king. This affects the two scenes I will be directing because in these two scenes the decision is put into practice when Macbeth kills the king. So I have to direct the two crucial scenes that see the king murdered by Macbeth. The setting for act two scene one is in Macbeths castle. It is dark and Banquo and Fleance are in the courtyard discussing what time of day it is, and as to whether it is past midnight or not. They work out what time it is by seeing if the moon is down, and then the candles are blown out. Now it is at this point large gusts of wind are heard howling throughout the castle with thunder and lightning clashing down around the audience. Owls are heard calling and all manner of nightlife is heard. This effect is used so that the audience are made intense and unaware as to what is happening next and to create tension. The sounds would be achieved through sound effects being played over the speakers and sharp, crisp lighting would be used to symbolise the lightning. A background tune will

  • Word count: 1990
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Act 5: Scene 2 Commentary

English Commentary Final - Act 5: Scene 2 This passage is extracted from the final act (Act 5, Scene 1), where Lady Macbeth's speech publicly reveals her true nature. After having suffered from enormous pressure, Lady Macbeth's guilt is exposed. The audience has not seen Macbeth since Act 3, Scene 4, where Lady Macbeth criticises his flaws. Lady Macbeth's speech demonstrates that she cannot wipe away the blood on her hands (or her guilt); indicating that her battle to suppress her guilty conscience has failed completely. As the doctor and the gentlewoman talk about Lady Macbeth's unusual behaviour, the audience hears of a letter that she reads, "...I have seen her...take forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it..." (Act 5, Scene 1). This letter is a visual reminder of her reading the fateful letter in Act I, Scene 5 but now she reads with agitation rather than expectation. Lady Macbeth appears on stage (in a state of somnambulism) holding a candle in her hand. The audience then learns that "she has a light by her continually" which may or may not represent her phobia of the dark (or Nyctophobia). Light symbolises knowledge, which is the removal of the phobia of the unknown. It is clear to the audience that Lady Macbeth's conscience has changed. This is also a reason why her words seem incomprehensible - however, the audience are still able to

  • Word count: 788
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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Macbeth - The Dramatic Effectiveness of Act 2 Scene 2.

Macbeth The Dramatic Effectiveness of Act 2 Scene 2 Act 2 scene 2 is a pivotal scene in the downfall of Macbeth and the disintegration of Lady Macbeth. It is the scene where Macbeth commits the greatest crime of all; regicide. A Jacobean audience, and indeed James I, would have been deeply shocked and appalled by these actions so the dramatic impact of the scene is very important. Not only does it turn the noble, brave Macbeth 'Bellonna's Bridegroom'{1:2 54} into a murderer, it also contains key themes and motifs that drive the play forward. The scene comes immediately after Macbeth's famous soliloquy where he talks himself into killing Duncan. Prior to this point the audience are unsure if Macbeth would follow his wife's instructions. He dithered and she is the one we demonise as evil, 'fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty'. The alliteration and shocking metaphor is reminiscent of the witches' opening scene when they too call on evil; 'fair is foul and foul is fair'{1:1}. It's almost as if Lady Macbeth is aligning herself with the instruments of evil and this would be abhorred by the contemporary audience. Macbeth's soliloquy creates a mood of foreboding, he alone on the stage, allowing the audience access to his thoughts. The soliloquy is a dramatic convention often used by Shakespeare to enable a character to voice their most innermost

  • Word count: 1457
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Act 2 Scenes 1 & 2.

> Shakespeare builds up tension in these scenes by firstly showing a conversation between Banquo and Macbeth which clearly shows that Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth who then tries to tempt Banquo onto his side, for example "cleave to my consent" but Banquo tells him he will stay loyal to Duncan, for instance "allegiance clear". He also lets Macbeth know that he dreamt of the Witches. When Macbeth replied, "I think not of them", Banquo is suspicious because after the witches prediction came true that he'd become Thane of Cawdor, he does not believe that Macbeth would not be hoping the prediction to become King would also come true. > After Banquo, Fleance and the torch-bearer leave, Macbeth dismisses his servant, which leaves him alone and in the dark courtyard. While Macbeth waits for the bell to ring to let him know the time is right for to kill Duncan, in the darkness he starts hallucinating and sees a dagger in front of him for example "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?" This makes Macbeth uneasy, as he knows he will be using a dagger, like the one he can see, to kill Duncan soon. > Lady Macbeth has drunken and drugged Duncan's bodyguards, she doesn't know if they will live or die as she has drugged them so much for instance "That death and nature do contend about them, whether they live or die". As the body guards drift off into a

  • Word count: 606
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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