Macbeth: Act 2

What "sign" convinces Macbeth that he must go through with killing the king?

• One of the witches appears in his bedroom.

• He has a nightmare about the murder.

• He sees a floating dagger pointing towards Duncan's bedroom.

• The ghost of his father visits him.

Answer explanation

Following the battle of Macbeth's conscience which pervades Act 1, he is eventually persuaded to kill Duncan when the apparition of a dagger appears before him. There is some debate amongst critics regarding whether or not this indicates the involvement of the witches.

"Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? / Come, let me clutch thee"

What is the signal used by Lady Macbeth to let Macbeth know it is time to kill Duncan?

• A message from the servant

• She told him

• A Smoke Signal

• Ringing a bell

Answer explanation

The ringing of the bell has an added significance to a Jacobean audience. They used to keep bells above graves, burying the strings with corpses, to ensure that if anyone was accidentally buried alive they would be able to ring the bell to attract help. As such, the ringing of bells became synonymous with death and here foreshadows Duncan's fate.

Why doesn't Lady Macbeth just kill the King herself?

• He looks too much like her father.

• She wants her husband to have all the satisfaction.

• It would contradict her morals.

• She isn't physically capable.

Answer explanation

In Act 2, Scene 2, immediately after Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth reveals that she couldn't kill Duncan as he 'resembled / [Her] father as he slept', which signifies a rare moment of compassion from this character. In drawing a physical parallel between King Duncan and her father, Lady Macbeth shows some disparity between her apparent horror or parricide (murdering ones parent) and her earlier depictions of infanticide (murdering an infant); in doing so, perhaps even Lady Macbeth recognises the violation of the Great Chain of Being which this murder causes.

Why is Lady Macbeth angry with her husband when he returns from killing Duncan?

• He killed the guards, which wasn't part of the plan

• He was being too emotional

• He forgot to leave the daggers with the guards

• He blamed her for having to kill his cousin

Answer explanation

After murdering the king, Macbeth accidentally takes the murder weapons with him. This suggests that he is in a state of panic and not thinking clearly, as he should have left the weapons behind to avoid suspicion. The fact that he unintentionally takes the murder weapons shows his lack of control and the beginning of his descent into guilt and paranoia.

Complete Macbeth's quotation: "I thought I heard a voice crying, 'Macbeth has murdered ____!'"

• Truth

• Duncan

• Honor

• Sleep

Answer explanation

This can be interpreted metaphorically, as Macbeth realises that his actions have caused him to lose his peace of mind and innocence. The word "sleep" represents the tranquility and rest that Macbeth has destroyed through his violent actions. From hereon, 'sleep' in the play becomes symbolic with innocence.

Who else does Macbeth kill that same night?

• Fleance

• The King's Watchmen

• Ross

• Lennox

Answer explanation

Macbeth kills the King's Watchmen on the same night. This is significant because it shows Macbeth's increasing paranoia and ruthlessness. By eliminating the Watchmen, Macbeth ensures that there are no witnesses to his treacherous act of murdering King Duncan. This further highlights his descent into darkness and his willingness to do whatever it takes to secure his power.

Which two of the following "unnatural" things occur after Duncan's death?

• A hawk killed an owl

• An owl killed a hawk

• It began to snow

• Duncan's prized horses escaped their stalls and ate each other

Answer explanation

The unnatural events which occur following King Duncan's murder reflect the Jacobean belief that the Great Chain of Being was subverted by Macbeth committing regicide. As a result, the natural order of things had been broken and nature begins to revolt.

The purpose of the scene with the porter is to relieve tension after a suspenseful and violent scene.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The purpose of the scene with the porter is to provide comic relief and lighten the mood after a suspenseful and violent scene. By introducing a humorous character and incorporating comedic elements, the tension is momentarily alleviated, allowing the audience to relax and recover from the intense moments. However, there are several allusions within the scene to the narrative of the play with hints surrounding Macbeth's fate.

Where does Malcolm, Duncan's son and named successor, go to hide from the murderer?

Answer explanation

In Act 2, Scene 3, both of Duncan's sons seek refuge abroad, far away from the threat of murder; Malcolm in England and Donaldbain in Ireland.

Who did the Thanes name King after Duncan's death?

• Malcolm

• Macbeth

• Macduff

• Lennox