Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 | Shakespeare Learning Zone

Duncan is Dead

Act 2 Scene 2 – Key Scene

In this scene, Macbeth returns from murdering Duncan, alarmed that he heard a noise. Lady Macbeth dismisses his fears and sees that he has brought the guards' daggers with him, rather than planting them at the scene of the crime. She tells him to return the daggers but he refuses and Lady Macbeth goes instead. While she is gone, someone begins to knock on the door of the castle. Lady Macbeth returns with bloody hands and reassures Macbeth that they just need to wash and get into bed so that they do not get caught.

You can take a look at the scene here. Using the following steps, remember to look at it line by line and if you’re looking at the scene for the first time, don’t worry if you don’t understand everything at once.

• Look

  Take a look at the scene. Who has the most lines? How are the shared lines used? Actors at the RSC often put the language into their own words to help them understand what they are saying. We’ve added some definitions (in green), questions (in red) and paraphrased some sections (in blue) to help with this. You can click on the text that is highlighted for extra guidance.

  Close Enter MACBETH. Macbeth I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? Lady Macbeth I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak? Close

  Owls are nocturnal and traditionally seen as birds of darkness.

  Macbeth When? Close

  These lines are all shared lines, in which Lady Macbeth and Macbeth share lines of iambic pentameter and ask each other questions. What does this tell you about them, how they feel and what might be happening around them? What do their short replies show you?

  Lady Macbeth Now. Macbeth As I descended? Lady Macbeth Ay. Macbeth Hark – Who lies i’th’ second chamber? Lady Macbeth Donalbain. Macbeth This is a sorry sight. Lady Macbeth A foolish thought, To say a sorry sight. Close

  It is silly to think about regret. This is a positive act for us.

  Macbeth There’s one did laugh in’s sleep, And one cried ‘Murder’, that they did wake each other. I stood and heard them. But they did say their prayers, And addressed them again to sleep. Close

  Who is Macbeth scared of here and why? What might make him afraid?

  Lady Macbeth There are two lodged together. Macbeth One cried ‘God bless us’, and ‘Amen’ the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands; List’ning their fear, I could not say ‘Amen’, When they did say 'God bless us’. Close

  When they saw me with the blood on my hands like an executioner, the men were scared and cried out to God, but I could not say the last word of the prayer in response.

  Lady Macbeth Consider it not so deeply. Macbeth But wherefore could not I pronounce ‘Amen‘? I had most need of blessing, and ‘Amen‘ Stuck in my throat. Lady Macbeth These deeds must not be thought After these ways: so, it will make us mad. Macbeth Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more; Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast’. Close

  What do you think causes Macbeth to hear the voice?

  Close

  Sleep repairs the damage of the day, in the same way you might sew back the edge of sleeve that has frayed. It is like a relaxing bath at the end of a tiring work day.

  Lady Macbeth What do you mean? Macbeth Still it cried ‘Sleep no more’ to all the house: ‘Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more – Macbeth shall sleep no more’. Lady Macbeth Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength to think So brain-sickly of things – Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there – go carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. Close

  You are weakening yourself by thinking in such an anxious way.

  Macbeth I’ll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again, I dare not. Lady Macbeth Infirm of purpose; Give me the daggers; the sleeping, and the dead, Are but as pictures, ’tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. Exit LADY MACBETH. (Text edited for rehearsals by Polly Findlay and Zoe Svendsen)
• Listen Read the scene aloud. Are there any words or lines that really stand out? Who seems more in control during the scene?
• Watch Take a look at the actors performing this scene. How do the characters come across in this version?

  Play scene in performance

• Imagine Explore some images from this scene in past versions of Macbeth at the RSC. Which sets and staging choices feel right to you?