Act II of Macbeth

II.1
Banquo, Fleance and Macbeth are having a conversation. Banqou mentions that he dreamt of the witches last night, ‘I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters’. They leave and Macbeth has a soliloquy whilst he makes his way to Duncan’s chamber. He seems jumpy and frightened about everything including himself. He envisions an imaginary dagger, ‘I have thee not yet I still thee still’ proving how unsound he is.

II.2
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth console each other after Macbeth has murdered the king. Macbeth is deeply disturbed by what he has done although the Lady seems unfazed by it all. She goes to smear the blood over the other slain guards in order to frame them for the murder, yet even after her hands are covered with blood just like Macbeth's she still doesn't care, 'My hands are of your colour: but I shame to wear a heart so white'. They both retire to their chamber as there is a knocking coming from the door. 'I hear a knocking at the south entry: retire we to our chamber'





II.3


A porter enters the room followed by Macduff and Lennox, they have a fairly comical conversation. Macbeth enters. Macduff asks him about his day and then Macbeth shows him to the kings chamber. Lennox and Macbeth continue to have a conversation until Macduff re-enters after finding the King murdered, 'O horror, horror, horror'

Macbeth acts oblivious and ventures to see what is wrong with Lennox who is also horror stricken.

Directors Blog

After acting out act 1 scene 4 I feel I have a much better interpretation of what is happening. Macbeth and Banquo enter the Kings court after Malcolm informs the King of their trials and conquests in battle.
The king entitles Malcom as the Prince of Cumberland which Macbeth does not seem very enthralled about. After he says his farewells he plots aside about how he must 'o'erleap' the Prince because ' In his way it lies'. He tells the audience that he has 'black and deep desires', foreshadowing that something bad is going to happen.

I imagined that the scene took place in the royal palace, the Kings quarters. Every one was well dressed in usual rich old fashion and all of the cast bowed before the king, possibly kissing a ring on his hand whilst doing so.

Notes on Macbeth

One of the most obvious gothic elements throughout Macbeth is the strong sense of death. The surroundings of the play are very dark and dreary which is a classic way of portraying that something bad is going to happen.

I.1
Introduction. Witches set the scene with a song.

I.2
Soldiers return injured from war and tell us of Macbeth and Banquo and their heroic deeds.

I.3
Witches tell Macbeth that they have forseen his future and him as king. Part of their premonition comes true as Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor.

I.4
Macbeth meets the King who congratulates him on his impressive work on the battle field.

I.5
Lady Macbeth reads a letter that Macbeth has sent about the witches and their proficies. She has a monologue about how she wishes to have more power like the men are recognised to have 'unsex me here'. She plots on how they shall kill King Duncan.

What Is Literature?

I believe that literature is whatever somebody interprets it to be, as long as it's some form of writing. Whether it is a novel, report or diary entry I think that it still counts as literature because someone has put thought or purpose behind the piece of writing and after all, isn't that all that literature is? A thought that has been written down in order for someone to read and think about themselves.