Macbeth Act 2 scene 3 At the end

Macbeth Act 2, scene 3

• At the end of this lesson we will have studied how Macbeth presents himself immediately after the murder of Duncan. Lesson Objective

• At the end of Act 2, scene 2 there was a series of knocks that interrupted Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s clean-up of the murder. What do you suppose this could be? Starter knock

• The following roles need to be read for this scene: • • Macduff Macbeth Lennox Lady Macbeth Banquo Donalbain Malcolm Readers Theatre

Lennox: The night has been unruly: where we lay Our chimney’s were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard i’th’air, strange screams of death And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused events, New hatched to th’woful time. The obscure bird Clamboured the livelong night. Some say, the earth Was feverous and did shake. Macbeth: ‘Twas a rough night. Lennox’s Revelations

• How does Macduff react to the murder of Duncan? • What does this tell us about his character? • Macduff calls Lady Macbeth a ‘gentle lady’, and says the news is too cruel for a woman’s hearing. How is this an example of dramatic irony? Macduff

• Compare Macduff’s reference to sleep against that of Macbeth’s in the previous scene: Shake off this drowsy sleep, death’s counterfeit And look on death itself! Macduff

• Examine the way Macbeth behaves in this scene. Does he sound sincere? How could his words be shown to both hide and reveal the truth? Does he do a good job of acting innocent? Explain your response. Appearance vs Reality

Why kill the guards? !

• Examine the way Lady Macbeth behaves in this scene. Does she sound sincere? How could her actions be shown to both hide and reveal the truth? Does she do a good job of acting innocent? Explain your response. Appearance vs Reality

• Does everyone believe that the guards were the murderers? Let’s not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which false man does easy. . . Where we are There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The nearer in blood, The nearer bloody.

What is the end result of this scene? • What do we learn about: Macduff Lady Macbeth Donalbain Macbeth Banquo Malcolm