Macbeth Act 2 Analysis
How Shakespeare explores ideas about guilt in this extract and play as a whole
In this essay I will evaluate how Shakespeare explores the ideas of guilt within Act II Scene II and the extract as a whole. We have been introduced to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, furthermore, we have been introduced to the Murder and guilt in the environment. This scene is essential to the plot because the scene produces and develops the character of Macbeth and shows the reaction and effect the murder has put on Lady Macbeth.
Act 2 Scene 2 shows that Macbeth is full of onus. In this scene Shakespeare uses a fragmented line structure to denote a sense of urgency in Macbeth who is haunted by the knowledge that he will never again rest easy in his own bed, Macbeth constantly …show more content…
He resolves to ‘go no more’ due to his fear ‘to think what I have done’ while wondering ‘will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/clean from my hand?’. Macbeth’s second concern is the bloodiness of the deed and specifically the fact that his own hands bear witness to the unnatural deed of murder. Macbeth is aware of the deep stain beneath the surface and is unable to rid himself of this crime. The mention of Neptune can be used to criticize or sympathize towards Macbeth; Neptune is the God of Sea, and Macbeth’s appeal to this deity indicates his acceptance that he has moved irreconcilably away from God and the Christian realm, which can be critical as it shows Macbeth making no real effort to appease and instead seeking out a new overseer. It could however arouse sympathy as it shows Macbeth as one who cannot even receive redemption from God and thus is in a hopeless position. His lack of sleep similarly presents him as a distressed individual. In addition, he shows significant psychological distress as he is affected by a knocking at the door, ‘wake Duncan with thy knocking’. Macbeth is full of regret, he wishes Duncan will wake up by knocking on the door but he knows he can’t. Macbeth is reduced from a gallant warrior to a frail and susceptible murderer. The noise is partly the knocking of his frantic conscience and partly an exterior knocking, symbolically, the knocking is the knocking of justice, or of
In this essay I will evaluate how Shakespeare explores the ideas of guilt within Act II Scene II and the extract as a whole. We have been introduced to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, furthermore, we have been introduced to the Murder and guilt in the environment. This scene is essential to the plot because the scene produces and develops the character of Macbeth and shows the reaction and effect the murder has put on Lady Macbeth.
Act 2 Scene 2 shows that Macbeth is full of onus. In this scene Shakespeare uses a fragmented line structure to denote a sense of urgency in Macbeth who is haunted by the knowledge that he will never again rest easy in his own bed, Macbeth constantly …show more content…
He resolves to ‘go no more’ due to his fear ‘to think what I have done’ while wondering ‘will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/clean from my hand?’. Macbeth’s second concern is the bloodiness of the deed and specifically the fact that his own hands bear witness to the unnatural deed of murder. Macbeth is aware of the deep stain beneath the surface and is unable to rid himself of this crime. The mention of Neptune can be used to criticize or sympathize towards Macbeth; Neptune is the God of Sea, and Macbeth’s appeal to this deity indicates his acceptance that he has moved irreconcilably away from God and the Christian realm, which can be critical as it shows Macbeth making no real effort to appease and instead seeking out a new overseer. It could however arouse sympathy as it shows Macbeth as one who cannot even receive redemption from God and thus is in a hopeless position. His lack of sleep similarly presents him as a distressed individual. In addition, he shows significant psychological distress as he is affected by a knocking at the door, ‘wake Duncan with thy knocking’. Macbeth is full of regret, he wishes Duncan will wake up by knocking on the door but he knows he can’t. Macbeth is reduced from a gallant warrior to a frail and susceptible murderer. The noise is partly the knocking of his frantic conscience and partly an exterior knocking, symbolically, the knocking is the knocking of justice, or of