Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 Analysis

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Act 2, scene 2 is quite an important scene in Macbeth, since it marks the changes of the characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their thoughts and emotions are presented in this particular scene. It shows the different roles that they play and how much they have been influenced by the witches’ prophecies. Lady Macbeth claims to be courageous in the beginning of the scene, by saying ‘that which hath made them drunk made me bold’. She seems to be very keen about this murder and very confident, and the fact that she was alone on stage emphasises it. Her ambition and passion to get to power would make the Jacobean audience disapprove since Lady Macbeth is going against women’s stereotypes where they’re seen as weak and frail and what Lady Macbeth is doing is very uncommon. Her being alone on stage also shows how she doesn’t need Macbeth to help her or guide her, which again goes against women’s stereotypes since they had to be obedient and under a man’s protection. Having just killed Duncan- who wasn’t just king of Scotland but was a good man; Macbeth is unsurprisingly feeling guilty and is profoundly remorseful, as he has a clear conscious, when he goes back to his wife. Phrases like “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? ” show that he is admitting to the crime he just committed but is still nervous and a little jumpy, as is Lady Macbeth, as he’s coming back he says ‘who 's there? what, ho!’ Macbeth is showing clear signs of paranoia as his mind is slowly