oWhen Lady Macbeth says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”, what does she mean? Who are “them” and why should she want them to be drunk?
oWhat elaborate plans has she arranged for the murder?
oSometimes Shakespeare shows killing onstage (mostly at the end of the play). Why, in your view, is the killing of Duncan not shown, but understood to happen offstage?
Why the murder takes place off
So that our attention is focused firmly on:
othe murderers and not on the murdered
othe effect of the murder on M and LM
oLM’s imaginary commentary (“He is about it. The doors are open…”)
-stage.
oHow is Macbeth’s mind affected by the murder of Duncan?
oWho is more practical after the killing, Macbeth or his wife? Can you think of reasons for this?
Macbeth’s reaction
oNot what we would expect of a cold-blooded assassin
oIn a state of deep shock at what he has just done
oOverwhelmed by fear, anxiety, guilt and remorse.
oAs if in a trance
oCannot focus his thoughts
oRambles on about the details he cannot erase from his mind
oUtterly horrified that he could not pronounce the blessing ‘Amen”
oIgnores wife’s instructions to abandon such thoughts
oContinues with strange account of the ‘voice’
Lady M’s reaction
oRelieved that the murder has been done
oQuickly tries to bring M back to his senses
oDismisses his fears
oTells him not to dwell “so deeply” on such things
oWarns M that to do so will make them “mad”
oConcerned with practical necessities – wash away evidence of blood, have daggers returned, according to her plan.
oAngry that M lacks her sense of urgency, determination and clear-thinking
oAfter returning from D’s room
oLM smeared with blood
oEven more contemptuous of M
oCompletely in control
oConcerned with essential details (return to room, change into nightgown)
oCasually dismisses the danger of guilt
Saturday, October 07, 2006;
the end
the end