Macbeth active reading notes: Act II

Scenes 1-2

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” -Macbeth, act ii, scene 2

Blood freshly flowing from his dagger clutching hands, he did it...and so it begins. Reluctant to the very end scene one begins with a blatant symbol of Macbeth's hesitation as he begins to per curve floating blood soaked daggers just out of reach. Indeed Macbeth may not have even done the deed where it without his Misses persistent boding, lust for blood. Living with high status, reputation under a generous relatively virtuous ruler, Macbeth's hesitation is imaginable but Lady Macbeth's insatiable thirst for more power unimaginably greater. The quote above characterizes Macbeth's unease just staring down at his blood soaked hands...this my friends is the beginning. An interesting note: are we going to see Shakespeare employ more preternatural forces or psychological machination a further on ever increasing in their intensity as our "hero" progresses? Thus far this seems (IMO) to be Shakespeare's most compelling/highly technically complex prose can't wait to read what's next!


Scenes 3-4

"The horror!"

Arriving to visit Duncan, the other lords shriek and cower in horror at the sight of their murdered king. Fainting in feint horror Lady Macbeth's cunning only serves to further evade the Macbeth's potential suspicions. Killing the chamberlains in "uncontrollable rage", Macbeth so to tries his best to hide their guilt but Shakespeare's deliberate shift in tone, diction, the characters rhetoric to terse, curtailed responses only serves as a means for the reader to observe his persisting fear/mounting guilt. I'm really enjoying Shakespeare's use of subtle characterization in Macbeth whether it be directly thru character speech or indirect implied symbols like the dagger connoting and continuing Shakespeare's thematic signature of melodrama. Another Shakespearean trademark, the master craftsmanship of mood via a foreboding tone and the technique of foreshadowing symbolism like that of Malcolm's dying horse, falcon killed by a hawk, etc. further supports the inevitable future confrontation between Macbeth and Duncan's rightful heirs. My only question as of now is how horribly Macbeth and his Lady's end, their foretold fates, undoubtedly be...