Questions and Answers
What does Lady Macbeth want to do before the feast?
Speak to her husband
What is Macbeth's fear in this scene?
His fear of Banquo and Fleance
What does Lady Macbeth scold Macbeth for?
Staying alone and dwelling on their actions
Why is this scene important?
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Who is the key character in this scene?
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Lady Macbeth controls Macbeth's actions in this scene.
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What does Macbeth mean by 'O, full of scorpions is my mind'?
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Study Notes
Summary of Act 3 Scene 2
- Lady Macbeth feels anxious and unsettled as she awaits Macbeth; insecurity plagues both characters.
- Macbeth scolds Lady Macbeth for her worry and his own obsessive thoughts about their past actions.
- Plans for the feast include praising Banquo, but Macbeth reveals his fear of Banquo and Fleance.
- Macbeth hints at committing another heinous act but keeps the details from Lady Macbeth, asking her to commend him later.
Importance of the Scene
- Macbeth's character deepens in evil as he prepares for further wrongdoing; Duncan's death has led to his torment.
- Nightmares haunt Macbeth, indicating his psychological decline and contrast with Duncan's peace in death.
- Lady Macbeth's influence wanes; she shifts from orchestrating their actions to soothing Macbeth's troubled mind.
- The couple's initial hope for a rewarding reign reveals itself as an illusion, highlighting their deterioration.
Key Character: Macbeth
- Macbeth undergoes a transformation; the act signifies a turning point in his moral decline.
- He evolves from a rising leader to a hardened king, contemplating new crimes while brooding in isolation.
- Shakespeare illustrates Macbeth's turmoil with vivid imagery, such as "O, full of scorpions is my mind," suggesting lethal thoughts.
- Communication between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth deteriorates; he withholds his inner thoughts, isolating her.
- The term "dearest chuck," reflecting a shift in power dynamics, signals Macbeth's emotional distance and role reversal.
- Lady Macbeth's emotional state begins to crack; she will regain control one last time at the banquet before succumbing to guilt and regret.
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Description
Explore the complexities of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's characters in Act 3 Scene 2. This scene reveals their psychological turmoil and the deepening influence of evil in Macbeth's soul. As they prepare for a feast, tensions rise, indicating their unraveling hopes and ambitions after Duncan's murder.
