Macbeth: Act 2 – Reasoning Q&A (20+ Questions)

Complete the following sentences by providing a brief reason. Do not repeat the question.

1. Banquo tells Macbeth he still thinks about the witches because __________

2. Macbeth lies to Banquo about thinking of the witches because __________

3. Macbeth sees a vision of a bloody dagger because __________

4. Macbeth follows the vision of the dagger despite doubting its reality because __________

5. The dagger vision is called a "dagger of the mind" because __________

6. Lady Macbeth rings a bell to signal Macbeth because __________

7. Macbeth forgets to leave the daggers with the chamberlains because __________

8. Lady Macbeth must return to the bedchamber herself because __________

9. Lady Macbeth says she would have killed Duncan herself except __________

10. Macbeth asks "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean?" because __________

11. Macbeth believes he has "murdered sleep" because __________

12. The knocking at the gate frightens Macbeth because __________

13. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth "A little water clears us of this deed" because __________

14. The Porter imagines the gate is hell's gate because __________

15. Macduff goes to wake the King in the morning because __________

16. Macbeth kills the chamberlains immediately after Duncan's death is discovered because __________

17. Macbeth justifies killing the chamberlains by claiming __________

18. Lady Macbeth faints when Duncan's murder is discovered because __________

19. Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee Scotland because __________

20. Duncan's sons' flight makes them appear suspicious to the other lords because __________

21. The contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's reactions to the murder shows __________

Answer Key

i) He cannot forget the witches' prophecies about him and his future, and he is troubled by wondering if they will come true and what role he might play in fulfilling them.

ii) He has begun to think about murdering Duncan to fulfill the prophecy and fears Banquo will suspect his ambitions; also, he does not want to share his growing dark thoughts with anyone.

iii) His mind creates the vision because he is mentally and emotionally wrestling with the idea of committing murder; it reflects his subconscious desire to murder and his guilt about that desire.

iv) He is driven forward by his ambition and his belief in the witches' prophecies; he interprets the dagger as a sign or supernatural encouragement to commit the murder despite his moral doubts.

v) It is not a real, physical dagger but a hallucination created by Macbeth's guilty conscience and his psychological state; his mind conjures the image to reflect his inner turmoil and desire to commit murder.

vi) The chamberlains are asleep and drunk, signaling that the moment is right for Macbeth to commit the murder without being discovered or interrupted by the guards.

vii) He is so horrified and traumatized by what he has just done that he cannot bring himself to return to the scene of the crime; his guilt and fear paralyze him.

viii) Macbeth is too psychologically shaken and terrified to perform the task, so Lady Macbeth must complete the plan herself to frame the chamberlains properly for the murder.

ix) Duncan resembled her own father while sleeping, which awakened her paternal instinct and human compassion, preventing her from committing the act despite her earlier declaration of ruthlessness.

x) He believes the blood on his hands represents the permanent stain of guilt that will never wash away; he is expressing his despair that no amount of water can cleanse him of the moral consequences of murder.