Macbeth

Questions about Act 2 Scene 2

1. What Indication is there in Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth's growing ruthlessness?

2. What Indication is there in Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth's growing his tormented conscience?

Asked by
Last updated by Aslan
Answers 1
Add Yours

In act 2 sce 2, Macbeth is still pretty paranoid. He is panicking over killing the king. His growing ruthlessness comes later on. Still he does kill the King which certainly is a step towards his sociopathic status by the end of the play.

There is much about his tormented conscience. He laments about not being able to say a prayer and forever "murdering" sleep.

One servant cried, “God bless us!” and the other replied, “Amen,” as if they had seen my bloody hands. Listening to their frightened voices, I couldn’t reply “Amen” when they said “God bless us!”

Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast.