DAY 4 - CYCLE 5 - SEMESTER 2

Today, we covered Act II, scenes iii and iv in Macbeth, where Duncan's murder is discovered. Shakespeare spends much of his time suggesting how the Great Chain is being inverted more and more. As a rock thrown into a lake makes ripples, so too does this murder have ongoing repurcussions: the weather is a mess, domesticated animals are rebelling, day is night, owls are attacking falcons, etc. It's a mess! In addition, we get to see Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's actions in the wake of their misdeeds. I asked you to consider whether Macbeth is a good liar (you said no), and if Lady Macbeth really fainted (you said no again; she was creating a diversion!).

Questions to consider as you review your understanding from today's class:

1. How do you know Macbeth is a bad liar?
2. What prompts Lady Macbeth to "faint"?
3. Why is it ironic that Macduff hesitates to tell Lady Macbeth about Duncan's murder because he fears her sensibilities are to delicate for her to hear the news?
4. Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee?
5. Why do people believe they bribed the guards?
6. What happens in Colmekill? Scone?
7. Where does Macduff go at the end of Act II? Why is this choice significant?

Homework:

Pretend you are a servant in the Macbeth household during the time of Act II. Write a letter to a friend explaining some of the bizarre happenings from your own, limited perspective. You'll need to study the Act carefully to determine what a servant might reasonably know. You do not need to write it in Shakespearean prose.