Macbeth
Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.
At this point in the play, Macbeth has murdered Duncan and has returned to Lady Macbeth.
5 | MACBETH Methought I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep’, the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, |
10 | Chief nourisher in life’s feast. LADY MACBETH What do you mean? MACBETH Still it cried, ‘Sleep no more’ to all the house; ‘Glamis hath murdered sleep’, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more. |
15 | LADY MACBETH Who was it, that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength to think So brain-sickly of things. Go get some water And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? |
20 | They must lie there. Go carry them and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. MACBETH I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again, I dare not. |
25 | LADY MACBETH Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures; ’tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, |
For it must seem their guilt. |
Starting with this conversation, explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Write about:
- how Shakespeare presents their relationship in this extract
- how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
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