Act 3 Scene 2 By Rachael Mrocka In Act 3 Scene 2, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about the dreams that they have been having. They talk about the dark feelings they mutually share and how they are both envious of the dead, especially Duncan who are at peace because of their death. They talk about how the dead don’t live in constant fear of losing everything. Macbeth reassures Lady Macbeth that their problems will be solved by a terrible deed to be done in the night, the killing of Banquo. The scene opens up with Lady Macbeth asking where Banquo has gone where the servant responds he has left but he will be back that night. Lady Macbeth then tells the servant to tell the King that she would like to speak to him and the Servant obeys her commands and says he will. Lady Macbeth is speaking to herself and says “nought’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is got without content, tis safer to be that which we destroy, then by destruction dwell in doubtful joy”. By this Lady Macbeth means that they got what they desired, which was for Duncan to be dead, but it was all false hopes and it didn’t make them as happy as they would’ve expected it to have made them because of the problems that then followed. She also states that it is ‘safer to be that which we destroy’, referring to Duncan, then to dwell in the joy that never came to them from killing him. Then, Macbeth enters the room and Lady Macbeth speaks. She says “how now my lord, why do you keep alone, of sorriest fancies your companions making, using those thoughts which should indeed have died, with them they think on?” By this Lady Macbeth is asking Macbeth why his thoughts are getting the best of him and making his deepest darkest feelings his companions. She says the thoughts should indeed have died meaning he should just stop thinking about it because what’s done has been done but yet he continues to think about it. Macbeth responds, “we have scorch’d the snake, not kill’d it, she’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice remains in danger of her former tooth.” By this Macbeth means that they haven’t killed the problem (Duncan) but they’ve started something bigger. He means by his that the problem is going to seem dormant but it’s in danger of erupting from the ‘tooth’ of the snake left behind (Banquo). He then says, “but let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly.” Here he says that everything is going to fall apart and that they are going to eat and sleep terrified about what’s going to happen and about these nightmares. He goes on to say, “better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy.” Here Macbeth says that killing Duncan sent him to peace and that the only way either himself or Lady Macbeth will be in peace is by dying, and that’s better than anything. He then says about Duncan that “after life’s fitful fever he sleeps well; treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, can touch him further.” Macbeth means that what’s done him the worst is treason. He was betrayed by Macbeth so Macbeth could take over the country but now that he’s dead; nothing can bother or ‘touch’ him anymore. Lady Macbeth then says to Macbeth, “gentle my lord, sleek o’ver your rugged looks; be bright and jovial among your guests­to­night.” Here Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to basically snap out of it for a little bit and to slap a smile on his face to cover how scared and upset how he actually looks to make the guests see him as happy. Macbeth responds, “so ​
shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you, let your remembrance apply to Banquo, present him eminence, both with eye and tongue. Unsafe the while, that we must lave our honours in these flattering streams, and make our faces vizards to our hearts, disguising what they are.” Here Macbeth responds to his wife that he will act happy and he hopes she can too and to remember to mention Banquo in good terms and bring good memories and good word of him up so nothing looks suspicious. He then mentions how he hopes they can both do this with huge grins on their faces and hide what their heart truly feels then Lady Macbeth responds he needs to just drop it. Macbeth responds, “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.” Here Macbeth means that his mind is ill and mad and that Lady Macbeth knows that Banquo and Fleance are alive. Lady Macbeth responds, “But in them nature's copy's not eterne.” Here she says that she knows but they aren’t going to be alive forever. Macbeth responds to her, “there's comfort yet; they are assailable; then be thou jocund; ere the bat hath flown, his cloister'd flight, ere to black Hecate's summons the shard­borne beetle with his drowsy hums hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done a deed of dreadful note.” Macbeth says that the knowledge he has that they aren’t going to be alive forever isn’t comforting or reassuring enough and how dreadful the deed they have to do (which is killing Banquo) will be. Lady Macbeth then asks, “whats to be done,” where Macbeth responds, “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale! Light thickens; and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood: good things of day begin to droop and drowse; while night's black agents to their preys do rouse. Thou marvell'st at my words, but hold thee still; things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So, prithee, go with me.” In summary, Macbeth says here that Lady Macbeth should be ignorant as to what’s going to happen because she will just be happy about it when she does find out. He also says that he’s going to tear apart the ‘pieces to the great bond which keeps me pale’ saying he is going to crush what’s been making him feel so crazy and execute it (Banquo). He then describes that he is going to do it at night when it’s very dark out and his prey is out (theoretically since Banquo will be alone in his room). He then reassures Lady Macbeth it will all work out and then invites her to go into the room full of guests with her where they both exit.