The Change in Psychological Behavior in Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth

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In Shakespeare’s, Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 is a crucial part of the play, because of the off staging of Duncan’s murder shifts the focus onto Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, as well as revealing the psychological behavioral changes and how the scene affected these two characters. The scene eventually leads to the deterioration of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. In this scene Macbeth kills Duncan and almost immediately after the deed is done, he starts to develop a guilty conscience. Also throughout this scene Lady Macbeth shows her confidence because she takes control and shows that she is the dominant figure in their relationship. In addition, this scene shows Lady Macbeth’s Humanity which becomes a key factor in understanding her character’s behavioral change.

At the very beginning of the play Macbeth is genuinely good; he is praised as a hero who sheds blood for an honourable cause, he earns recognition from Duncan when he says “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”(Shakespeare 1.7.24) Duncan is telling Macbeth that he is a worthy man. However his heroic qualities shift when his state of mind becomes unstable, Lady Macbeth starts to manipulate him into killing Duncan. He is unsure of his decision which causes him to have hallucinations of the “dagger which I see before me” (Shakespeare 2.1.33). The hallucinations are an indicator that he is progressively becoming mad and how troubled he is over the thought of killing Duncan. Macbeth has no "spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th'other" (Shakespeare 1.7.25-28) and he is saying that the only thing motivating him is his ambition but ambition leads people into disaster. In addition, the hallucinations are also the ...

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...s therefore all the focus is on Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. It is evident that Macbeth's character starts to change behaviorally before this scene but it is the scene where guilt starts to overwhelm him. Macbeth becomes ruthless as a result of this scene. In this Macbeth remarks that he will no longer be able to sleep but ironically it is Lady Macbeth who can no longer sleep. Lady Macbeth is kept from her rest because she keeps reliving and dreaming of the murder. Lady Macbeth washing her hands is a metaphor for her guilty conscience. This scene is the cause of what happens in the scenes that follow. As a crucial part of the play this becomes the source of the guilt that felt by these two characters as well as the basis for their psychological behavioral changes.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William.Macbeth.Ed.Roma Gill.New York: Oxford University Press, 1977.

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