A porter goes to the answer the door, joking to himself that he is the doorkeeper at the mouth of hell, and mocking whoever might be knocking to get into hell. At the door are Macduff and Lennox. Macduff good-naturedly asks what took so long. The porter blames drunkenness, and makes a series of jokes about alcohol and its effects on men.
Macbeth enters, pretending to have just woken up. Macduff asks if the King has woken yet: Duncan had asked to see Macduff early that morning. Macbeth points out where Duncan is sleeping, and Macduff goes off to wake him.
As they wait for Macduff to return,Lennox describes the terrible storm that raged the previous night and sounded like “strange screams of death”
Macduff cries out in horror and runs onstage. Macbeth and Lennox ask what happened, then run to Duncan’s chamber. Banquo, Malcolm, andDonalbain wake. Lady Macbeth enters, pretending not to know what happened, and expressing horror when Macduff tells her of the murder. Macbeth returns, and wishes he had died rather than have to see such a thing. Malcolm and Donalbain enter and ask what’s happened. Lennox tells them that Duncan was murdered by his drunken attendants.
Macbeth wishes aloud that he hadn’t killed the attendants. When Macduff asks why Macbeth did kill the attendants, Macbeth says he was so furious that they had murdered the Duncan that he couldn’t control himself. Lady Macbeth faints.
The thanes agree to meet in the hall to discuss what’s happened. Malcolm and Donalbain, though, remain behind. They realize that one of the thanes is probably the murderer and fear that they’ll be the next targets. They decide to flee: Malcolm to England and Donalbain to Ireland.
Analysis:
Shakespeare is keen to create a foreboding atmosphere using all the special effects that are available – screaming, wailing voices, birdcalls and thunderclaps. Lady Macbeth fainting is signal of weakness as she is afraid of getting caught Shakespeare could have done this to signal the beginning of her own downfall.
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