The sleep-walking scene of Lady Macbeth occurs some time after the last scene in Act IV. Macbeth has taken the field against various rebel bands in Scotland. The retribution which has long been gathering begins with Lady Macbeth. During her sleep the vigilance of her will relaxes and her conscience asserts its sway. In this, one of the most tragic scenes in all drama, prose is used, perhaps as more natural to the disconnected speech of sleep-walking. Shakespeare's way of telling a story on the stage is more like that of the "movie" writer than of the modern dramatist, because he shifts rapidly from one place to another. Scenes ii and iii present the two opposite camps. In the camp of the invaders we find the unity that comes from loyalty to their leaders and hatred of the oppressor. With Macbeth all is confusion. His nervousness reaches the point where he loses all control of himself. In Scene iv the rebels at home are joined by Malcolm and Siward from England. With the breaking of the boughs to disguise the soldiers, the prophecies begin their fulfillment. In Scene v Macbeth, left absolutely desolate by the death of the Queen, finds the prophecies proving false and rushes into the field to fight. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS Scene i 1. Has anything in the earlier actions of Lady Macbeth prepared you for this tragic condition of her mind? At the first crime was she much affected? Was her conduct then due to insensibility to the horror, to self-control, or to inexperience with crime? What were her feelings about the murder of Banquo? She took no part in the murder of Lady Macduffwhy then should she suffer over it? Is she now afraid of the hereafter? Does she repent of her crime, or is she merely suffering remorse? What suggests that she may commit suicide? 2. Lady Macbeth's broken phrases record visions of the past as they flit through her mind. Washing her hands for a quarter of an hour recalls to us her earlier declaration, "A little water clears us of this deed." "One, two. Why then 'tis time to do't" brings back the moment when the striking of the clock showed her that she should give the signal for Macbeth to go to Duncan's room. Take up the other expressions and show to what they refer. Indicate what would be the appropriate action at each speech. Scene ii Are there previous lines of Macbeth in the play that bear out the truth of lines 20-22? When have we seen Macbeth "recoil and start"? What dramatic effect has the line, "Make we our march toward Birnam"? Scene iii 1. On what is Macbeth now resting his hopes almost entirely? Is he telling the truth about himself in lines 9 and 10? Justify your answer. What does his irritation at the servant indicate? When he speaks of Lady Macbeth, is he thinking of her or of himself? Do you hate him or pity him now? 2. Stage business adds much to the effectiveness of Scene iii. The class may study out the appropriate action throughout the scene. Perhaps a small group will wish to present it at the front of the room. 3. Two short passages in Scene iii are very famous because of their impressive moralizing. Pick them out. If you like them, explain why. Scene iv Does Malcolm's reason for cutting the boughs seem to you a good one, or is it merely introduced to bear out the prophecy of the witches? Do you think Malcolm was familiar with the prophecy? Scene v 1. Do lines 9-15 really indicate a hard and cruel nature or a state of deepest desolation and |