Nature- Act 2

Nature

“Thou sure and firm-set earth, hear not my steps, which they walk, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabout and take the present horror from the time which now suits with it.” (p.26, Act 2, Scene 1, Line 56)

Macbeth doesn’t want anyone to know that he is the one that killed Duncan. He feels as if every step he makes is extremely loud. The louder his steps are, the bigger chance that everyone will know the crime he committed.

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red ” (p. 29 Act 2 Scene 2 Line 59)

Theres so  much blood on his hands that he thinks washing them in the ocean would make the ocean red. This also shows the amount of guilt macbeth has for his actions.

“Hold, take my sword. There’s husbandry in heaven: their candles are all out.” (p.24, Act 2, Scene 1, Line 5)

Darkness has invaded the light. Light is gone since King Duncan is dead- tragic.

“The obscure bird clamored the livelong night. Some say, the earth was feverous and did shake.” (p. 33, Act 2, Scene 3, Line 61)

The night was so dark and depressing that the earth started shaking. The birds were angry and shocked towards the Kings death.

“ It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman which gives the stern’st good-night.” (p. 27, Act 2, Scene 2, Line 3)

Lady Macbeth describes how the owl ressemblances the cry sound of an execution bell, which usually announces a death.

“On Tuesday last a falcon, tow’ring in her prise of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.” (p.37, Act 2, scene 4, Line 11)

The owl is representative of Macbeth as he is less powerful and the falcon king duncan. It demonstrates the fact that the weak (less powerful/important) killed the strong (king).