LRJ #2

In act two many of Macbeths negative qualities become much more apparent while still showing his positive side. “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare not” (Shakespeare 2.2 53 – 55) Here one can see that Macbeth feel much remorse. So much so that he is unwilling to even lay eyes on the aftermath. Macbeths reaction to the situation is much more human and relatable than Lady Macbeth’s. After His break down she proceeded to take the dagger and do what he could not. Though losing his mind he is still somewhat sane and has not gone crazy about murdering people. On the negative side, Macbeth is far too weak and influence able. One can tell that he did not want to kill Duncan at all and that he clearly does not have the mental capabilities of murder. He knew he was not up to the challenge of killing Duncan yet he was so easily coaxed in to it by Lady Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth seems to be the much darker counter-part of Macbeth. Through out all of act two she is very cut-throat about her actions and will stop at nothing to achieve power. “A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then! (Shakespeare 2.2 71-72) This shows Lady Macbeth deceiving and manipulating Macbeth. She is trying to calm him with lies. She is willing to say whatever she it takes to get him to do what she wants. The only brief moment of do you she a relenting side of lady Macbeth. "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done 't" (Shakespeare 2.2.16 – 17) This is probably the nicest thing she will say through out the whole play. One of the most relatable things said thus far and the only thing that falls on the positive side of Lady Macbeth.
The most notice able reoccurring theme in act two is sleep. "Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep' the innocent sleep" (Shakespeare 2.2 .40 - 42) This shows that sleep tends to represent innocents and Macbeth murdered Duncan in his sleep. By saying Macbeth does murder sleep, it is really saying Macbeth murders innocents, which in a way represents Macbeth leaving his innocents and be becoming more evil and cunning. Also Macbeth realizes this and he feels especially bad be cause he murdered the innocents.