Hello, my name is Ms. Grant.

I'm so glad that you have decided to learn with me today.

We're in the Unit: Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain.

Today, we're gonna read Act 2.

We're gonna look at some important contextual information, and then we're gonna look at how different people in the play react to the regicide.

I'm so excited to hear all of your fantastic ideas.

I'm gonna be your support and guide as we work through this lesson together.

Let's get started.

So by the end of the day's lesson, you're going to be able to explain what happens in Act 2, Scenes one and two of "Macbeth." We're going to see the Macbeth's approach regicide their feelings beforehand, and we're going to see the aftermath of the regicide.

There are some key words which are gonna support us throughout today's lesson, and they're gonna help us unlock the learning.

They are regicide, Divine Right of Kings, Jacobean, hallucination, and symbolises.

Their definitions are gonna come up one at a time on the next slide.

If you want to spend some more time with our keywords and their definitions, pause video at the end of the next slide.

So our lesson outline for today, we're gonna start by looking at this concept, The Divine Right of Kings.

And then in our second learning cycle, we're going to look at reactions to the regicide.

Let's start off with The Divine Right of Kings.

In Act 2, Macbeth commits regicide.

After the regicide, Shakespeare signals that one of Macbeth's main worries is that he's destroyed his relationship with God.

Indeed, the play's first Jacobean audiences would've believed that Macbeth's regicide destroys his relationship with God because they accepted an idea called The Divine Right of Kings.

The Divine Right of Kings argues that a monarch's power comes from God.

This God-given power means monarchs shouldn't be challenged at all because their power comes from God.

To challenge the monarch is to challenge, disobey, and anger God.

King James I, who was Monarch when Macbeth was first performed, wrote a book about The Divine Right of Kings.

It was a concept that he believed in and he wanted to explore it.

And thus he wrote a book, "The Divine Right of Kings." And in it, he says, "The state of monarchy "is the supremest thing on earth.

"For kings are God's lieutenants upon earth.

"They exercise a manner or resemblance "of divine power upon earth." I'd like you to discuss this question.

What is James I saying about what it means to be king? Pause the video and discuss this question now.

Some fantastic discussions engaging with his quotation from James I book about The Divine Right of Kings.

Let's break this quotation down.

So he says, "The state of monarchy "is a supremest thing on earth." So being a monarch means having a higher status than anyone else on earth.

It is the supremest, the best, the highest.

"For kings are God's lieutenants upon earth." Kings are God's representative on earth.

There's no one closer to God than a king.

Kings know and carry out God's commands there.

The king or monarch is the God's right hand man on earth.

They exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power on earth.

So he takes it even further.

He says, not only are kings God's representative on earth, but they exercise some divine power.

Kings are God-like.

Their words and actions are divine.

They are of God.

So James I really making it clear that he thinks that kings get their power from God.

A check for understanding.

Jacobeans believed.

A.

James I was God.

B.

A monarch was God's representative on earth.

C.

Regicide was a divine right.

or D.

Regicide was a challenge to God's authority.

Pause a video and select your response now.

Well done if you selected B and D.

Now, following the regicide in Act 2, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth what he heard and saw Duncan's guards doing.

He says they did say their prayers and address them again to sleep.

One of the guards cried "God bless us." and "Amen." the other.

I could not say "Amen." when they did say "God bless us." But wherefore, could I not pronounce Amen? I had most need of blessing and amen stuck in my throat.

I'd like you to discuss this question.

What does Macbeth see the guards doing? What does he tell Lady Macbeth? He saw the guards doing.

Pause the video and discuss this question.

Well done, you identified correctly that he sees them saying their prayers.

Let's have a look at some of the language in a bit more detail.

So this phrase, "God bless us." This is asking God to give protection to support and happiness.

Wherefore means why.

So we'd like you now to discuss this question.

What happens when Macbeth tries to say amen? And what might this suggest? Pause the video and discuss this question now.

Beautiful discussion, looking at this key moment just after the regicide.

And absolutely, you're right that when Macbeth tries to say amen, he says it sticks in his throat.

He can't ask for or accept God's blessing because he committed the regicide.

And lots of you said, "Well, what does this suggest?" It suggests that he has disrupted God's divine plan on earth as Duncan is God's representative on earth.

He can't hope to have that relationship with God anymore.

He's challenged God's authority by killing the king, which God himself selected according to the idea, The Divine Right of Kings.

Here are the key plot points of Act 2, Scene 1, and Act 2, Scene two of Macbeth, the scenes that we are going to read today.

We've read a little bit already in looking at Macbeth's response to the regicide.

So in Act 2, Scene 1, part one, Banquo and his son discuss how dark it is.

There is no moon and there are no stars.

In Act 2, Scene 1, Part two, Macbeth arrives and Banquo tells him that he dreamt of the witches, but Macbeth lies saying he thinks not of them.

Even though Macbeth has been thinking about the witches ever since the prophecies, Macbeth lies to his friend and says, "I haven't thought of them." In Act 2, Scene 1, Part 3, Macbeth hallucinates a dagger.

He wonders if it's real, and believes it's directing him to commit regicide.

And finally, in Act 2, Scene two, after the regicide, Macbeth is already consumed by guilt and worry.

Lady Macbeth frames Duncan's guards and tries to get Macbeth to calm down.

So these are key points in Act 2, Scene 1, and Act 2, Scene two.

A check for understanding.

I'd like you to match the scenes to their plot points.

We've got Act 2, Scene 1, parts one, two, and three, and Act 2, Scene two.

Pause the video and match the scenes to their plot points now.

Congratulations if you matched Act 2, Scene 1, part one.

Banquo and Fleance meet in the pitch black.

Act 2, Scene 1, part two, Macbeth pretends he hasn't thought by the witches' prophecies.

Act 2, Scene 1, part three, Macbeth hallucinates a dagger.

And Act 2, Scene two, Macbeth regrets regicide and Lady Macbeth frames the guards.

We're now going to read Act 2, Scene 1.

And as you're reading, I'd like you to pause and discuss the following two questions.

Why do you think Shakespeare sets the scene on a particularly dark night, the moon is down, the candles all are out, and there are no stars? Macbeth hallucinates a dagger which marshall'st leads me the way that I was going and has blood on its blade.

What does he believe his hallucination is telling him? Pause the video, read Act 2, Scene 1.

And once you've finished, reflect on these discussion questions.

Pause the video now.

Beautiful reading there of Act 2, Scene 1.

I particularly enjoyed hearing Macbeth's soliloquy and people interpreting how he feels as he approaches at that regicide in different ways.

Let's look at some of these discussion questions and the answers you may have had.

So why do you think Shakespeare sets a scene on a particularly dark night? Well, the setting creates an ominous atmosphere and allows Macbeth's regicide to be hidden.

And it perhaps reminds us of Macbeth's first scene with the witches.

And I heard a lot of people referring to other moments in the play which have also been set in the dark and the witches seen that that opening scene on the heath, lots of productions interpret that scene as happening in a very dark place at nighttime, which again adds to that ominous atmosphere.

Macbeth hallucinates a dagger which he thinks is leading him the way that he was going and has blood on its blade.

And what does he believe this hallucination is telling him? Well, Macbeth believes the dagger is directing him towards regicide.

The blood almost suggests the regicide has been already been done perhaps in Macbeth's mind reducing his responsibility or ownership over that act.

If the dagger is leading him, if the dagger already has blood on him, then how much can Macbeth be held responsible for the act of regicide itself? Now, we're going to look at Act 2, Scene two.

And as you're reading, I'd like you to pause and discuss the following two questions.

What reason does Lady Macbeth give for not committing the regicide herself? And what are the differences between how Lady Macbeth reacts to the regicide, and Macbeth's response? We've already looked at one of his responses when he looks at Duncan's guard.

So you will recognise some of the language as you read the scene.

Pause the video now, read the scene, and discuss these questions.

Lovely reading of that scene and particularly enjoyable to hear that dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after the regicide.

They're having very, very different responses and it was good to hear a conversation between two people who are reacting very differently to the awful crime that they have just committed.

Let's look at some ideas you might have had.

So what reason does Lady Macbeth give for not committing the regicide? Well, she says that Duncan resembled her father.

And for this reason, she's unable to commit the regicide.

And lots of people pause at this moment and thought this is quite a different lady Macbeth to the dominant and crueller and manipulative character that we've seen in Act 1.

And what are the differences about how Lady Macbeth reacts to the regicide, and Macbeth's response? Well, they're having very different responses whilst Macbeth is really stressed about the regicide because he feels he will no longer be able to sleep, or pray, and he believes his hands will never be clean of Duncan's blood.

Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, is much more practical.

She concentrates on framing guards, washing the blood from their hands, and calming her husband down.

So it's almost as if they're having two completely different conversations and certainly two different responses to the regicide.

We're gonna move on and look in a bit more detail at the reactions to the regicide that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have.

So let's re-read this section from Act 2, Scene 2.

Macbeth says, he asks, "Will all great Neptune's ocean "wash this blood clean from my hand? "No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine deep pink, making the green one red.

So he's contemplating the blood on his hands.

And Lady Macbeth enters.

She's obviously overheard him worrying about the blood on his hands.

And she says to him, "My hands are of your colour, "but I shame to wear a heart so white "and a little water clears us of this deed." I'd like you to discuss these two questions.

What does Macbeth's focus on blood symbolise about his feelings of guilt? He says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean "wash this blood clean from my hand?" And what does Lady Macbeth's response symbolise about her feelings of guilt? She says, "My hands are of your colour, "but I shame to wear a heart so white.

"A little water clears us of this deed." Pause the video and discuss these questions now.

Beautiful discussion about this key moment from Act 2, Scene 2, and this comparison between two main characters responses to the regicide.

So what does Macbeth's focus on blood symbolise about his feelings of guilt? While Macbeth's hands are literally covered in Duncan's blood, but this metaphor also symbolises overwhelming feeling, feeling of guilt, it's depth and breadth.

So he's saying a whole ocean would not be able to clean this blood from my hand.

And obviously, it would physically be able to clean the blood, but it's about the symbolic meaning of that blood.

He feels so guilty that even if his hands are clean, that guilt will continue and follow him.

Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, what does her response symbolise about her feelings of guilt? Well, she doesn't seem to feel any remorse or guilt.

She's practical, she says, "We're going to clean our hands with water." She also tries to emasculate Macbeth by calling cowardly.

That's what this phrase, "My hands are of your colour, "but I shame to wear a heart so white." White heart, meaning she's calling him a coward because he's so stressed about the blood on his hands.

A check for understanding.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth worry about the blood on their hands after the regicide.

Is this true or false? Pause a video and select your response now.

Well done if you selected false.

I'd like you to justify your answer.

Is it A.

Macbeth worries about the blood, but Lady Macbeth hands are clean so she isn't worried.

Or B.

Macbeth worries about the blood, but Lady Macbeth is more practical and knows they can clean it off.

Pause the video and select your response now.

Well done if you selected B.

Macbeth worries about the blood.

Lady Macbeth is much more practical.

She knows they can clean it off.

I'd like you to discuss this question: Why might Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have differing reactions to the regicide? We know that they have differing reactions.

Macbeth seems very overwhelmed by guilt.

Lady Macbeth much more practical.

But why have they got these different responses? And I'd like you to consider: Macbeth's relationship with Duncan at the start of the play.

Macbeth's initial feelings towards the regicide.

Macbeth's soli, Lady Macbeth, sorry, soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 5.

Who commits the regicide itself? And finally, The Divine Right of Kings.

So this discussion is gonna enable you to tie together all of your knowledge of the play so far, and also some contextual knowledge in The Divine Right of Kings, which we looked at in the first learning cycle.

Pause the video, discuss this question using the bullet points to support your discussion.

Pause the video now.

Some fantastic discussions there showing off your brilliant knowledge of the play.

Looking back to Act 1, but also using The Divine Right of Kings, the idea that we looked at in learning cycle one, in order to fully understand why Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem to have differing reactions to the regicide.

Here's some ideas you might have had.

Macbeth is a noble Thane.

He's defined by his loyalty and bravery on the battlefield rather than deception with a dagger in the dark.

He's destroyed his identity through the act of regicide.

Lots of people referencing the beginning of Act 1 wherein Scene two, the Sergeant talks about how brave Macbeth is in battle, and then we see him get promoted by King Duncan.

Well, he cannot rely on that reputation anymore or rely on those values because he has cast them away by committing regicide.

Lots of people noted that in Act 1, Scene 7, that the soliloquy that Macbeth has shows that he does not want to commit regicide, but he was goaded into it by Lady Macbeth.

He ends that soliloquy saying, "We shall proceed no further in this business." And then Lady Macbeth manages to goad him and convince him that he should commit regicide.

So perhaps there are differing reactions is because Macbeth was not fully committed to the idea.

Macbeth committed the regicide itself.

He murdered a king who respected and who God appointed, and thus he fears his relationship with God is forever broken.

Lady Macbeth, of course, she was a part of it, but she didn't have to physically commit the act of regicide itself.

And so perhaps this is one reason for Macbeth's much stronger feelings of guilt.

Lady Macbeth asked spirits to fill her with cruelty and prevent her from feeling remorse (guilt) in Act 1, Scene 5, and perhaps this worked.

Lots of people reference that soliloquy, that very powerful moment for Lady Macbeth where she seems to reject lots of feelings of humanity and perhaps her inability to feel guilt or her lack of feeling of guilt in Act 2, Scene 2 is because this calling on spirits to fill her with cruelty has actually worked.

And finally, Lady Macbeth has always been committed to the regicide and so perhaps was prepared for its aftermath.

She immediately wanted to commit regicide and she never wavered in her desire to commit regicide unlike Macbeth.

So perhaps this is why she's feeling less guilty than her husband.

A really rich discussion there looking at why Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have differing reactions to the regicide.

And that coupled with your exploration of language in this learning cycle.

It has made for a really rich understanding of the beginning of Act 2.

In summary, The Divine Right of Kings is a belief that a monarch is chosen by God; that a monarch is God's representative on Earth.

Macbeth hallucinates a dagger before he commits regicide.

After the regicide, Macbeth worries he will no longer be able to pray or sleep.

Whilst Macbeth is preoccupied with the blood on his hands, Lady Macbeth is not.

Blood is a symbol for feelings of guilt in "Macbeth." It has been such a pleasure to read the opening of Act 2 with you and hearing all of your fantastic ideas, including that close language analysis.

I look forward to seeing you next time.