The night has been unruly: where we lay,

Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say,

Lamentings heard i’ the air; strange screams of

death,

And prophesying with accents terrible

Of dire combustion and confus'd events

New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamour'd the livelong night: some say the earth Was feverous and did shake.

(II.iii.54-61)

Pictured: A cartoon character that is terrified of something and hiding underneath it’s blanket.

Lennox is recounting the weird events that took place the night of King Duncan’s murder to Macbeth. He explains the winds as extremely powerful, like screams of death, which blew chimneys off roofs, made birds screech, and the earth shake. This directly relates to the theme of natural vs un-natural because it shows that when King Duncan had been murdered, it messed with the natural order of the world. Creating extreme chaos through nature and fear among his people. The gif shows the fear people felt that unruly night.

(II.ii.56)

Pictured: a woman who looks angry and annoyed at someone.

After Macbeth forgets to place the bloody daggers with the sleeping guards, Lady Macbeth furiously storms out with the daggers to place them herself. She demonstrates her ambition and dominance by completing the mission herself, which is directly related to the theme of manhood. The woman in the GIF is furious like Lady Macbeth is furious in this scene.

A dagger of the mind, a false creation

(II.i.37-38)

Pictured: a confused woman.

A floating bloody dagger appears before Macbeth enters Duncan's bedroom to kill him, but he is unable to determine if it is a phantom or simply just his imagination. Macbeth is confused, similar to the woman in this GIF. This scene portrays the theme of appearance vs reality because Macbeth has become so paranoid and mad that he is unable to distinguish between what is real and what is created by his imagination.

(II.iii.71)

Pictured: a shocked man yelling in disbelief.

Macduff enters King Duncan's chambers in the morning and comes out running, terrified and shocked. He had witnessed a murder scene, and now he is warning everyone in the castle. The theme of violence is evident throughout this scene, given that Macduff had to see a brutal kill site. The man in this GIF is shocked and yelling, which resembles Macduff yelling out to wake everyone and alert them.

Lady Macbeth:

That which hath made them drunk, hath made me

bold;

What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire.

(II.ii.1-2)

pictured: an anime character jumping on wood like he’s motivated to accomplish something with the water splashing behind him

Lady Macbeth, in these lines, reflects on the effects of the alcohol. The alcohol has made her bold and daring, boosting her ambition even more. She’s ready to do whatever it takes to get what she wants. The drink has fueled her fire even further, giving her the courage to proceed with the plan of murdering Duncan. This ties into the image of a man stepping on the wood, half-naked, and looking like he’s ready to do anything, as if he’s been emboldened by something external, just like Lady Macbeth. This connects to the theme “appearances can be deceiving" because, typically, people let their guard down when they’re drunk, but the opposite happens with Lady Macbeth. Instead of being weakened or slowed down, the alcohol has made her bolder, filling her with determination to move forward with the murder and seize power.

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Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep' — the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast—

(II.ii.35-40)

Pictured: a furry looking to the right and left in paranoia

In this scene, guilt is consuming Macbeth after murdering King Duncan. He begins hearing voices, saying things like “sleep no more,” which shows that he has lost the peacefulness that comes with sleep due to the crime he committed. The words “murdering sleep” could be a metaphor for how Macbeth can no longer experience the comfort and rest that sleep brings because of his overwhelming guilt. The GIF shows how Macbeth must have felt while hearing those voices, capturing his growing anxiety and paranoia. This ties into the themes of natural vs unnatural and guilt, as his crime has disrupted the natural order of things. The voices also demonstrate Macbeth's conscience, as he is overwhelmed by guilt and cannot escape from what he has done.

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(II.ii.92-94)

Pictured: lady fake crying

In this scene, Macbeth pretends to be devastated by King Duncan’s murder, acting shocked and mournful. He says, “Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant there’s nothing serious in mortality.” However, the audience knows that Macbeth is the one who actually murdered Duncan. It’s a fake grief, hence the lady in the gif fake wiping her tears. This ties into the theme of “Appearances can be deceiving.” By acting shocked and sad, he’s trying to deceive people into believing that he is the opposite of who he is. Masking his guilt and ambition by acting grief stricken by Duncan’s murder.

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Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done 't:

Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood;

So were their daggers, which unwip'd we found

Upon their pillows: they star'd, and were distracted;

No man's life was to be trusted with them.

Macbeth:

O yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.

(II.iii.102-108)

Pictured: A man that is hiding his smile. When Macduff discovers King Duncan’s body, Macbeth pretends to be shocked and outraged by the horrific crime. Lennox points out how Duncan’s guards are covered head to toe in blood and have the murder weapon on them, making them the culprits. So Macbeth took it upon himself to prove his loyalty to the King by killing the suspects. In reality, he just needed to get rid of them to cover up his crime, which is the theme of appearance versus reality. This scene also includes the theme of power and corruption, as Macbeth's ambition to not get caught makes him act quickly to protect himself. The gif perfectly captures how Macbeth was being two faced to those around him.

When they did say 'God bless us'

(II.ii.31-32)

Pictured: a man who is panicked and filled with anxiety.

Macbeth is so panicked that he cannot reply 'Amen' to one of the guards who said 'God bless us', implying that Macbeth is becoming evil. This highlights the theme of natural vs unnatural because it is unnatural that he hears voices, and he is not able to respond to a prayer by saying 'Amen'. This reveals how Macbeth is changing he is losing his morality. Macbeth is panicked and worried, just like the man in the GIF.

A little water clears us of this deed;

How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended. [Knocking] Hark! more knocking.

Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchers. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts.

 Macbeth:

To know my deed 'twere best not know myself.

[Knocking

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou

Couldst!

[Exeunt

(II.ii.68-74)

Pictured: A cat with a look of deep regret

At the end of Act 2, scene 2, Macbeth is overwhelmed by a huge wave of regret after killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth tries to take control due to her husband spiraling, telling him to wash his hands of Duncan’s blood, and Macbeth responds with, “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.” This means he has fully come to terms with what he has done and will no longer recognize himself. This reveals how the guilt of killing Duncan is already affecting him psychologically, as he wishes Duncan were the one knocking on the door. The theme in this scene is guilt and conscience because Macbeth realizes and regrets his actions like the gif used.