When Macbeth enters the chamber to kill Duncan he is alarmed by the fact that Donalbain is lodged in the next chamber. He believes that Donalbain and his brother Malcolm awaken before the murder and catch sight of him in the hallway. One of the men cries out in his sleep "God bless us" and "Amen" to which Macbeth cannot return the response "Amen." Further, Macbeth believes that he hears one of the men cry "Sleep no more!/ Macbeth does murder sleep" as he enters the chamber to kill Duncan. This leaves Macbeth deeply shaken because Macbeth cannot utter the phrase "Amen" signifying his evil-doing and inability to ever be holy again. He also is left thinking about how he has condemned Duncan to an eternal sleep, for which he will lose much sleep due to his immense guilt. All of these things put together leave Macbeth deeply disturbed and he does not fully follow through with the original plan, returning to Lady Macbeth with the guard's daggers. She then has to return the daggers to the guards in order to cover up the murder.
No comments:
Post a Comment