Thursday, March 2, 2017

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, what does Macbeth do after he murders Duncan?

Macbeth goes into the courtyard where Lady Macbeth is waiting after killing King Duncan.  Lady Macbeth is surprised because he is flustered from the deed and he is still holding the daggers. 
Lady Macbeth is in the courtyard waiting for her husband to kill King Duncan according to their plan, so that he can become king instead.  She is fretting a bit.  She comments about the fact that she made the plan and laid everything out so that he couldn’t possibly mess up.  She couldn’t do it herself, though.  Duncan looked too much like her father. 

LADY MACBETH
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deedConfounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembledMy father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter MACBETH
My husband!
MACBETH
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? (Act 2, Scene 2) 

Macbeth is all upset because he thought he heard one of the sleeping grooms talking about murder and using his name.  He did manage to kill Duncan and the grooms, but he is flustered and confused.  
She notices that Macbeth took the daggers from Duncan’s chambers instead of leaving them there to frame the grooms.  Upset when she sees Macbeth come back with the daggers, Lady Macbeth chides her husband for not following the plan. 

Why did you bring these daggers from the place?They must lie there: go carry them; and smearThe sleepy grooms with blood.(Act 2, Scene 2)

Lady Macbeth is annoyed that her husband didn't follow their plan to frame the grooms. She takes the daggers and tells him to wash his hands.  Later, Lady Macbeth will be just as haunted by this deed and the blood on her hands.

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