Question

In Act 1 that we read, we discovered that Lady MacBeth is a ruthless woman who has plans to manipulate her husband into killing King Duncan so that they can both gain more power as the new king and queen. After reading and watching her in Act 2, Scene 2, how have you seen Lady MacBeth take control of the

situation? In what ways is she exhibiting her power and manipulation over MacBeth? This could be from either action or words. Be descriptive and detailed in your answer.

Answer 1

If this is an answer to a GCSE literature question where you are aiming to get an 8 or 9 you need to include a quote and a different point in each paragraph. The quote should support your point.

A GCSE literature question should have a thesis in your intro. A thesis is your opinion on the theme or character being discussed in the question. And the second part should introduce your ideas of how the author/ poet/ playwright or speaker presents this with a sentence or 2 including any context. This will help achieve part of your assessment objective.

The main body should be aimed to have 3-4 paragraphs but those looking to score high marks should have 5-6 main paragraphs. The main body paragraph should start with your point. After this you should add a quote or reference from the text you’ve been given to analyse. After this is the analysis part where you should write what the quote suggests and the technique the writer has used to show this. You should also include word level analysis where you pick out a word and analyse that further. You would get even higher marks if you include more than one meaning/ connotation of the quote/ word. Lastly you should add more context, why the writer has used this idea as a whole and link it back to your intro.

Lastly the conclusion should summarise the ideas you have discussed in your essay.

Answer 2

Answer: In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth continues to exhibit her power and manipulation over Macbeth. The scene takes place immediately after Macbeth has committed the murder of King Duncan, and Lady Macbeth is seen taking control of the situation and guiding her husband through the aftermath of the crime.

One way that Lady Macbeth exhibits her power is through her language. She speaks with a commanding tone and uses strong, forceful language to urge Macbeth to stay focused and not dwell on his guilt. For example, when Macbeth is troubled by his bloody hands, Lady Macbeth tells him to "wash this filthy witness from your hands," showing her dominance and her ability to take control of the situation.

Additionally, Lady Macbeth takes charge of the practical aspects of the murder, such as framing the sleeping guards for the crime. She shows her practicality and her ability to plan and execute complex schemes, as she sets up the guards to take the blame for the murder, thus protecting Macbeth from suspicion.

Furthermore, Lady Macbeth uses emotional manipulation to control Macbeth. She reminds him of their shared ambition and the benefits they will reap as the new king and queen, encouraging him to stay focused on the end goal and not get distracted by guilt or fear. This shows her ability to play on Macbeth's emotions and use them to further her own agenda.

Overall, Lady Macbeth exhibits her power and manipulation in multiple ways throughout Act 2, Scene 2. Through her language, her practicality, and her emotional manipulation, she takes control of the situation and guides Macbeth through the aftermath of the murder, showing her strength as a powerful and cunning character.

Step-by-step explanation: