This scene is the scene after Duncan is killed, and the aftermath of everyone finding him dead and seeing the guards set up. It is a very long scene, consisting of characters Porter, Macduff, Lennox, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, Donalbain and Malcolm. The scene starts with a Porter who is obviously hungover / still drunk and he is hearing knocking. He opens the gate to Macduff and Lennox. Macduff and the Porter discuss how everyone was drinking late last night and now are all hungover and having a hard time getting up. Macbeth enters and Macduff greets him, and asks if Duncan is awake yet. Macbeth, knowing he is dead, says that he will bring him to Macduff. But Macduff says he must wake him up as it is his job. Macduff goes in and says
‘O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!’
He is saying he has seen something so terrible he cannot describe it. Macbeth and Lennox go in and see, even though Macbeth knows what he will find. Once a bell rings and everyone wakes up, Lady Macbeth also arrives, pretending that death is too dark for her and she can’t even deal with it. Macbeth, Macduff and Lennox explain to Duncan’s son, Donalbain, that his father is dead and the guards killed him. Malcom and Donalbain talk aside to eachother and ask why are they the ones staying quiet, when Duncan’s death affects them the most, and that they need to leave. The scene ends with everyone leaving and saying they will meet in the hall, except Malcom and Donalbain. They talk about how they don’t think they are safe either, and how the closer they are in blood to someone – there is a closer chance of death. Malcom says he will leave to England, while Donalbain is going to Ireland. I think that these two sons suspect something, and that not everything is as it seems. They know that something is not quite as Macbeth is telling it.
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