Macbeth Act II Review with Quotes

1. In your opinion, is Lady Macbeth a cold-blooded murderer? Why or why not?
Lady Macbeth is a cold-blooded murderer, considering her lack of guilt from tempting her husband and feigning innocence while she made two servants look guilty. She refused to see her husband have second thoughts before and after the deed, scolding him anytime he doubted her.

"My hands are of your colour; but I shame/to wear a heart so white" (2.2.64 - 5)
"Give me the daggers;the sleeping and the dead/are but as pictures; 'tis the eyes of childhood/that fears a painted devil" (2. 2. 53 - 7)

2. Lady Macbeth has her own antics throughout the play. Why does Lady Macbeth faint in Act II? 
Does it serve its purpose? Explain.

Lady Macbeth fainted to fake her surprise and sudden slip of focus and consciousness when she heard that the king was dead. It served the purpose of declaring her innocent since she acted as if she never knew it was going to happen and was struck with disbelief upon hearing the news, and therefore being left out of the scene.

"Look to the lady" (2.3.131)
"Look to the lady" (2.3.140)

3. How does Macbeth's attitude toward Duncan change after the murder?

Macbeth's attitude toward the king becomes doubtful and scared, feeling extremely guilty and fearful that he had committed the crime and sensing that the world will know and haunt him for his crime.

"'Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor/Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more" (2.2.42-3)
"I am afraid to think what I have done;/Look on't again I dare not" (2.2.51-2)

4. If so pressuring on Macbeth, why didn't Lady Macbeth kill the king instead of Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth didn't kill the king as she muttered to herself that the king looked like her father in his sleep. Assuming that she cared for her father, seeing a reflection of him in the victim prevented her from performing the task herself.

"Had he no resembled/my father as he slept, I had done't" (2.2.12-3)

5. Now that Macbeth has killed the king, do you think he must do anything else to reign as king? Explain your answer.

Macbeth may have to do something about Malcolm and Donalbain, since they are the king's sons and therefore one of them will inherit the throne, even if Macbeth was given much honor by the king.

"I'll to England/To Ireland" (2.3.155-6)
This murderous shaft that's shot/Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way/is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse/and let us not be dainty of leave-taking/but shift away:there's a warrant in that theft/which steals itself when there's no mercy left"(2.3.160-5)