ISC Class 12 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 Important Question Answers
Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 Question Answers: Looking for ISC Class 12 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 question answers? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising ISC Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 now. The questions listed below are based on the latest ISC exam pattern.
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ISC Class 12 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENT
Question 1
Choose the correct options for the following questions:
1. In her soliloquy in this scene, Lady Macbeth says that they have gained _____________ but lost everything.
(a) little
(b) nothing
(c) substantially
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) nothing
2. According to Lady Macbeth, who are the only companions of Macbeth?
(a) His fears
(b) His ambitions
(c) His saddest thoughts
(d) His guilt
Ans. (c) His saddest thoughts
3. Macbeth refers to whom by saying that they have ‘scotch’d the snake, not kill’ it’?
(a) Duncan
(b) Macduff
(c) Malcolm
(d) Banquo
Ans. (a) Duncan
4. Which of the following sufferings of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is revealed in this scene?
(a) Physical pain
(b) Stress
(c) Repentance
(d) Mental anguish
Ans. (d) Mental anguish
5. What, according to Macbeth, Duncan has but he and his wife are lacking”
(a) Peace
(b) Power
(c) Wealth
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Peace
6. According to Macbeth which of the following things cannot affect Duncan?
(a) Treachery
(b) Internal rebellion
(c) External enemies
(d) All of the above
Ans. (d) All of the above
7. But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne’. Who are ‘them’ in the given line as referred to by Lady Macbeth?
(a) Banquo and Fleance
(b) Malcolm and Donalbain
(c) Macduff and Lennox
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) Banquo and Fleance
8. Which dreadful deed is referred to by Macbeth in this scene?
(a) The murder of King Duncan
(b) The proposed murder of Banquo and Fleance
(c) The murder of Macduff
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) The proposed murder of Banquo and Fleance
9. What does ‘lave our honours’ mean?
(a) Mask our faces
(b) Wash our crowns
(c) Wash away our insecurities
(d) Mask our real feelings.
Ans. (b) Wash our crowns
10. What happens to ‘things bad begin’ according to Macbeth?
(a) They seek the cloak of darkness
(b) They wait for good things to droop
(c) They grow stronger with more crimes
(d) They end all fears.
Ans. (c) They grow stronger with more crimes
Question 2
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each:
1. Lady Macbeth says that though their desire has been fulfilled yet they are not satisfied because _____________
Ans. Lady Macbeth says that though their desire has been fulfilled yet they are not satisfied because they live in constant fear and insecurity, finding that the crown has brought them anxiety rather than the happiness they expected.
2. Macbeth says that they have wounded the snake but not killed it because ______________
Ans. Macbeth says that they have wounded the snake but not killed it because the threat to his throne remains alive; while Duncan is dead, the lease of life given by nature to Banquo and Fleance means the crown is still not secure.
3. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they should wear smiling faces because ___________________
Ans. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they should wear smiling faces because they must hide their guilty hearts and internal fears from their guests at the banquet, acting as masks to their true feelings.
4. In this scene there appears to be a decline in relationship between Macbeth and his wife because ______________
Ans. In this scene there appears to be a decline in relationship between Macbeth and his wife because Macbeth no longer includes her in his plans; he keeps the plot to kill Banquo a secret, telling her to be unaware of it until the deed is done.
ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 Extra Question and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, ‘Naught’s had, all’s spent, / Where our desire is got without content’?
A. They have spent all their money on the coronation.
B. They have achieved their goal but find no happiness or peace.
C. They have failed to become the rulers of Scotland.
D. They need to kill more people to feel satisfied.
Ans. B. They have achieved their goal but find no happiness or peace.
Q2. In this scene, Macbeth says his mind is full of what?
A. Daggers
B. Scorpions
C. Snakes
D. Ghosts
Ans. B. Scorpions
Q3. Why does Macbeth envy Duncan in this scene?
A. Duncan was a better king than he is.
B. Duncan is dead and therefore at peace, while Macbeth is tortured by anxiety.
C. Duncan’s sons are still alive and plotting.
D. Duncan had more loyal friends than Macbeth does now.
Ans. B. Duncan is dead and therefore at peace, while Macbeth is tortured by anxiety.
Q4. What advice does Lady Macbeth give to Macbeth regarding his ‘rugged looks’ before the banquet?
A. To go to sleep early and rest.
B. To wash the blood from his hands.
C. To sleek over his looks and be bright and jovial among the guests.
D. To confess his sins to a priest.
Ans. C. To sleek over his looks and be bright and jovial among the guests.
Q5. When Macbeth says, ‘We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it’, what is he referring to?
A. The literal snake he found in the garden.
B. The witches who gave him the prophecy.
C. The threat to his power, which remains despite Duncan’s death.
D. Lady Macbeth’s growing influence over him.
Ans. C. The threat to his power, which remains despite Duncan’s death.
Q6. How has the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth shifted in this scene?
A. Lady Macbeth is now planning all the murders.
B. Macbeth is becoming more secretive and planning Banquo’s murder without her.
C. They have decided to stop killing people and rule peacefully.
D. Lady Macbeth has become the King while Macbeth is the Queen.
Ans. B. Macbeth is becoming more secretive and planning Banquo’s murder without her.
Q7. What ‘deed of dreadful note’ is Macbeth hinting at to his wife?
A. The murder of King Duncan.
B. The murder of Macduff’s family.
C. The murder of Banquo and Fleance.
D. His own planned suicide.
Ans. C. The murder of Banquo and Fleance
Q8. What does Macbeth ask the ‘seeling night’ to do?
A. To bring him a peaceful sleep.
B. To scarf up the tender eye of a pitiful day and hide his crimes.
C. To reveal the truth to the people of Scotland.
D. To bring the witches back to him.
Ans. B. To scarf up the tender eye of a pitiful day and hide his crimes.
Q9. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she told Macbeth, ‘Things without all remedy / Should be without regard’?
A. If you can’t fix it, don’t worry about it.
B. Every crime has a punishment.
C. They must find a doctor for his mental health.
D. They need to find a remedy for the plague.
Ans. A. If you can’t fix it, don’t worry about it.
Q10. “Nought’s had, all’s spent,
Where our desire is got without content;”
What does this quote by Lady Macbeth in Act III Scene ii of the play, Macbeth
reveal about her mental state? (PYQ2025)
A. She feels Duncan’s murder was worth the effort
B. She is greedy for power
C. She is afraid of spending money.
D. She realises the futility of power
Ans. D. She realises the futility of power
Fill Up Sentences
1. Lady Macbeth feels that their ‘desire is got without content’ because ________________.
Ans. Lady Macbeth feels that their ‘desire is got without content’ because they have the crown but no peace of mind.
2. Macbeth compares the current threat to his throne to a ‘scotch’d snake’ because ____________________.
Ans. Macbeth compares the current threat to his throne to a ‘scotch’d snake’ because they have killed the King, but his heirs and Banquo still pose a danger.
3. Macbeth expresses envy for Duncan’s state in the grave because __________________.
Ans. Macbeth expresses envy for Duncan’s state in the grave because the dead King is at peace and beyond the reach of treason or pain.
4. Lady Macbeth urges her husband to be ‘bright and jovial’ among his guests because ____________________.
Ans. Lady Macbeth urges her husband to be ‘bright and jovial’ among his guests because they need to hide their guilt and appear like legitimate rulers.
5. Macbeth tells his wife that they must make their faces ‘vizards’ to their hearts because ____________________.
Ans. Macbeth tells his wife that they must make their faces ‘vizards’ to their hearts because they must disguise their true, fearful feelings through false expressions.
6. Macbeth claims his mind is ‘full of scorpions’ because ____________________.
Ans. Macbeth claims his mind is ‘full of scorpions’ because he is tormented by the fact that Banquo and Fleance are still alive.
7. Lady Macbeth reminds Macbeth that ‘nature’s copy’s not eterne’ in Banquo and Fleance because ____________________.
Ans. Lady Macbeth reminds Macbeth that ‘nature’s copy’s not eterne’ in Banquo and Fleance because she wants to reassure him that they are mortal and can be killed.
8. Macbeth decides to keep Lady Macbeth ‘innocent of the knowledge’ regarding his latest plot because ____________________.
Ans. Macbeth decides to keep Lady Macbeth ‘innocent of the knowledge’ regarding his latest plot because the power dynamic has shifted, and he is now taking independent control of their crimes.
9. Macbeth calls upon the ‘seeling night’ to arrive because ____________________.
Ans. Macbeth calls upon the ‘seeling night’ to arrive because it will provide the darkness necessary to hide the murder of Banquo.
10. Macbeth believes that they must continue to commit ill deeds because ____________________.
Ans. Macbeth believes that they must continue to commit ill deeds because crimes that began with evil must be strengthened by more evil to be secure.
Extra Questions
SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. How does Lady Macbeth’s private soliloquy at the beginning of the scene contrast with her behavior when Macbeth enters?
Ans. At the start of the scene, Lady Macbeth’s short soliloquy reveals a woman broken by secret regret. She admits that ‘naught’s had, all’s spent’, suggesting that gaining the throne has brought zero satisfaction because it lacked peace. She even expresses a startling envy for the dead, believing it is better to be the victim than a murderer living in doubtful joy. However, the moment Macbeth enters, she immediately suppresses her own misery to play the role of the supportive, strong wife. She shifts from despair to criticism, scolding Macbeth for his isolation and telling him that what’s done is done. This contrast highlights her internal decay; she is forced to wear a mask of strength for her husband’s sake, even though she is privately succumbing to the same guilt that torments him.
Q2. Explain the significance of Macbeth’s ‘scotch’d the snake’ metaphor and what it reveals about his state of mind.
Ans. When Macbeth tells his wife that they have ‘scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it’, he is using a powerful metaphor to describe their precarious political position. The snake represents the threats to his kingship, originally King Duncan, but now extending to his heirs and Banquo. By killing Duncan, Macbeth has only wounded the threat; he fears the snake will heal and return to bite him with its former tooth. This reveals that Macbeth is trapped in a cycle of paranoia. He no longer sees the crown as a prize to be enjoyed, but as a target that must be defended through endless violence. His mind is so consumed by potential threats that he cannot find rest, proving that his ambition has transitioned from a desire for power into a desperate struggle for survival.
Q3. How does the theme of Sleep manifest in this scene for both characters?
Ans. In this scene, sleep is depicted not as a comfort, but as a lost luxury that highlights the Macbeths’ spiritual punishment. Macbeth confesses that both he and his wife are being shaken nightly by terrible dreams that make their existence a ‘restless ecstasy’. This psychological torture is so intense that Macbeth expresses envy for Duncan, who sleeps well in his grave. This is a profound reversal of the natural order, the living are suffering the ‘torture of the mind’, while the murdered victim enjoys the peace that the Macbeths killed him to obtain. The inability to sleep symbolizes their exclusion from the natural world and the divine. By murdering Duncan in his sleep, Macbeth has effectively ‘murdered sleep’ for himself, ensuring that his conscience will never allow him a moment of true repose again.
Q4. Describe the shift in the power dynamic between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as seen in this scene.
Ans. This scene marks a pivotal turning point where the power dynamic of the ‘partner of greatness’, begins to dissolve. In Act I, Lady Macbeth was the primary architect of their crimes, driving a hesitant Macbeth forward. Here, however, the roles are reversing. Macbeth is the one planning the next murder, the assassination of Banquo and he intentionally keeps the details from his wife. When she asks what is to be done, he tells her to remain ‘innocent of the knowledge’ until the deed is finished. This shows that Macbeth has become a lone tyrant who no longer requires her manipulation or emotional support. While she is trying to move past the blood they have shed, he is leaning deeper into darkness, effectively isolating her from his future plans and his descent into madness.
Q5. Analyze Macbeth’s invocation of the ‘seeling night’ and its connection to the theme of darkness.
Ans. As the scene concludes, Macbeth’s language becomes increasingly dark and ritualistic as he calls upon ‘seeling night’ to ‘scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day’. This imagery mirrors Lady Macbeth’s earlier prayer to the ‘thick night’ in Act I. By asking the night to ‘cancel and tear to pieces’ the bond that keeps Banquo alive, Macbeth is actively inviting evil forces to assist him. He notes that ‘light thickens’, which serves as both a literal description of twilight and a metaphor for the thickening of his own soul with sin. He believes the only way to secure his original crime is through more bloodshed. This demonstrates his total commitment to evil and his belief that darkness is his only remaining ally.
LONG QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. Analyze the significance of the ‘snake’ and ‘scorpion’ imagery in this scene. How do these animal metaphors reflect Macbeth’s evolving internal state?
Ans. Macbeth’s use of predatory and venomous animal imagery signifies his transition from a guilt-ridden soldier to a paranoid tyrant. When he claims they have ‘scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it’, he is expressing his belief that the threat to his throne is a living, regenerative organism. To Macbeth, the snake is the lineage of Duncan and the prophecy regarding Banquo’s heirs; though the head i.e. King Duncan is gone, the body remains dangerous. This imagery suggests that Macbeth no longer sees his enemies as human beings, but as pests that must be exterminated. Furthermore, his exclamation that his mind is ‘full of scorpions’ provides a visceral look at his mental agony. Unlike a snake, which is an external threat, scorpions suggest an internal infestation. They represent the stinging, intrusive thoughts of Banquo and Fleance that prick his conscience and ego. This shift in imagery from external threats to internal venom shows that Macbeth’s paranoia has become a self-inflicted poison. He is being eaten alive by his own fears, yet his only solution is to inflict more venom on the world around him. The metaphors highlight that while he has attained the crown, his mind has become a claustrophobic space filled with dangerous, crawling thoughts, leaving no room for the peace he so desperately craves.
Q2. In what ways does Macbeth’s envy of Duncan’s death serve as a commentary on the true cost of his ambition?
Ans. Macbeth’s admission that it is better to be with the dead than to live in ‘restless ecstasy’ is one of the most tragic moments of the scene. It serves as a bitter criticising commentary on his failed ambition, he murdered a King to achieve ultimate power, but instead, he achieved ultimate exhaustion. Macbeth views Duncan’s grave as a sanctuary where ‘treason has done his worst’, and nothing, not ‘steel nor poison’ can touch him further. This envy highlights the irony that Macbeth, the victor, is the one currently torturing his mind, while his victim is the one who sleeps well. This reveals that the true cost of Macbeth’s ambition is the permanent loss of peace and the destruction of the boundary between life and death. For Macbeth, life has become a ‘fitful fever’, a state of constant, agitated sickness. He realizes that by killing Duncan, he has entered a world where there is no security, as he himself has proven that even a King is not safe. The fact that he views the cold silence of the grave as a desirable state shows that he has already lost the life part of his kingship. He is a King of a hollow kingdom, envying the very person he destroyed because that person has found the one thing Macbeth can never have again, a quiet conscience and a dreamless sleep.
Q3. How does the Light vs. Darkness motif in the latter half of the scene illustrate the moral decay of Scotland under Macbeth’s rule?
Ans. As the scene progresses toward its conclusion, the physical setting mirrors the moral landscape. Macbeth’s observation that ‘light thickens’ and the ‘crow makes wing to the rooky wood’ is a powerful symbolic transition. The thickening of light suggests that the atmosphere of Scotland is becoming heavy, suffocating, and murky. It represents the loss of clarity, justice, and transparency that existed under Duncan. The transition from the ‘good things of day’ to ‘night’s black agents’ signifies that the natural order is being replaced by a predatory, nocturnal world. Under Macbeth’s rule, the day represents law, honesty, and the sun is ‘drooping and drowsing’, while the night representing murder, secrecy, and evil is rising to find its prey. This illustrates that Macbeth’s influence is literally dimming the light of his kingdom. He is no longer just a man committing a crime; he is a force of nature that is calling upon the ‘seeling night’ to blindfold the world. By preferring the ‘invisible hand’ of night to the ‘pitiful day’, Macbeth is rejecting the oversight of God and humanity. The moral decay is so complete that the King himself is praying for the sun to disappear so that his ‘black and deep desires’ can be executed without witness. Scotland is no longer a civil society, it has become a dark forest where only the most ill things can survive and grow strong.
Q4. Discuss the significance of Macbeth calling Lady Macbeth ‘dearest chuck’ and keeping her ‘innocent of the knowledge’ of his plan for Banquo.
Ans. The use of the term of endearment ‘dearest chuck’ is deceptively intimate, as it actually signals a growing emotional distance between the couple. While it sounds affectionate, it is also patronizing, marking a shift from Act 1 where he called her his ‘dearest partner of greatness’. By calling her ‘chuck’, Macbeth is treating her like a child or a domestic pet rather than an equal collaborator. His decision to keep her unaware regarding the murder of Banquo and Fleance is the most significant evidence of their deteriorating partnership. Previously, they were a unified front, but here Macbeth begins to operate in total isolation. This change reveals two things: first, that Macbeth has surpassed Lady Macbeth in his capacity for cold-blooded cruelty, and second, that he no longer trusts anyone, perhaps not even her. He wants her to ‘applaud the deed’ only after it is done, effectively turning her from a co-conspirator into a mere spectator of his tyranny. This isolation is a self-imposed prison; by keeping her in the dark, he is cutting off his only source of human connection and counsel. It marks the end of their shared journey and the beginning of their individual descent into madness. Their partnership in greatness has become a partnership in silence, where both are trapped in their own private versions of hell.
Q5. Analyze the phrase ‘Things bad begun, make strong themselves by ill’. How does this philosophy dictate the rest of the play’s trajectory?
Ans. This line serves as Macbeth’s personal manifesto for the remainder of the play and summarizes the vicious cycle of his kingship. Macbeth has reached the conclusion that because his reign began with a bad deed, the murder of Duncan, the only way to sustain that power is through more ill, the murder of Banquo, Macduff’s family, and others. He believes that evil is a disruptive force, it cannot be stabilized by returning to goodness, but only by doubling down on darkness. This philosophy dictates the play’s trajectory by ensuring that the violence will never stop. It explains why Macbeth cannot simply be a good king now that he has the crown; he is convinced that his throne is built on a foundation of sand that can only be hardened with blood. This mindset removes the possibility of redemption or confession, as he views ‘ill’ as a source of strength rather than a weakness. It sets the stage for the total devastation of Scotland, as Macbeth becomes a beast that must keep killing to feel secure. The tragedy of this philosophy is that it is a delusion; the more ‘ill’ he commits to make himself strong, the more his mind fractures and the more his subjects turn against him. Instead of making him strong, each new crime makes him more desperate and alone, leading inevitably to his final confrontation where he has nothing left but his ill deeds.