Macbeth Act II

Banquo and Fleance walk through Inverness

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Banquo walks with his son, Fleance, through the torch-lit halls of Inverness. Banquo has not been sleeping because he's been having "cursed thoughts" of the weird sisters (2.1. 7). Macbeth enters the scene and Banquo is surprised to see him still awake at the late night hours. When Banquo asks if Macbeth is also thinking about the witches' prophecy, Macbeth quickly averts the question by saying, "I think not of them" (2.1. 21). Macbeth and Banquo agree to discuss the witches at a later date.

Macbeth's Dagger Hallucination

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After Banquo and Fleance leave, Macbeth becomes enthralled in a hallucination where he envisions a dagger aimed at King Duncan. Macbeth is terrorized by this vision and goes back and forth deciphering whether or not the dagger is real. Macbeth finally comes to the realization that the dagger is simply a hallucination of the mind when he states, "There's no such/ thing./ It is the bloody business which informs/ Thus to mine eyes" (2.1. 47-49).

Lady Macbeth Rings the Bell

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Lady Macbeth rings the bell, signifying that the chamberlains are asleep and that it is time for Macbeth to kill Duncan. Macbeth's soliloquy is cut short along with any remaining doubts that might hold him back. Macbeth still does not feel like Duncan should be killed because he talks to himself about warning Duncan to not listen for the bell. Macbeth states, "Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell/ That summons thee to heaven or to hell" (2.1. 62-64).

Macbeth's Paranoia

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Scene II opens with Lady Macbeth fearing that the chamberlains woke up and Macbeth was not able to kill Duncan. Macbeth then enters and tells her, "I have done the deed" (2.2. 14). Macbeth is not pleased with himself and looks at his bloody hands in disgust. Lady Macbeth then scoffs at his guilty nature. Macbeth also goes on to say he heard strange voices telling him that he shall sleep no more.

Lady Macbeth Finishes the Deed

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Lady Macbeth is angry that Macbeth did not leave the daggers in the room to frame the chamberlains. When she commands her husband to go back and do it, he replies with, "I'll go no more/ I am afraid to think what I have done" (2.2. 51-52). Lady Macbeth is even more frustrated, calling him a coward and taking matters in to her own hands. She ultimately ends up going back to the room to put the daggers near the chamberlains' bodies.

Porter's Reference to Hell

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Scene III opens with a drunk porter stumbling to answer the door to the castle. He goes on to compare himself to a porter of hell and makes jokes about the effects of alcohol on sexual performance. Macduff and Lennox enter the castle and question Macbeth if the king is leaving that day. Macbeth suspiciously replies, "He does. He did appoint so" (2.3. 26). Macduff then proceeds to check on the king and discovers that he has been brutally murdered.

Malcolm and Donalbain Flee the Country

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Malcolm and Donalbain arrive at the scene and decide to flee the country because they fear they are next on the killer's agenda. Malcolm retreats to England, while Donalbain escapes to Ireland. Meanwhile, Macduff continues to raise suspicions on Macbeth, especially when he asks why Macbeth killed the two chamberlains, who were the only witnesses to Duncan's murder. To distract Macduff and the others, Lady Macbeth pretends to faint so the men can "Look to the lady" (2.3. 98).

Ross Discusses the Foul Weather with the Old Man

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Ross and an old man begin Scene IV discussing how unnatural the weather has been since King Duncan's death. They even mention how Duncan's horses, "Turned wild in nature" (2.4. 16). It can be inferred that this unnatural turn of events has to do with the Weird Sisters. Macduff enters the scene and tells Ross that Malcolm and Donalbain are suspects. However, the tone in Macduff's voice indicates he does not believe so. Macduff tells Ross he is going back to Fife instead of Macbeth's coronation.