Macbeth Act 2

Banquo and Macbeth Meet in the Hall

1 CE

While Banquo is walking in the castle with his son, Fleance, he runs into Macbeth. He tells Macbeth that even though it is passed midnight he wants to stay awake. He says that his sleep has had "cursed thoughts" (2.1.8) about the Weird Sisters, which the reader can infer as nightmares about the three witches.

Macbeth Sees the Dagger

2

Macbeth has a vision of a dagger with the handle directed toward him while the blade points toward Duncan. He comes to the conclusion that he is seeing the vision due to his unease over killing Duncan. Ultimately, this vision is what convinces Macbeth to commit to killing Duncan.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in the Hall

3

Lady Macbeth is at first talking to herself about how she believed Macbeth was killing Duncan as she waited. She remarks that she could have killed Duncan if he hadn't looked so much like her father while sleeping.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in the Hall

4

Macbeth joins Lady Macbeth in the hallway after murdering Duncan, carrying the daggers he had just used. He comments about how he heard the chamberlains praying after he committed the murder and wanted to say "amen" but couldn't because of what he just did. Lady Macbeth becomes frustrated with Macbeth because he failed to leave the daggers with the chamberlains in order to frame them for the crime. She takes the daggers herself to their room.

The Porter and Lennox and Macduff's Arrival

5

The porter provides comedic relief after the grizzly murder of King Duncan; he stumbles around drunkenly talking about how alcohol causes three things: sleepiness, urination, and sexual impotence. The porter opens the door to let in Lennox and Macduff, who have come to see King Duncan.Macbeth enters the scene and Macduff asks about the whereabouts of King Duncan. Macbeth curtly answers Macduff by telling him that Duncan was still asleep in his chamber.

Macduff's Discovery

6

While Macduff goes to wake the king, Lennox tells Macbeth about the stormy weather the night before, calling it stronger than any storm he ever remembers. Macduff comes running and yelling from Duncan's chamber after discovering the dead body. Macbeth, Lennox, and all the other nobles come running. Lady Macbeth is horrified something like this could happen in her house. Malcolm and Donalbain discover the crowd and are informed their father has been killed.

Malcolm and Donalbain Flee

7

Malcolm and Donalbain whisper to each other that they do not feel safe. They know that if they stay they will be killed next. They decide to flee, each in different directions. During this event, Macbeth tells Macduff that he has killed the suspected murderers (the chamberlains) in a fit of rage over his dead king.

Ross and Macduff Discuss

8

Ross discusses the happenings of the past few days with an old man, and they agree on how odd it has been. They swap ominous stories of an owl killing a falcon and Duncan's horses escaping and eating each other. Macduff comes out of the castle and tells them that Macbeth has been made king. Macduff comments that the chamberlains are the most obvious suspects but the reader can infer that he himself doesn't believe that they did it.