Chapter 2
ACT II SCENE I – Banquo and his son Fleance enter Macbeth’s castle at night. Banquo remarks on the darkness and the hour. Macbeth arrives with a servant, and Banquo discusses recent gifts from King Duncan and the strange dream about the three witches. Macbeth refuses to speak of the witches and promises to speak later.
MACBETH then experiences a famous soliloquy in which he sees a floating dagger pointing toward Duncan’s chamber, imagines blood on its blade, and hears confusing, supernatural voices. He resolves to go forward with the murder and hears a bell that he interprets as a signal.
ACT II SCENE II – Lady Macbeth, alone, boasts that the drunken grooms are incapacitated by a drug she has given them. Macbeth enters, proclaiming that he has “done the deed.” They discuss the sounds they heard; Macbeth describes hearing a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep.” Lady Macbeth chastises him for his trembling and orders him to wash the blood from his hands and to return the daggers to the scene. Macbeth refuses, terrified of the blood, and Lady Macbeth takes the daggers herself, saying she will smear the grooms with blood so they appear guilty. Knocking at the castle door interrupts them. Macbeth, increasingly paranoid, wonders if any ocean could wash the blood from his hands. Lady Macbeth re‑enters, urging him to put on nightgown and calm down.
ACT II SCENE III – The Porter provides a comic “watchman at Hell’s gate” monologue, joking about various professions seeking entry to Hell. Macduff and Lennox arrive, having been awakened by the knocking. They encounter the Porter, who jokes about the effects of drink. Macbeth enters, greets them, and says the king has not yet risen. He promises to fetch Macduff to the king’s chamber. Lennox and Macbeth discuss the strange, violent weather that night, hinting at unnatural omens.
Soon after, Macduff, Lennox, and Macbeth return; Macduff discovers King Duncan’s murdered body, exclaims horror, and declares the crime a “sacrilegious murder” that has broken the temple of the Lord. Macbeth feigns shock, while Lennox comments on the chaos. The alarum bell rings; panic spreads. Lady Macbeth appears, demanding to know the cause of the trumpet call. Macduff, Macbeth, Lennox, and others proclaim the murder and the loss of the King. Banquo enters, shocked, and Macduff informs the assembled company that Duncan is dead. Macbeth addresses Malcolm and Donalbain, telling them the “spring” of their blood has been cut. Macduff reports that the king’s own chambers show the servants covered in blood; the grooms are arrested. Macbeth claims remorse for killing them (misstated as “they”), but the focus remains on Duncan’s death.
ACT II SCENE IV – Ross and an Old Man meet outside the castle. The Old Man recounts strange omens: a falcon attacked by an owl, horses breaking their stalls, and violent storms, all reflecting the unnatural act of regicide. Ross informs him that Macduff has come to the castle. Macduff reports that Duncan’s murder is known and that suspicion falls on those who fled: Malcolm and Donalbain have escaped to England and Ireland respectively, making them likely culprits. Ross predicts that Macbeth will soon be proclaimed king at Scone. The scene ends with the Old Man giving a blessing to those who seek to turn “bad into good.”