Summary

The Tragedy of
Macbeth, Act II
Drama by William Shakespeare

Background
In Act I, Macbeth was told by three witches that he would
become king of Scotland. He hoped that this would happen
without his needing to do anything. However, Lady Macbeth
persuaded him that he must kill King Duncan while Duncan
is a guest in their castle.

Summary
Scene 1 takes place in the courtyard of Macbeth’s castle. It is
after midnight, and Banquo and his son, Fleance, are on their way
to bed. They notice that the moon has set and there are no stars
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in the sky, making the night very dark.

Macbeth enters with a servant. Banquo tells Macbeth that
Duncan has gone to bed after a very pleasant evening. Duncan
thanked Macbeth’s servants with gifts and has also sent a gift for
Lady Macbeth. It is a diamond, which Banquo gives to Macbeth.
Banquo says he dreamed last night about the weird sisters.
Macbeth claims that he never thinks about the witches, but
he says he would like to talk to Banquo sometime about their
prophesies. Macbeth asks for Banquo’s support. Banquo says he
will support Macbeth in any way that does not make him disloyal
to Duncan.
Banquo and Fleance leave to go to bed. Macbeth instructs his
servant to tell Lady Macbeth to ring a bell when his drink is ready.
The servant exits.

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II 1

 Summary

Macbeth suddenly sees a dagger, or knife, floating in the air

before him. In a soliloquy, he asks whether the dagger is real or soliloquy: a speech given when a
imaginary. He reaches for it but cannot grasp it. The imaginary character is alone on the stage.
dagger seems to be leading him toward Duncan’s room, and
Macbeth gets ready by taking out his own dagger. Drops of blood
appear on the imaginary dagger. Macbeth says that if he keeps
talking, he will lose his nerve to murder Duncan. A bell rings—
Lady Macbeth’s signal that she has drugged Duncan’s guards—
and Macbeth leaves for Duncan’s room.
Scene 2 takes place inside Macbeth’s castle. Lady Macbeth
is waiting for Macbeth to return from killing Duncan. She hears
Macbeth’s voice and worries that he has failed to do it. She says
that she would have killed Duncan herself, but he reminded her
of her father as he slept.
Macbeth enters, carrying bloody daggers. The murder
is done. He says that while he was killing Duncan, he heard
Donalbain and Malcolm in the next room. One cried out “Murder!”
in his sleep and woke his brother. They said their prayers and
went back to sleep. Overhearing this, Macbeth tried to say “Amen”
but could not. This bothers him, but Lady Macbeth tells him to
forget it. He also thought he heard a voice saying that Macbeth
had murdered sleep, so that he would never enjoy the comfort of
sleep again.
Lady Macbeth tells her husband to wash the blood from his READING CHECK
hands. She then realizes that Macbeth is still holding the murder How do Macbeth and Lady
weapons. She tells him to return the daggers to the sleeping ­Macbeth place the blame for
guards and smear the guards with Duncan’s blood. Macbeth is ­Duncan’s murder on his guards?

afraid to go back, so Lady Macbeth takes the daggers herself.

Macbeth is startled by the sound of knocking at the castle
gate. He wonders whether there is enough water in the ocean to
clean his hands of Duncan’s blood. Lady Macbeth returns and tells
him they must go to their room and put on their nightgowns.
Then they can say they were asleep during the murder. As the
knocking continues, they exit.
Scene 3 takes place in the castle, near the gate. A porter, or
doorman, responds to the knocking on the door. As he walks
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toward the door, he imagines he is a porter in hell, admitting

various sinners. He opens the door to Macduff and Lennox. After
joking about how much alcohol the porter drank last night,
Macduff asks for Macbeth.
Macbeth enters. Macduff says that Duncan asked him to
arrive early. Macbeth gives him directions, and Macduff goes
to wake Duncan. Lennox tells Macbeth that strange things
happened overnight. Strong winds carried screams of death and
prophesies of bad events. Some people felt the earth shake.

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II 2

 Summary

Macduff returns with the horrible news of Duncan’s murder.

He says this murder destroys order in the kingdom and is a crime
against God. As Macbeth and Lennox run to Duncan’s room,
Macduff calls for the alarm bell to be rung.
Lady Macbeth and then Banquo arrive. Banquo is shocked, READING CHECK
and Lady Macbeth pretends to be shocked. Macbeth and What action does Macbeth take to
Lennox return, along with Ross. Malcolm and Donalbain enter. help hide his guilt after Duncan’s
Macbeth and Lennox tell Duncan’s sons that their father has been murder becomes known?

murdered, and that his guards are the killers. Macbeth says that
he has killed the guards. Macduff demands to know why he has
done this, and Macbeth says his emotions made it impossible
for him to think clearly. Seeking to create a distraction, Lady
Macbeth faints.
While others tend to Lady Macbeth, Malcolm and Donalbain
have an aside conversation. They agree that they are in danger
and should get away. Banquo suggests that everyone change
out of their nightclothes and meet later to discuss the murder. All
but Malcolm and Donalbain exit. Malcolm says he will leave for
England, and Donalbain says he will go to Ireland. They leave to
get their horses right away.
Scene 4 takes place outside Macbeth’s castle. Ross is talking
to an old man. The old man says that nothing he has seen in 70
years has been as strange and terrible as the previous night. Ross
agrees and notes that, even though it is daytime, an unnatural
darkness is blocking the sun. The old man says that last Tuesday
an owl killed a falcon, which usually would not happen. Ross says
that Duncan’s horses went wild and broke out of their stalls.
Macduff enters. He reports that Duncan’s guards are believed
to be guilty of the murder. Ross wonders why they would do
it. Macduff says that they must have been hired or bribed by
someone. Since Malcolm and Donalbain have fled from Scotland,
they are probably the guilty ones.
Ross says that Macbeth is likely to become the next king, and
Macduff says he has already been named king. He has gone to
Scone, the traditional place where Scotland’s kings are crowned.
Ross says he will go there to see the ceremony. Macduff will
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return to his castle in Fife. The old man gives his blessing to Ross
and Macduff and to everyone who is trying to bring peace to
Scotland.

TURN & TALK

What problems do you predict Macbeth will face after he is
crowned king? Share your thoughts with a partner.

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II 3