Macbeth Scene Synopsis: Act Two

Scene 1: The night is dark and it is past midnight as Banquo and his son Fleance cross the palace courtyard on their way to bed. Banquo feels uneasy and is reluctant to sleep, for he fears he will dream of the witches' prophesies. Macbeth enters and Banquo tells him how pleased the king is with the Macbeths' hospitality. The two agree to discuss the prophesies at a later time, though Banquo makes it clear he will do so only as long as he remains loyal and true to the king. When Macbeth is left alone, his vivid imagination causes him to see a dagger in the air leading him to Duncan's chamber. Suddenly a bell rings, a pre-arranged signal from Lady Macbeth that Duncan's servants are asleep and the time is right for Macbeth to do the deed.

Scene 2: As she waits for her husband to murder the king and return to the courtyard, Lady Macbeth shows she is very tense, admitting she needing alcohol and that she was unable to stab Duncan herself. Sounds startle her, but her strength and practicality returns when Macbeth returns, deeply upset. He says he heard strange things, including a prophetic (foreshadowing) voice that declared: "Macbeth shall sleep no more." Seeing he has brought the bloody daggers with him, Lady Macbeth takes them back to the dead king's bedchambers herself. As knocking is heard at the castle entrance, she forces Macbeth to their bedchamber so they can wash their bloody hands and change their clothes.

Scene 3: The castle porter is awakened from his drunken sleep by the knocking at the castle gates. As he weaves his way across the courtyard, he pretends to be the porter of the gate of hell, letting in different kinds of sinners. His lines are used as comic relief in the play. He eventually opens the gates to Macduff and Lennox, who were asked by Duncan to awaken him early. Macbeth enters to investigate this early knocking. Macduff goes to the king's bedchambers while Lennox describes to Macbeth the unnatural disturbances of the night. Macduff returns to hysterically announce the bloody murder of the king, and orders the ringing of the alarm bell to wake the household. Macbeth and Lennox go to view the murder for themselves and when they return, Macbeth reveals he has killed Duncan's blood-covered grooms, supposedly acting in a fit of loyal rage. Lady Macbeth faints at this news. The nobles agree to dress and meet as soon as possible to decide on a course of action. Malcolm and Donalbain, sensing danger to themselves, make a plan to slip away quietly and leave the country.

Scene 4: In this short scene we learn of more unnatural events that occurred the night of King Duncan's murder. This scene takes place the day following the murder, and the sun has not risen. Macduff tells Ross and the Old Man that the king's two sons have fled, and are accused of their father's murder. He also reports that Duncan's body has been taken for burial, and that Macbeth has been named king. Ross says he plans to attend Macbeth's coronation, but Macduff refuses and says he'll return home to Fife. He hints that he fears these changes that are happening are not for the better.