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Macbeth Act 2 Summary: The Murder of King Duncan

Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth serves as the play's psychological and narrative pivot point. In these scenes, the protagonist moves from contemplating ambition to committing an irreversible crime against the crown and nature itself.

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Scene 1: The Dagger of the Mind

The act begins in the middle of the night at Inverness. Macbeth encounters Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo admits he has been dreaming of the Weird Sisters, but Macbeth falsely claims he has not thought of them. Once alone, Macbeth experiences a famous hallucination: a floating dagger pointing toward King Duncan’s chamber. This vision represents his growing guilt and the internal conflict between his morality and his ambition. A bell tolls, which Macbeth interprets as a signal from Lady Macbeth that the guards have been drugged and it is time to act.

Scene 2: The Deed and the Guilt

Lady Macbeth waits anxiously for Macbeth to return. She mentions that she would have killed the King herself if he hadn't resembled her father. Macbeth enters, visibly shaken, holding the bloody daggers. He is paralyzed by the realization of his crime and claims he heard a voice crying out that he has 'murdered sleep.' When he refuses to return the daggers to the scene to frame the guards, Lady Macbeth takes charge, placing the weapons herself and smearing the guards with blood. She famously tells him that 'a little water clears us of this deed,' contrasting with Macbeth’s profound sense of permanent stain.

Scene 3: Discovery and Chaos

A porter provides brief comic relief before Macduff and Lennox arrive to wake the King. Macduff discovers Duncan’s body, sparking immediate panic. Macbeth kills the two guards in a feigned fit of rage, claiming he did so out of love for the King, though his real motive is to prevent them from speaking. Fearing for their own lives, Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, decide to flee the country—Malcolm to England and Donalbain to Ireland. Their sudden departure makes them the primary suspects in their father's assassination.

Scene 4: Nature in Turmoil

The act concludes with a conversation between Ross and an Old Man. They discuss strange, unnatural events occurring in Scotland, such as horses eating each other and an owl killing a falcon, symbolizing how the murder of a rightful king has disrupted the natural order. Macduff reveals that Macbeth has been named King and is headed to Scone for his coronation. However, Macduff’s decision to return to his home in Fife rather than attend the ceremony hints at his growing suspicion and future opposition to Macbeth’s rule.

Why is the porter scene included in Act 2?

The porter scene serves as comic relief to break the intense tension following the murder. It also uses symbolism to suggest that Macbeth’s castle has become a literal gateway to hell.

What does 'Macbeth shall sleep no more' mean?

This phrase signifies that by killing the King in his sleep, Macbeth has destroyed his own peace of mind. Sleep represents innocence and healing, which he can no longer access due to his guilt.

How does Lady Macbeth react to the murder compared to Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth is initially cold, pragmatic, and dismissive of the psychological impact, focusing on cleaning the evidence. Macbeth is immediately consumed by regret and metaphysical fear.

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