Macbeth, Act II, Scene 1

Macbeth
Act II, Scene 1

[previous scene] [Macbeth page] [next scene]

You can listen to some
music as you read.
Click on the icon above.
(You can also shut if off,
if you find it annoying.)

Shakespeare
for Scholars: Shakespeare
for the Rest of Us:

(The Court of Macbeth's Castle.)

It is later that same night, somewhere in Macbeth’s castle.

(Enter Banquo, and his son Fleance, bearing
a torch before him.)

BANQUO:
Banquo is talking with a new character, Fleance. Fleance is Banquo’s young son. Why this kid is up so late is not explained.

How goes the night, boy?

FLEANCE:
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.

BANQUO:
And she goes down at twelve.

FLEANCE:
It may be that Fleance is standing guard duty, and that his father Banquo has joined him for a bit.

I take't, 'tis later, sir.

BANQUO:
Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven;
Their candles are all out.
Fleance thinks it is after midnight. This line indicates that it is getting quite late, and the audience knows that the King is supposed to be murdered sometime soon. Can't you just feel the suspense?

Take thee that too. Banquo hands Fleance his dagger to hold.

A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers,
Banquo is somewhat troubled, though. Banquo tells his son Fleance that he would like to go to bed, “yet I would not sleep” (line 9). Perhaps he should try counting Macsheep.

Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose!
Now this is interesting. Banquo says that he has "cursed thoughts" which he is trying to restrain.

(Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.)

BANQUO:
Macbeth enters along with some servant holding a flashlight.

Give me my sword.
Who's there?

MACBETH:
A friend .

BANQUO:
What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed:
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices.
This diamond he greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up
In measureless content.

MACBETH:
Banquo cannot see who it is, so he asks for his sword.

Macbeth enters, and Banquo speaks to him.

Being unprepared,
Our will became the servant to defect;
Which else should free have wrought.

BANQUO:
All's well.
Macbeth says that they were unprepared for King Duncan's visit, and they did not have much to offer the King.

I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:
To you they have show'd some truth.

MACBETH:
Banquo casually tries to bring up the subject of the witches: “I dreamt last night of the three Weird sisters. To you, they have shown some truth” (lines 25-26).

I think not of them:
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
Macbeth claims that he has not even thought of them.

We would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.

BANQUO:
That is probably a lie, though, since he invites Banquo to "spend some words" upon the subject of the witches, at a later time.

At your kind 'st leisure.

MACBETH:

If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis,
It shall make honour for you.

BANQUO:
Macbeth hints that Banquo will be rewarded, if he sticks by Macbeth.

So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsell'd.

MACBETH:
Banquo says he will, as long as he can keep his "allegiance clear." His allegiance to who? Macbeth? Duncan?
Banquo seems suspicious. The audience seems bored.

Good repose the while!

BANQUO:
Thanks, sir: the like to you!
The two old friends suddenly seem to be speaking a bit formally to each other. Coulkd there be some tension between the two?

(Exeunt Banquo and Fleance.)

MACBETH:
Finally, Banquo and Fleance leave.

Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.
Macbeth sends the servant to bed. He may not want any witnesses. Macbeth also orders the servant to deliver a very important message to Lady Macbeth. "Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, she strike upon the bell. "
The servant goes off to find his sleeping place.

(Exit Servant.)

MACBETH:
Left alone, Macbeth knows what he has to do. That’s right. It is time for another soliloquy.

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
This time, Macbeth hallucinates, and thinks that he sees a knife floating in midair. “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” he asks (line 42).

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight ? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
He tries to touch it. His hand passes right through it. Impressive trick, huh?

As this which now I draw.

Macbeth draws his own dagger, and compares the two weapons. Is he still feeling a bit insecure, after Lady Macbeth insulted his manhood?

Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use .
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still,
Now, it appears that the dagger is leading him, in the same direction he was already going.
Then, the “floating” dagger changes.

And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one halfworld
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtain'd sleep;
He sees “gouts of blood” on the blade (line 55). And, the dagger seems to be beckoning, or leading him.

Witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl's his watch , thus with his stealthy pace.
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives:
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

Hecate was a witch. Actually, she was a sort of a "Queen of the Witches," or a "head honcho of witchingdom."

(A bell rings.)

MACBETH:
I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Macbeth follows, and then he hears the ringing of a bell.

Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.
Either this is the signal from Lady Macbeth, or the stage manager is trying to cut Macbeth’s speech short.

(Exit.) Macbeth exits, at last. He goes off to perform the evil deed. The scene ends.

The summaries provided
herein are protected by copyright.

Do not reproduce without
permission of the author.

	You can listen to some music as you read. Click on the icon above. (You can also shut if off, if you find it annoying.)


Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for the Rest of Us:
*(The Court of Macbeth's Castle.)*	It is later that same night, somewhere in Macbeth’s castle.
*(Enter Banquo, and his son Fleance, bearing* *a torch before him.)* *BANQUO:*	Banquo is talking with a new character, Fleance. Fleance is Banquo’s young son. Why this kid is up so late is not explained.
How goes the night, boy? *FLEANCE:* The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. *BANQUO:* And she goes down at twelve. *FLEANCE:*	It may be that Fleance is standing guard duty, and that his father Banquo has joined him for a bit.
I take't, 'tis later, sir. *BANQUO:* Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven; Their candles are all out.	Fleance thinks it is after midnight. This line indicates that it is getting quite late, and the audience knows that the King is supposed to be murdered sometime soon. Can't you just feel the suspense?
Take thee that too.	Banquo hands Fleance his dagger to hold.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers,	Banquo is somewhat troubled, though. Banquo tells his son Fleance that he would like to go to bed, “yet I would not sleep” (line 9). Perhaps he should try counting Macsheep.
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose!	Now this is interesting. Banquo says that he has "cursed thoughts" which he is trying to restrain.
*(Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.)* *BANQUO:*	Macbeth enters along with some servant holding a flashlight.
Give me my sword. Who's there? *MACBETH:* A friend . *BANQUO:* What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed: He hath been in unusual pleasure, and Sent forth great largess to your offices. This diamond he greets your wife withal, By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up In measureless content. *MACBETH:*	Banquo cannot see who it is, so he asks for his sword. Macbeth enters, and Banquo speaks to him.
Being unprepared, Our will became the servant to defect; Which else should free have wrought. *BANQUO:* All's well.	Macbeth says that they were unprepared for King Duncan's visit, and they did not have much to offer the King.
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have show'd some truth. *MACBETH:*	Banquo casually tries to bring up the subject of the witches: “I dreamt last night of the three Weird sisters. To you, they have shown some truth” (lines 25-26).
I think not of them: Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,	Macbeth claims that he has not even thought of them.
We would spend it in some words upon that business, If you would grant the time. *BANQUO:*	That is probably a lie, though, since he invites Banquo to "spend some words" upon the subject of the witches, at a later time.
At your kind 'st leisure. *MACBETH:*
If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis, It shall make honour for you. *BANQUO:*	Macbeth hints that Banquo will be rewarded, if he sticks by Macbeth.
So I lose none In seeking to augment it, but still keep My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counsell'd. *MACBETH:*	Banquo says he will, as long as he can keep his "allegiance clear." His allegiance to who? Macbeth? Duncan? Banquo seems suspicious. The audience seems bored.
Good repose the while! *BANQUO:* Thanks, sir: the like to you!	The two old friends suddenly seem to be speaking a bit formally to each other. Coulkd there be some tension between the two?
*(Exeunt Banquo and Fleance.)* *MACBETH:*	Finally, Banquo and Fleance leave.
Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.	Macbeth sends the servant to bed. He may not want any witnesses. Macbeth also orders the servant to deliver a very important message to Lady Macbeth. "Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, she strike upon the bell. " The servant goes off to find his sleeping place.
*(Exit Servant.)* *MACBETH:*	Left alone, Macbeth knows what he has to do. That’s right. It is time for another soliloquy.
Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.	This time, Macbeth hallucinates, and thinks that he sees a knife floating in midair. “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” he asks (line 42).
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight ? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable	He tries to touch it. His hand passes right through it. Impressive trick, huh?
As this which now I draw.	Macbeth draws his own dagger, and compares the two weapons. Is he still feeling a bit insecure, after Lady Macbeth insulted his manhood?
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use . Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses, Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still,	Now, it appears that the dagger is leading him, in the same direction he was already going. Then, the “floating” dagger changes.
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one halfworld Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain'd sleep;	He sees “gouts of blood” on the blade (line 55). And, the dagger seems to be beckoning, or leading him.
Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder, Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch , thus with his stealthy pace. With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabout, And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.	Hecate was a witch. Actually, she was a sort of a "Queen of the Witches," or a "head honcho of witchingdom."
*(A bell rings.)* *MACBETH:* I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.	Macbeth follows, and then he hears the ringing of a bell.
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell.	Either this is the signal from Lady Macbeth, or the stage manager is trying to cut Macbeth’s speech short.
*(Exit.)*	Macbeth exits, at last. He goes off to perform the evil deed. The scene ends.