Act 2, Scene 1 — Macbeth — Study Shakespeare

The argument Midnight. Banquo and his son Fleance can't sleep. Macbeth dismisses them and is immediately confronted by a vision: a dagger floating before him, pointing toward Duncan's chamber. He follows it. The bell rings.

Enter Banquo and Fleance with a torch before him.

First appearance

BANQUO

Uneasy in this scene — he can't sleep, he's been dreaming of the Witches, something in him senses something wrong. But he cannot name it. He refuses Macbeth's offer with perfect courtesy ('so I lose none / In seeking to augment it, good repose') but he refuses it clearly. He will support Macbeth only if his conscience stays clean. Watch how his caution functions: he won't be recruited, but he also won't accuse. He's careful, not heroic.

BANQUO Banquo checking the time with his son—both restless in the dark

How goes the night, boy?

How late is it, boy?

What time is it?

what time

FLEANCE Fleance reporting what he doesn't know—the moon is down and he can't hear the clock

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

The moon has set. I haven't heard the clock strike.

The moon's gone. I didn't hear a bell.

moon down no clock yet

BANQUO Banquo calculating—midnight is the probable time

And she goes down at twelve.

And it sets at midnight.

The moon sets at twelve.

sets at 12

FLEANCE Fleance guessing it's later than midnight—sensing the depth of night

I take’t, ’tis later, sir.

I think it's later than that, sir.

I think it's later than that.

feels later

BANQUO ≋ verse Banquo unable to rest—his mind is uneasy despite his body's fatigue

Hold, take my sword.—There’s husbandry in heaven;

Their candles are all out. Take thee that too.

A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,

And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,

Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature

Gives way to in repose!

Take my sword—there's economy in heaven. Even the stars have gone dark. Here, take this too. A heavy weight presses down on me like lead, and yet I cannot sleep. Merciful powers, keep away the cursed thoughts that nature wants to give me in sleep.

Take my sword. Even the stars have gone out—heaven is saving its light. I'm exhausted but can't sleep. God, please don't let me have the dark dreams that are coming.

take my sword stars are out im so tired but cant sleep keep bad dreams away

Enter Macbeth and a Servant with a torch.

Give me my sword.—Who’s there?

MACBETH Macbeth identifying himself simply—lie or truth unclear

A friend.

I'm a friend.

A friend.

friend

BANQUO ≋ verse Banquo delivering good news—Duncan was pleased and generous

What, sir, not yet at rest? The King’s abed:

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.

Not yet at rest, sir? The King has gone to bed. He's been unusually happy and generous. He sent great rewards to your officers. He's given this diamond to your wife with his gratitude, calling her the finest hostess, and he's shut himself away in complete contentment.

You're still up? The King's asleep. He was in a great mood and gave out lots of gifts. He sent your wife a diamond and said she was the best hostess, and he went to bed very happy.

king sleeping he was happy gave gifts diamond 4 ur wife called her best hostess going to bed pleased

MACBETH ≋ verse Macbeth excusing his lack of preparation—a lie wrapped in courtesy

Being unprepar’d,

Our will became the servant to defect,

Which else should free have wrought.

Because we were unprepared, our will became limited by what we lacked, when we otherwise could have given freely.

We weren't ready for the King. If we'd had more time, we could have done better.

didnt expect him could have done more if wed prepared

BANQUO ≋ verse Banquo raising the Witches—testing whether Macbeth is thinking about them

All’s well.

I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters:

To you they have show’d some truth.

All is well. I dreamed last night of the three Witches. To you they showed some truth.

It's fine. I've been dreaming about those three witches. Some of what they said to you has come true.

all good dreamed of the witches their predictions some true

↩ Callback to 1-3 Banquo mentions dreaming of the Witches and notes that some of their prophecies have come true. This threads back to 1-3 where Macbeth received the prophecies of Glamis, Cawdor, and King.

MACBETH ≋ verse Macbeth denying he thinks of them, but suggesting a future conversation

I think not of them:

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

We would spend it in some words upon that business,

If you would grant the time.

I don't think about them. But when we have time later, we should discuss that business, if you'll allow it.

I haven't thought about them. But we should talk about it sometime, if you want.

not thinking about them but we should talk later if u want

BANQUO Banquo declining the implicit offer—giving permission but also showing caution

At your kind’st leisure.

Whenever it's convenient for you.

Whenever you want.

anytime

MACBETH ≋ verse Macbeth making an offer—if Banquo sides with him, he'll gain honor

If you shall cleave to my consent, when ’tis,

It shall make honour for you.

If you stand with me when the time comes, it will bring you honor.

If you support me when this happens, you'll benefit greatly.

if u stick w me u'll get honor and power

BANQUO ≋ verse Banquo refusing the offer clearly—keeping his conscience clean

So I lose none

In seeking to augment it, but still keep

My bosom franchis’d, and allegiance clear,

I shall be counsell’d.

As long as I don't lose my honor by seeking more, and keep my conscience clear and my loyalty pure, I'll listen to what you have to say.

As long as I don't have to betray myself or my king, I'll hear you out.

only if i keep my conscience clean and loyalty clear then im listening

MACBETH Macbeth dismissing Banquo courteously but firmly

Good repose the while!

Sleep well.

Get some sleep.

rest well

BANQUO Banquo responding formally—the exchange is complete

Thanks, sir: the like to you.

Thank you, sir. And the same to you.

Thanks. Sleep well too.

thanks u 2

[_Exeunt Banquo and Fleance._]

MACBETH ≋ verse Macbeth giving orders to his servant—the bell will be the signal

Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,

She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

Go tell your mistress that when my drink is ready, she should ring the bell. Then go to bed.

Tell your lady to ring the bell when the drink is ready. Then get out of here.

tell mistress ring bell when drink ready then sleep

[_Exit Servant._]

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee:—

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

As this which now I draw.

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;

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 half-world

Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

The curtain’d sleep. Witchcraft celebrates

Pale Hecate’s off’rings; 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.

[_A bell rings._]

I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.

Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell

That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

[_Exit._]

The Reckoning

The castle is dark, Duncan is sleeping, and the play slows to a walk for one of its most carefully controlled build-sequences. Banquo encounters Macbeth by accident — neither expected the other. The brief exchange reveals that the Witches are on Banquo's mind; he's been dreaming of them. Macbeth lies smoothly ('I think not of them') and makes a proposal that Banquo politely declines: there might be honor in this if you follow along. Banquo will support Macbeth only with his 'bosom franchis'd' — his conscience free. He will not be recruited. The dagger soliloquy that follows is one of the most studied speeches in the play and also one of the most misread. It is not a vision urging Macbeth forward. It is a vision that Macbeth uses to diagnose his own state: is this real, or is his mind creating what he desires? 'Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight?' He reaches out and can't touch it. He concludes it is 'a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain.' He knows he's hallucinating. He goes anyway. The bell is Lady Macbeth's signal. 'Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven or to hell.' The scene ends before the murder begins — the curtain falls on his decision, not his act.

If this happened today…

It's 3am. You run into someone in the dark hallway who you didn't expect. They mention something they've been thinking about — something that touches the thing you're about to do. You say 'no no, I'm not thinking about that.' You're both pretending the meeting is accidental. Then they leave, and alone in the dark you see the thing you're about to do as if it's already real, as if it's already been decided. A clock sounds. You go.

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