Act II

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Macbeth murders King Duncan in his sleep. This is the central crime of the act and the point at which Macbeth crosses from thought into action. It becomes the basis of the tragedy, guilt, and fear tha…

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The floating dagger shows Macbeth’s disturbed mind and growing guilt before the crime. He wonders whether it is real or only a 'dagger of the mind'. The vision reflects his inner conflict and his dead…

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Lady Macbeth drugs the chamberlains’ possets so heavily that they cannot guard Duncan. She also prepares the daggers to frame them, and when Macbeth fails to return the daggers, she takes them back he…

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Lady Macbeth believes the evidence of guilt can be washed away easily. She thinks the crime can be hidden by cleaning their hands and returning to normal life. The line is ironic because guilt cannot …

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Macbeth hears an imagined voice telling him that he has murdered sleep. Sleep stands for peace, innocence, and rest, so this line shows that his crime has destroyed his own peace of mind. It also sugg…

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Macbeth is looking at his own bloody hands and feeling horror and regret. The sight of the blood shocks him because it makes the murder real. Lady Macbeth dismisses this as a foolish thought, showing …

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Macbeth becomes frightened, guilty, and confused. He hears noises, cannot say 'Amen', and feels that even water cannot wash away his bloodstained hands. His mind becomes unstable, showing that the mur…

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Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth is losing courage because he is too disturbed by the crime. She tells him to wash his hands, take back the daggers, and act normal. Her criticism shows her practical nature…