# Scene I explained — Macbeth

> Chapter companion for Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Banquo and Fleance discuss the late hour and Banquo's troubled mind. Macbeth enters, and they exchange brief words about the witches' prophecies. After Banquo leaves, Macbeth hallucinates a floating dagger leading him toward Duncan's chamber, and he resolves to commit the murder.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ambition and Power

Macbeth's ambition drives him toward regicide despite his hesitation.

### Guilt and Conscience

Macbeth's hallucination of the dagger reveals his inner turmoil and guilt before the murder.

### Supernatural and Evil

The dagger vision and references to witchcraft and Hecate evoke supernatural forces influencing Macbeth's actions.

## Character check-ins

### Banquo

Restless and troubled, Banquo speaks of cursed thoughts and dreams of the weird sisters.

### Fleance

Accompanies his father Banquo, carrying a torch.

### Macbeth

Wrestles with his conscience and hallucinates a dagger before resolving to kill Duncan.

## Key lines

> Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger floating in front of him, its handle pointing toward his hand, and tries to grasp it.

_This hallucination symbolizes Macbeth's internal conflict and his descent into madness._

> 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.

Macbeth declares he will proceed with the murder, interpreting the bell as a death knell for Duncan.

_Macbeth commits to the act, showing his resolve and the finality of his decision._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters