Act 2, Scene 1 – Macbeth Sees the Dagger
Macbeth goes to kill Duncan and sees a vision of a dagger.
“Their candles are all out” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
There are no stars shining. The darkness symbolises the evil Macbeth is about to do.
“That business”
Macbeth has repeated the euphemism again to cover the act of evil he is about to do as
well as the evil of the Witches.
“Allegiance clear” – Character: Banquo
Macbeth promises Banquo that if he supports him, he will ‘honour’ him but Banquo says
he will only help if he can keep a clear conscience which is more important to him than
his ambition. This shows that he is loyal to Duncan.
Banquo’s response shows that he is more moral than Macbeth but his mention of the
Witches may hint that he is thinking about acting on the prophecies.
“A dagger of the mind”
Macbeth is imagining a dagger as the pressure is getting to him and he is losing his
insanity.
“Mine eyes are made the fools o’the other senses” – Theme: Reality and Appearances
Macbeth isn’t sure whether the dagger he sees is real or not. It’s not clear to the
audience if the Witches have created the hallucination or he’s imaging it.
“Nature seems dead”
The goodness is dead which represents that Duncan is dead.
“Wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep”
Macbeth is going to kill Duncan in his sleep. This foreshadows what will happen to him
once the murder is done. It will haunt him and he will never rest again.
“With Tarquin’s ravishing strides”
Macbeth is comparing himself to Tarquin, a violent Roman prince who used to rape
women, showing that Macbeth is aware of how his name will forever be associated with
evil like Tarquin. Tarquin killing the beauty – Macbeth killing the good.
“Moves like a ghost”
This represents how the old brave and good Macbeth will be dead like a ghost after
committing the murder.
“Summons thee to heaven or to hell”
This suggests that Macbeth is willing to do the act of evil and face the consequences
where Duncan would either go to heaven or to hell.
Macbeth goes to kill Duncan and sees a vision of a dagger.
“Their candles are all out” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
There are no stars shining. The darkness symbolises the evil Macbeth is about to do.
“That business”
Macbeth has repeated the euphemism again to cover the act of evil he is about to do as
well as the evil of the Witches.
“Allegiance clear” – Character: Banquo
Macbeth promises Banquo that if he supports him, he will ‘honour’ him but Banquo says
he will only help if he can keep a clear conscience which is more important to him than
his ambition. This shows that he is loyal to Duncan.
Banquo’s response shows that he is more moral than Macbeth but his mention of the
Witches may hint that he is thinking about acting on the prophecies.
“A dagger of the mind”
Macbeth is imagining a dagger as the pressure is getting to him and he is losing his
insanity.
“Mine eyes are made the fools o’the other senses” – Theme: Reality and Appearances
Macbeth isn’t sure whether the dagger he sees is real or not. It’s not clear to the
audience if the Witches have created the hallucination or he’s imaging it.
“Nature seems dead”
The goodness is dead which represents that Duncan is dead.
“Wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep”
Macbeth is going to kill Duncan in his sleep. This foreshadows what will happen to him
once the murder is done. It will haunt him and he will never rest again.
“With Tarquin’s ravishing strides”
Macbeth is comparing himself to Tarquin, a violent Roman prince who used to rape
women, showing that Macbeth is aware of how his name will forever be associated with
evil like Tarquin. Tarquin killing the beauty – Macbeth killing the good.
“Moves like a ghost”
This represents how the old brave and good Macbeth will be dead like a ghost after
committing the murder.
“Summons thee to heaven or to hell”
This suggests that Macbeth is willing to do the act of evil and face the consequences
where Duncan would either go to heaven or to hell.
