Act two opens with Banquo telling of his “cursed thoughts” and inability to sleep and tells Macbeth of his dreams of the “Weird sisters”. This opening with Banquo and his son Fleance sets up the act for the dark deeds that are to occur. It displays Macbeth’s ability to lie and displays the change in Macbeth in his ability to lie to the man who was previously his best friend. Having Fleance in this opening links in with the prophecies as Macbeth who is about to become king, is facing the future king without knowing the devastation his actions will cause.
The seeing of the dagger “Is this a dagger I see before me” is evidence of the evil manifestations of the mind of Macbeth. It can be interpreted as supernatural but I see it as Macbeth’s longing to be King. This “Dagger” of the mind strengthens Macbeth’s resolve to kill Duncan. The dagger escapade is filled with evil and horror and is the first sign of the losing of Macbeth’s mind and morals.
Lady Macbeth in scene two of this act reveals that “Had he not resembled my father as he slept” (2.2.12–13) she would have killed him. Macbeth emerges from the room covered in blood and carrying the daggers. The effect of not seeing the murder is far more chilling as the audience as it gives the audience a chance to imagine. This first brief emergence of the blood of the murder sets up for the theme that resonates throughout the play and this is the first encounter the audience has with it. The image of the Macbeths’ covered in blood is an important one. The importance of blood is stressed throughout the play, carrying with it the connotations of murder, death, life but also the only way to be king is either to have blood or draw blood and the Macbeths’ were forced to choose the latter. Macbeth in this scene also tells of his inability to say “Amen”. Showing he is so steeped in evil and devilry after the deed there is no salvation for him. The evil spirits have taken over Macbeth and there is no way back. This is reinforced when Macbeth asks “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” although Lady Macbeth says “A little water will clear us of the deed” it is clear they have gone too far and although they will wash the physical traces away they cannot wash the blood from their souls.
The porter in scene 3 is the first person we see not involved in the murder after it occurred.
Not merely a drunkard this porter symbolises the guard of the gates of hell, hell being the place Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have created. “If a man were the porter of a hell gate, he should have the old turning key” and “I’ll devil porter it no further”.
Scene four of Act two and the last scene ends with the dubious Ross and Macduff speaking of how they are not attending the coronation of Macduff. Macbeth may have got his wish as King but it is clear not everyone is happy about it.
The rebelling of nature and parralels being drawn with Macbeth's killing of Banquo is discussed in this scene, the horses eating eachother and the small bird killing the eagle. Life in Scotland has been turned on it's head. Nature is rebelling and the natural order has changed. With the killing of Duncan, Scotland has reached a dark, dark age.
Good comments. Does the Porter scene have any other significance?
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