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Act II, Scene 1

Before going to sleep at Inverness Castle around midnight, Banquo and Fleance have one last conversation. Banquo speaks about how the night is not like any other, for there are no stars out. Macbeth enters, and Banquo compliments him on his great hospitality. Macbeth then learns that King Duncan has retired to his bed chamber. Banquo and Fleance retire to bed, leaving Macbeth alone with his fears. He sees a vision of a dagger and realizes it is not real when he grabs for it. He blinks his eyes to rid himself of the image. He is surprised to find it still there with blood dripping from it. He is still unable to grab the dagger and acknowledges it as "bloody business at hand." He turns to leave, for the bloody business is about to occur.

Act II, Scene 2

Lady Macbeth has set up everything her husband needs to carry out the murder of King Duncan. She has left him the daggers that he will use. She claims that if the king had not reminded her of her father, she would surely have killed him herself. Macbeth enters covered in blood and holding the daggers. He is nervous and shaken. Lady Macbeth instructs him to wash the blood from his hands and return the weapons to the King Duncan's bed chamber. He says that he cannot look upon the sight anymore and will not return. She calls him a coward and returns the daggers herself. As she leaves, a loud, repetitive knocking occurs at the castle, causing Macbeth to panic.

Act II, Scene 3

The repetitive knocking that occurs in the previous scene becomes greater. Finally, an intoxicated porter awakens and goes to the castle door. He imagines that he is opening hell's gate, and many sinners are outside wanting to enter. As the porter opens the door, Macduff and Lennox are standing before him. They have come to get King Duncan. Macbeth enters and offers to take them to the king's bed chamber. Macbeth leaves them both outside the door as he goes to wake the king. He returns wide-eyed and tells them of the great horror of King Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth enters calmly. Macduff tells her that it would ruin her gentleness if he told her the terrible news. Banquo is then informed of the murder as he enters. Lady Macbeth pretends to be surprised. Macbeth puts on a show of grieving in front of his guests. As he finishes his speech, Malcolm and Donalbain enter to hear of their father's murder. Macbeth confesses to killing the servants in retaliation of their obvious murdering of King Duncan.

Act II, Scene 4

Ross and an elderly man are conversing about King Duncan's murder the next morning. The man says that he has never seen such horrible times. Ross agrees, and they talk about the mighty falcon being killed by the measly owl, which reflects the murder of King Duncan by Macbeth. Macduff enters and joins the conversation. Macduff states that the servants who killed the king were more than likely hired to do so. Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected of their father's murder since they have fled the country. Macduff also reveals that Macbeth has been chosen king and is at Scone for the coronation ceremony.

King Macbeth and his queen

The Importance of the Porter Scene

In Macbeth, every scene must be played out in exact detail. It must be portrayed as if the play was actually the actors' own life story. Directing actors in Act II of Macbeth is crucial at this point. In Scene III, the porter scene, the actors must capture the precise mood and feeling. Things taken into consideration should be the relationship between the details of the porter's monologue and the events taking place at the castle, how the knocking at the door related to other moments in Act II when Macbeth heard the menacing knocks, and finally, why Shakespeare might have wished to create this mood at this particular point in the play. All of these are vital in performing the play just as Shakespeare had intended.

First and foremost, the relationship between the detail of the porter's monologue and the events taking place that night is very important. The porter imagines that he is opening the gates of hell where a group of sinners, including a greedy farmer, treasonous equivocator, and an English thief, are waiting to enter. Each sinner foreshadows what Macbeth will become (greedy, treasonous, and thieving). The porter opening "hell's gate" signifies the hellish deed that has been committed that very night inside the castle walls.

Secondly, determining how the knocking at the door related to other moments in Act II when Macbeth also heard pounding, is a crucial point. The knocking that Macbeth hears at the end of Scene II brings him to a state of panic, for he fears that people will find out that he has killed King Duncan. The knocking that starts at the beginning of Scene III is a foreshadowing of Macbeth's fears intensifying as more people are informed about the horrible murder, leading them to grow suspicious. His fears are confirmed with the porter opening the door to allow Macduff and Lennox entrance, two more men who will discover the murder that has taken place.

Finally, the reason why Shakespeare had wished to create the mood at this particular point in the play should also be considered. This is vital because the mood helps to transfer the main idea of the scene to the audience. Shakespeare wanted the audience to experience Macbeth's inner turmoil and confusion as he unsuccessfully tries to remain calm and composed. The mood reflects the dark atmosphere of the entire play.

In conclusion, the porter scene is crucial to Macbeth for many reasons. As the porter opens the door, he imagines that he is opening the gates of hell, which directly ties into the fact that a hellish act of murder has just been committed. The knocking relates to Macbeth's own fears that someone will discover his horrible deed at any moment. This scene also creates a dreadful mood that will be prevalent throughout Macbeth.

The Tragedy of Macbeth