Important Quotes from Macbeth (Act II)

Flashcards covering important quotes and their significance from Act II of Macbeth.

What are the circumstances and significance of Macbeth's quote: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?"

Circumstances: This occurs during Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 1 as he is walking toward King Duncan\'s chamber to commit murder.

Significance: It marks the beginning of Macbeth\'s psychological unraveling and hallucinations. The dagger represents both his intense ambition and the deep-seated guilt already manifesting in his mind, suggesting that the 'bloody business' he is about to undertake is already warping his reality.

What are the circumstances and significance of Macbeth's quote: "…I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen' / Stuck in my throat"?

1. Circumstances Macbeth says this to Lady Macbeth in Act 2, Scene 2, immediately after he has killed Duncan and overheard the chamberlains praying.

2. Significance It signifies Macbeth's total spiritual isolation. Having murdered the divinely appointed king, he has committed a sin so great that he is instantly severed from God\'s grace and the comfort of religion, marking the death of his innocence and soul.

What are the circumstances and significance of Banquo's quote: "A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, / And yet I would not sleep"?

1. Circumstances Banquo speaks these lines to Fleance in Act 2, Scene 1, outside in the castle courtyard on the night of the murder.

2. Significance it establishes a mood of pervasive dread and moral struggle. Unlike Macbeth, who gives in to his dark desires, Banquo recognizes the 'cursed thoughts' that nature gives way to in repose and prays for the strength to resist them, serving as a moral foil to Macbeth.

What are the circumstances and significance of Lennox's quote: "Their hands and faces were all badged with blood; / So were their daggers"?

1. Circumstances Lennox describes the state of Duncan\'s guards in Act 2, Scene 3, after the discovery of the King's body and the subsequent confusion in the castle.

2. Significance It illustrates the physical manifestation of the frame-up orchestrated by the Macbeths. The word 'badged' suggests blood as a mark of identity or office, highlighting how easily truth can be manipulated through violent, visual evidence to direct suspicion toward the innocent.

What are the circumstances and significance of Donalbain's quote: "There’s daggers in men’s smiles: the near in blood, / The nearer bloody"?

1. Circumstances Donalbain says this to Malcolm in Act 2, Scene 3, as they realize they are in danger and decide to flee to Ireland and England respectively.

2. Significance It reinforces the theme of appearance versus reality—that those who act friendly may be the most dangerous. He specifically notes that because they are the King\'s heirs, their closest kinsmen (who are 'near in blood') are the ones most likely to murder them to secure the throne.

What are the circumstances and significance of Macduff's quote: "Lest our old robes sit easier than our new"?

1. Circumstances Macduff speaks this to Ross at the end of Act 2, Scene 4, as he prepares to return to Fife rather than attend Macbeth\'s coronation at Scone.

2. Significance Using clothing as a metaphor for social and political order, Macduff expresses his deep-seated anxiety and distrust of the new regime. It suggests that Duncan\'s reign was a natural 'fit' for Scotland, while Macbeth\'s rule is likely to be turbulent, uncomfortable, and illegitimate.