Important Quotes from Macbeth (Act II)

Important Quotes from Macbeth (Act II)

Quote 1: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee: / I have thee not, and yet I see thee still."

  • Speaker: Macbeth

  • Circumstances: This quote occurs during Macbeth's soliloquy (Act II, Scene 1) before he murders King Duncan. He hallucinates a dagger leading him toward Duncan's chamber.

  • Significance:

    • This moment represents Macbeth's internal conflict and descent into madness.

    • The vision of the dagger symbolizes both his ambition and the guilt that comes with it.

    • It foreshadows the violent act he is about to commit and highlights themes of appearance vs. reality.

Quote 2: "Alack! I am afraid they have awak’d, / And ’tis not done; the attempt and not the deed / Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; / He could not miss them. Had he not resembled / My father as he slept I had done’t."

  • Speaker: Macbeth

  • Circumstances: After killing Duncan, Macbeth expresses his anxiety and fear of being discovered. He reflects on his hesitations.

  • Significance:

    • This quote reveals Macbeth's psychological turmoil and regret.

    • The reference to his father illustrates the crime's emotional weight, suggesting that familial ties and morality are causing him to hesitate.

    • It emphasizes the themes of guilt, remorse, and the consequences of ambition.

Quote 3: "Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, / Lest our old robes sit easier than our new."

  • Speaker: Macbeth

  • Circumstances: As Macbeth prepares for his ascent to the throne after Duncan's demise, he speaks to Banquo.

  • Significance:

    • This quote reflects Macbeth’s awareness of the gravity of his actions and the possible consequences.

    • The metaphor of old and new robes indicates the discomfort of change and the burdens that come with power.

Quote 4: "Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done’t: / Their hands and faces were all badged with blood; / So were their daggers, which unwiped we found / Upon their pillows."

  • Speaker: Macbeth

  • Circumstances: After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss the discovery of blood on the guards.

  • Significance:

    • This quote highlights the theme of guilt through the imagery of blood, which symbolizes the irreversible nature of their actions.

    • Macbeth’s attempt to frame the guards implies his growing desperation and manipulative tendencies, moving him further down a path of moral decay.

Quote 5: "A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, / And yet I would not sleep."

  • Speaker: Macbeth

  • Circumstances: Macbeth, feeling overwhelmed by his guilt and paranoia after killing Duncan, expresses his feelings of dread.

  • Significance:

    • The metaphor of the heavy summons illustrates the weight of his conscience and foreshadows the psychological torment he will face.

    • It reflects broader themes of ambition and the burdens of kingship, emphasizing how power can lead to sleeplessness and distress.

Quote 6: "Malcolm and Donalbain, the king’s two sons, / Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them / Suspicion of the deed."

  • Speaker: Macbeth

  • Circumstances: Macbeth discusses the reaction to Duncan's murder and the implications for his sons.

  • Significance:

    • This quote portrays the rising suspicion against Duncan’s sons, setting the stage for their portrayal as villains and Macbeth’s consolidation of power.

    • It introduces the theme of treachery and betrayal, as perceptions and misdirection play significant roles in the unfolding tragedy.