ACT 2. sc. I
Setting: outside in the courtyard of Macbeth's Castle (Inverness)

Summary:

• Banquo asks his son Fleance how late it is.
•  Fleance responds that he has not heard the clock strike but that the moon is down implying that it must be past midnight.
• Banquo says that even heaven has gone to bed because the sky is starless.
• Fear of his own thoughts about how he might become the father of kings does not let Banquo go to sleep.
• Macbeth steps in the courtyard where Banquo and Fleance are and Banquo tells Macbeth that Duncan is pleased with Macbeth's hospitality.
• Banquo tells Macbeth that he dreamed of the three witches.
• Lying, Macbeth tells Banquo that he has not thought about the witches but that sometime he would talk to him about the witches.
• Almost telling Banquo that he will kill Duncan, Macbeth says to Banquo that if he supports him he will be rewarded soon.
• Sensing that Macbeth will kill Duncan, Banquo says that he will not sacrifice his personal integrity to become the father of many kings. If he can keep his conscience clear he will listen to Macbeth's advice.
• The bell that Lady Macbeth will ring is to signal that the coast is clear for Macbeth to murder Duncan.
• Alone and hallucinating, Macbeth reaches for his imaginary dagger which takes him toward Duncan's door on the dagger.
• Witchcraft celebrates its rites and murder stalks the night.
• Macbeth asks for his horror and the darkness of the night to go away.

ACT 2. sc. II
Setting: Macbeth's castle, the night of Duncan's murder.

Summary:

• Lady Macbeth has gotten the guards drunk, and they are now sleeping.
• Lady Macbeth says she would have killed Duncan herself if he had not looked so much like her father.
• Macbeth returns to inform Lady Macbeth that he has murdered the King.
• Macbeth tells his wife that Malcom and Donalbain prayed and ended the prayer with "God Bless Us" and "Amen."
• Macbeth informs his wife that he could not utter the word "Amen"; this marks Macbeth's separation from God.
• Macbeth also head someone say that he had murdered sleep; Macbeth fells he will never be able to sleep the same again after murdering Duncan.
• Lady Macbeth notices Macbeth brought back the bloody daggers and instructs Macbeth to return the daggers to the owners and smear them (the guards) with blood.
• Macbeth refuses to return to Duncan's chamber so his wife returns the daggers.
• Macbeth feels that he will not be able to wash his hands of the murder; not even all the water on Earth will be able to wash away the blood from his hands or the crime, instead these waters will turn red with blood also.
• Lady Macbeth returns and tells Macbeth her hands are also red but she does not like being so innocent.
• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change into their night clothes so on one suspects them of the murder.
• Macbeth hears the knocking and wishes Duncan could be awakened by the noise.

ACT 2. sc. III
Setting: the same

• The scene starts with a knocking at the gate.
• The Porter, who is stone drunk, wanders out to the gate swearing to the Devil because the knocking disturbed him.
• Macduff and Lennox are at the gate.
• Macduff asked if the Porter had stayed up to late last night.
• The Porter tells Macduff that he is drunk
• Macduff asks the Porter what three he gets out of drinking.
• The Porter replies; a red nose, sleep, and urine.
•  Macbeth comes out and Macduff tells Macbeth that the king wanted to see Macduff as soon as he arrived, Macbeth takes him to see the king,
• Acting like nothing is wrong, Macbeth shows Macduff to the king’s chamber and begins talking to Lennox.
• Lennox tells Macbeth that there is something wrong with the world:
  • Wind came out and blew down all the chimneys.
  • They heard strange sounds of death in the air.
  • Lennox says that there is something wrong with the world like something bad has happened.
• Macduff re-enters the hall and cries "O horror, horror horror!"
• Duncan has been killed
• Both Macbeth and Macduff go into the chamber to investigate.
• Macduff sounds the bell and calls for Donalbain and Malcolm
• Lady Macbeth enters the chamber and asks what has happened. Macduff keeps from telling her anything because she is a woman, ‘and woman couldn’t handle such a situation.’
• Macbeth, Lennox and Ross re-enter the chamber and Macbeth puts on a big show of how much a loss Duncan is to the world.
• Lennox believes that the guards did it, just how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hoped it would.
• But then Macbeth tells them that it was he who killed the guards out of rage for their slaughter of Duncan.
• Malcolm and Donalbain whisper to each other that they both should get out of Scotland because whoever killed their father might come for them next.
• Macbeth suggests that everybody get dressed and meet in the great hall to discuss the new situation.
• After everybody leaves, Donalbain says that he is going to Ireland and Malcolm says that he is going to England to escape from whomever killed Duncan.

ACT 2. sc. IV
Setting: Duncan's castle

Summary:

• An old man tells Ross about strange happenings that occurred around Duncan's murdering. This includes an eclipse, a falcon killed in air by an owl, and Duncan's horses turning wild and eating each other.
• Macduff joins Ross and the old man. He asks Ross if he knows who killed the King. Ross answers that the murderers are the guards that Macbeth killed.
• Duncan's sons, Malcom and Donalbain, are accused of having bribed the guards because they fled after the murder was discovered.
• Macbeth is going to be crowned king at Scone.
• Duncan's body has already been carried away to his predecessors tomb at Colmekill.
• Ross will attend the Crowning but Macduff will not, instead he goes to his castle at Fife.