Act Two

• “Is this a dagger which I see before me?”

  This vision symbolizes his inner conflict and growing instability, with the dagger representing both his ambition and his fear. The scene foreshadows the mental anguish he will suffer as he descends deeper into violence and guilt.
• “Hear it not Duncan for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven or to hell”

  Macbeth, moments before killing Duncan, reflects on the impending death of the king, describing it as a “knell” (a funeral bell). This line underscores Macbeth’s awareness of the gravity of his actions. The choice between “heaven or hell” highlights the moral implications of the murder and the religious connotations of damnation.
• “I could not say ’Amen’”

  After murdering Duncan, Macbeth reveals that he was unable to say “Amen,” a word symbolizing spiritual peace and connection to God. His inability to utter it suggests his separation from divine grace, emphasizing the spiritual consequences of his crime. It marks the beginning of Macbeth’s profound guilt and foreshadows his descent into madness.
• “Will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from my hand?”

  Macbeth feels that nothing—not even the vast ocean—can cleanse him of Duncan’s blood, which symbolizes guilt. His sense of overwhelming remorse here suggests the irreversible nature of his actions and foreshadows his psychological decline. The imagery of blood becomes a recurring motif, symbolizing guilt and the stain of sin.
• “A little water clears us of this deed”

  In contrast to Macbeth’s horror, Lady Macbeth remains calm and pragmatic, believing that water can erase the evidence of their crime. Her dismissal of the gravity of murder foreshadows her later mental breakdown, as she eventually becomes haunted by guilt herself. This line also contrasts with Macbeth’s line above, highlighting the disparity in their initial reactions to the murder.