Act 2 scene 1

• In Act Two Scene One, Banquo and Fleance are up and awake in the courtyard on a starless night, reflecting the state in the play where evil has taken hold.
• Lady Macbeth and Macbeth themselves often call for the stars not to shine upon their deeds, suggesting the cause of action has been decided on and cannot be reversed.
• Banquo admits he's having trouble sleeping, indicating that he has been troubled by the witch's prophecies.
• In contrast to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Banquo looks to merciful powers to help him rather than evil spirits.
• Duncan was effusive in his praise and lavish in his compliments when he arrived at Macbeth's castle, but Banquo was on guard and on edge, asking for his sword when he heard someone approaching.
• Macbeth subtly hints at some event to come in the future, suggesting that Banquo will benefit from sticking with him.
• Banquo's response is mysterious, stating that as long as he doesn't lose any honor or have to change his allegiance to the king, he'll listen to what Macbeth has to say.
• The most famous lines from the play are spoken by Macbeth, asking if this is a dagger he sees before him, indicating his troubled state of mind and the mental pressure he is under.