Act 2 Scene 3
Characters: Porter, Macduff, Lenox, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Donalbain and Malcolm
Location: A courtyard within Macbeth’s castle
Events: The porter begins the scene with a soliloquy imagining he is the porter of the gates of hell. He lets Macduff and Lenox into Macbeth’s castle. Macduff meets with Macbeth and asks if the King is awake, Macbeth offers to him to Duncan’s chamber. Upon entering Macduff and Lenox find the dead king’s body. Macduff immediately calls out that Duncan has been murdered. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth rush in and pretend to know nothing of what happened. Malcolm and Donalbain enter and are told their father has been killed by his guards. The guards have been found sleeping with blooded daggers. Macbeth says that in his rage of finding the king dead he killed the guards. Lady Macbeth faints.
Malcolm and Donalbain privately discuss their plans to travel to England and Ireland because they no longer feel safe.
Quotes: “Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:” – Macbeth