Macbeth · Chapter
Scene I explained
Banquo and Fleance discuss the late hour and Banquo's troubled mind.
What happens
Banquo and Fleance discuss the late hour and Banquo's troubled mind. Macbeth enters, and they exchange brief words about the witches' prophecies. After Banquo leaves, Macbeth hallucinates a floating dagger leading him toward Duncan's chamber, and he resolves to commit the murder.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene marks the dramatic climax because it presents the definitive psychological and strategic turning po…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Ambition and Power
Macbeth's ambition drives him toward regicide despite his hesitation.
- Guilt and Conscience
Macbeth's hallucination of the dagger reveals his inner turmoil and guilt before the murder.
- Supernatural and Evil
The dagger vision and references to witchcraft and Hecate evoke supernatural forces influencing Macbeth's actions.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.”
Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger floating in front of him, its handle pointing toward his hand, and tries to grasp it.
This hallucination symbolizes Macbeth's internal conflict and his descent into madness.
“I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell.”
Macbeth declares he will proceed with the murder, interpreting the bell as a death knell for Duncan.
Macbeth commits to the act, showing his resolve and the finality of his decision.
