Act 2 of Macbeth runs 396 lines across 4 scenes with 12 speaking characters — about 16.6% of the full play.
Opens (Scene 1) — Fleance: “The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.”
Closes (Scene 4) — Old Man: “That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!”
The 4 scenes of Act 2
| Scene | Lines | Speakers | Share of act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 1 | 72 | 3 | 18.2% |
| Scene 2 | 91 | 2 | 23.0% |
| Scene 3 | 182 | 9 | 46.0% |
| Scene 4 | 51 | 3 | 12.9% |
Who speaks in Act 2
Leading voice: Macbeth with 30% of Act 2’s dialogue (118 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Macbeth ♂ | 118 | 29.8% |
| Lady Macbeth ♀ | 57 | 14.4% |
| Macduff ♂ | 54 | 13.6% |
| Porter ♂ | 46 | 11.6% |
| Banquo ♂ | 36 | 9.1% |
| Ross ♂ | 26 | 6.6% |
| Lennox ♂ | 20 | 5.1% |
Who carries the voice in Act 2
Act 2 reflects the play’s overall balance — 14% female dialogue (play average: 20%).
Act 2
Male 339 · Female 57
Characters first heard in Act 2
Pacing across the 4 scenes
Scene lengths in Act 2 range from Scene 4 (51 lines, the shortest) to Scene 3 (182 lines, the longest), averaging about 99 lines per scene.
About Act 2 of Macbeth
How many lines are in Act 2 of Macbeth?
396 lines spread across 4 scenes.
Who dominates Act 2?
Macbeth delivers 30% of the act’s dialogue (118 lines).
Which scene is the heaviest in Act 2?
Scene 3, at 182 lines — well above the act’s scene average.