A ruthless, hired killer pushed by the world's cruelty into reckless violence.
Who they are
Murderer 2 is one of two assassins contracted by Macbeth to kill Banquo and Fleance. He presents himself as a man so brutalized by life that he has become indifferent to moral consequence, making him a pliable tool for Macbeth's tyranny. He shows tactical awareness in the murder scene, taking charge when the first murderer hesitates, but his failure to kill Fleance ensures Banquo's line will haunt Macbeth. His role is to embody the dehumanizing effect of the usurper's reign, turning common men into agents of chaos.
Playing them
Project a volatile, world-weary edge—this man's violence is born of exhaustion and rage, not mere greed. Deliver the 'vile blows and buffets' speech with bitter resentment, then shift to sharp focus during the ambush. Physicality should be coiled and reactive: he's a survivor, quick to adapt when things go wrong. Avoid villainous melodrama; his menace lies in his matter-of-fact acceptance of atrocity.
Appearance
Often costumed in dark, nondescript clothes suggesting hired muscle—leather, rough wool, with a hood or muffling scarf. His face should bear the 'blows and buffets' of the world: scars, bruises, or a hardened, weary expression. On stage, he blends into shadows until he strikes.
Worth knowing
Though a composite figure of Jacobean stage thugs, the murderers reflect the lawless retainers common in 17th-century Scotland and England. Their hired violence mirrors the real-world assassination of Banquo's historical equivalent (a possible ancestor of James I) and the era's anxieties about unchecked royal power.
Where they appear
- Act 3, Scene 1 2 speeches
- Act 3, Scene 3 4 speeches