In act II scene i Macbeth faces external and internal conflict. This conflict is caused by the contemplation of murdering of Duncan. Obviously the external conflict is the actual murder, but much more is happening internally in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare uses the hallucination of the dagger to represent Macbeth's internal desire for power. Macbeth wishes to ascend the throne but is unsure if he really has enough desire to kill his King, least of all as he sleeps. Macbeth believes the dagger means he will be able to kill Duncan without guilt, as if it were a prophecy, but this belief, like the dagger itself, is not real. Lady Macbeth, until this point in the play, appears cold hearted and capable of murder, but in fact she shows a weakness when she is found unable to murder the King in his sleep.
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