Macbeth Act III

Macbeth Act III, Scene I

Scene I Summary Scene I In the royal palace at Forres, Banquo starts to become philosophical about the coronation of Macbeth and the prophecies of the weird sisters. Banquo departs, and Macbeth dismisses his court. He is left alone in the hall with a single servant. Once the servant has gone, Macbeth begins a soliloquy. He muses on the subject of Banquo, reflecting that his old friend is the only man in Scotland whom he fears. Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo. He goes on to list the wrongs committed by Banqo to justify the deed. Macbeth reminds the murderers that Fleance must be killed along with his father and tells them to wait within the castle for his command.

Photo Summary “Thou hast it now-King, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the Weird Women promised, and I fear thou played'st most foully for 't.” - Lines 1-3

Vocabulary Parricide- Murder of a parent Enemy of Man- The Devil Half a soul- Half-wit Grave- Serious Incens’d- Angered Chid- Reproached Eternal jewel- Immortal soul

Activity In pairs, discuss Macbeth’s mental state in this scene and provide appropriate examples.

Analysis Banquo's short soliloquy has two purposes: It reminds the audience of the details of the Witches' prophecy in Act I, and it reveals his own suspicion that Macbeth is Dunca’s murderer. Ironically, his tone also recalls the ambitious tone of Macbeth in earlier scenes. Even with his new title and robes of office, Macbeth does not feel entirely at ease. Cray cray?? Macbeth begins to question the prophecy of the witches and that they couldn’t have possibly spoken the truth in regards to Banquo’s sons becoming king. The entry of the hired murderers is a crucial element in the development of Macbeth's character.

Scene I Questions Scene I Quiz!: 335http:// 335

Macbeth Act III, Scene II

Scene II Summary Lady Macbeth expresses despair about the killing of Duncan. Macbeth enters and tells his wife that he too is feeling moody about it. He starts the spiral downward into madness when he says their business is not yet complete because there are still threats to the throne that must be eliminated. Macbeth has turned into two faced person.

Photo Summary “We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it.” - Lines 13

Vocabulary Shard-born- Flying(Shard= Wing covers) Lave- Wash Foreign levy- Foreign invasion Vizards- Masks Both the worlds- Earth and Heaven Disjoint- Collapse Without regard- Ignored

Activity Scene II In earlier plays, Shakespeare gave dying characters a long emotional speech yet in Macbeth that is not the case. In pairs, invent a dying speech for Banquo. Write it in Shakespearian- style if you can.

Analysis Scene II Dramatically and poetically, this scene precisely mirrors Act I, Scene 5. While Lady Macbeth appears to be looking back at the previous murder, Macbeth looks forward, anticipating the next murder. As if one wasn’t enough! Talk about being greedy and playing the Hannibal Lecter role. As Lady Macbeth earlier wanted to lose her sex after reading Macbeth’s letter, Macbeth now desires to be rid of his humanity.

Scene II Questions Scene II Quiz!: http://

Macbeth Act III, Scene III

Scene III Summary It is dusk, and the two murderers are joined by a third and lay in wait to shank Banquo Banquo has a “I’ll never let go moment” and tells Fleance to flee Fleance gets out of dodge and says peace.

Photo Summary “ O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou may ’st revenge —O slave! ” - Line 19-20

Vocabulary Note of expectation- List of expected banquet guests Delivers our offices- Gives us our orders Go about- Turn around As broad and general- Secure and free Measure- Toast Fit- Anxiety

Activity Scene III In pairs, advise Macbeth on how to deliver his speeches in lines

Analysis Scene III The moment of total darkness is also highly symbolic, foreshadowed at the end of Act II, when Ross remarks to the old man "By the clock 'tis day; / And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp." In Macbeth, the forces of darkness seem constantly at odds with those of light. The escape of Fleance is a major turning point in Macbeth's tragedy. Banquo's dying words, ordering Fleance to "revenge," is a reminder to the audience about the Witches' prophecy to Banquo: that he will be father to a line of kings, even though he himself will not attain the throne.

Scene III Questions Scene III Quiz!: http://

Macbeth Act III, Scene IV

Scene IV Summary Scene IV Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter as king and queen, followed by their court, whom they bid welcome to the feast. As Macbeth walks among the company, The first murderer appears at the doorway and tells Macbeth that they done messed up. Macbeth lays the smack down of words on the murderer. Returning to his guests, Macbeth goes to sit at the head of the royal table but Banquo’s ghost says SURPRISE! Horror-struck, Macbeth speaks to the ghost, which is invisible to the rest of the company. Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband, saying that he occasionally has such “visions” and that the guests should simply ignore his behavior. As she usually does she questions his manhood and urging him to snap out of his trance. The ghost disappears, and Macbeth recovers, telling his company: “I have a strange infirmity which is nothing / To those that know me” (3.4.85–86). As he offers a toast to company, however, Banquo’s specter reappears and shocks Macbeth into further reckless outbursts. Continuing to make excuses for her husband, Lady Macbeth sends the alarmed guests out of the room as the ghost vanishes again. Macbeth mutters that “blood will have blood” and tells Lady Macbeth that he has heard from a servant-spy that Macduff intends to keep away from court, behavior that verges on treason ( ). He begins to rely on witches once again in the hopes of learning more about the future and about who may be plotting against him. Start of absolute power corrupting absolutely.

Photo Summary “The worm that’s fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed” - Lines 28-29

Vocabulary O proper stuff- Oh rubbish Grandam- Grandmother Maws of kite- Stomachs of birds of prey Society- The company Hear ourselves- Talk together Thing of custom- Common occurrence Avaunt- Away

Activity Scene IV In pairs, discuss how the meaning of ‘security’ has changed. In the times of Shakespeare this mean being over-confident or lacking anxiety. Macbeth believes now that any evil deed he does will not damn his soul.

Analysis Scene IV At first, Macbeth is pleased with the murderer and his language reflects this, but upon hearing they failed to kill Fleance his language abruptly changes. The imagery of confinement and constraint plays an increasing part in his language from now on. The rich banquet, a symbol of great orderliness and generosity, now becomes a hellish parody of itself because of Banquo’s ghost appearing and causing an urge of horror in Macbeth. Unlike Macbeth, Lady Macbeth cannot see the ghost, and her tone is typically pragmatic and down-to-earth. With the departure of the guests, Macbeth appears to regain some of his earlier self- confidence. His language in this coda to the banquet scene is mysterious and prophetic.

Questions Scene IV Quiz!: http://

Macbeth Act III, Scene V

Scene V Summary Scene V Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft scolds them old hags for meddling in Macbeth’s business. She decides to take over as supervisor of the mischief. They are told to summon visions and spirits to fill Macbeth with a false sense of security. Basically, they beef this guy up and now they are going to tear him down. Talk about cold-blooded kids. The witches go to prepare their charms after Hecate has left.

Photo Summary “ He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. And you all know, security Is mortals' chiefest enemy.” - Lines 30-33

Vocabulary Beldams- Witches Saucy- Impudent Acheron- A river in the Greek underworld. Sprites- Spirits, ghosts Vaporous drops profound- It was believed that the moon shed a foam, with magical powers(profound), onto various herbs.

Analysis Scene V Hecate's supernatural spite is intended to echo that of the human dimension. She reflects the language of Lady Macbeth in Act I to Macbeth and appears as a vindictive female spirit. The scene reinforces the philosophical question: Is Macbeth entirely to blame for his own downfall?

Questions Scene V Quiz!: http://

Macbeth Act III, Scene VI

Scene VI Summary Scene VI That night, somewhere in Scotland, Lennox walks with another lord, discussing what has happened to the kingdom in regards to Banquo’s murder. Banquo’s murder has been officially blamed on Fleance due to him fleeing the scene of the crime. Seriously, DO NOT FLEE THE SCENE OF THE CRIME! You become suspicious. Lennox and the other lord begin to suspect Macbeth, whom they call a “tyrant,” in the murders of Duncan and Banquo. Macduff has gone to England, where he will join Malcolm in pleading with England’s King Edward for aid to fight Macbeth. Macbeth prepares for war. FREEDOM!! (Braveheart anyone?)

Photo Summary “ Sent he to Macduff? He did, and with an absolute ‘Sir, not I,’ The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums, as who should say ‘You’ll rue the time That clogs me with this answer.”.” - Lines 40-44

Vocabulary Borne- Managed Broad words- Gossip The two delinquents- The guards of Duncan’s chamber An’t- If Edward- King Edward the Confessor( ) Him above- God

Activity Scene VI The unnamed Lord has a similar dramatic function as the Old Man in Act II Scene IV, who represented the ordinary folk of Scotland. Do you think the Lord should have a name or be anonymous like the Old Man?

Analysis Scene VI Shakespeare throws a curveball to readers in how the language of this scene is difficult. Its lines are full of pauses, half-spoken thoughts, and fragments of reported speech. Its function is twofold: first to convince the audience of Lennox's real thoughts about Macbeth. The primary function of the other lord is to confirm the news of Macduff's flight to England and to introduce the names of other rebel leaders.

Questions Scene VI Quiz!: http://

Works Cited "Macbeth." : Play Summary. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 22 Nov Shakespeare, William, and Alan Durband. Macbeth: Modern English Version Side-by-side with Full Original Text. Woodbury, NY: Barron's, Print. Shakespeare, William, and Rex Gibson. Cambridge School Shakespeare. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, Print.