Act III

III.i III.i.1-3 What does Banquo think of Macbeth now? III.i What three things has Macbeth asked about? III.i Why does Macbeth fear Banquo? III.i What is an “unlineal hand”? What is a “barren scepter”? III.i What techniques is Macbeth using on the murderers? Doe it remind you of the way Lady Macbeth goaded him into killing Duncan?

III.i III.i How is Macbeth justifying to the murderers the fact that he has to ask them ot do the job of killing Banquo? III.i.140 In what way has Macbeth’s view of murder changed since he killed Duncan? What does this suggest about his downfall as the tragic hero? Macbeth was horrified and upset both before and after killing Duncan. Now he is very casual about killing Banquo and Fleance. ----He is ignoring his conscience and is surrendering to evil (his ambition).

III.i Summary III.I: Banquo reveals that he now suspects Macbeth murdered Duncan. To maintain normal appearances, Macbeth invites Banquo to a banquet at court. Out of fear, Macbeth hires assassins to kill Banquo and his son Fleance to ensure that Banquo’s descendants cannot inherit the throne.

MacbethBanquo Witches envious suspicious fascinated, demanding tempting, predicting Character Sociogram Curious, wary Predicting

III.ii III.ii.5-7 Why is Lady Macbeth unhappy? III.ii.7 What reversal of attitudes is taking place here? III.ii How is the motif of sleeplessness highlighted in these lines? Macbeth sleeps fitfully and has terrible dreams, while Duncan is at peace. This reinforces the idea that Macbeth “murdered sleep” (II.ii.40-42).

III.ii III.ii How do Macbeth’s wors play on the “Fair is fould and fould is fair” theme? III.ii How have Lady Macbeth and Macbeth changed? Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will appear jovial and nonchalant at the night’s banquet to mask their true feelings; what appears to be fair is really foul

III.ii Summary III.ii: Lady Macbeth expresses her discontent and then scolds Macbeth for brooding about Duncan’s murder. Macbeth responds that he envies Duncan, who no longer needs to work about treachery. He then admits that he fears Banquo and his children and that a “deed of dreadful note” will soon be accomplished. However, he does not specify that the deed will be the murder of Banquo and Fleance.

III.ii III.ii.5-7 Why is Lady Macbeth unhappy? What reversal of attitudes is taking place here? III.ii How do Macbeth’s words play on the “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” theme? III.ii How have Lady Macbeth and Macbeth changed? She seems to be growing apart from her husband-she doesn’t even know about his plans to murder Banquo and Fleance; she has discovered that the throne Is not worth the price of murder Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will appear jovial and nonchalant at the night's banquet to mask their true feelings; what appears to fair is foul

III.ii Summary III.ii: : Lady Macbeth expresses her discontent and then scolds Macbeth for brooding about Duncan’s murder. Macbeth responds that he envies Duncan, who no longer needs to worry about treachery. He then admits that he fears Banquo and his children and that a “deed of dreadful note” will soon be accomplished. However, he does not specify that the deed will be the murder of Banquo and Fleance.

ACT III Quiz 1.Why is Macbeth dtermined to have Banquo killed? 2.Whom else does Macbeth mark for death? 3.What event have Macbeth and Lady Macbeth planned for the eveing of the murder? 4.What does Macbeth see at this event? 5.What are Macduff and Malcolm doing in England?

III.iii III.iii To whom do the pronouns he (i.9) and his (i.12) refer? III.iii.18 This is the turning point of Macbeth. Why? Summary III.iii: Three murderers set upon Banquo and Fleance as the two approach Macbeth;s palace. They kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. Even though we do not know how things will end, Fleance’s escape means that the prophecy about Banquo can still come true. Moreover, this is the first time that Macbeth has been openly thwarted, so it may foreshadow a reversal of momentum in the play.

III.iv III.iv Who or what is the serpent? Who is “the worm that’s fled”? III.iv To whom is Macbeth speaking to? In what way are his words true? III.iv What does Lady Macbeth think is causing Macbeth to cry out? How do you know? III.iv How does this horrible image of the risen dead reflect Macbeth’s evil deeds?

III.iv III.iv What conclusion is Macbeth drawing about Macduff? Summary III.iv: The banquet is underway when one of the murderers calls Macbeth aside to tell him that Banquo is dead, but Fleance has escaped. Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to join the table. Macbeth, however, envisions Banquo;s ghost taking his seat at the table. Lady Macbeth at first says that her husbad is ill and then, fearing what he might reveal, she dismisses the guests. Macbeth closes the scene by saying that he will send Macduff and revisit the witches.

III.v III.v Why is Macbeth “waywar” in Hecate’s eyes? III.v Summary Hecate, queen of the witches, berates the weird sisters for leaving her out of their previous encounters with Macbeth. She promises to marshal magic forces to ensure Macbeth’s ruin.

III.vi Summary III.vi: Lennox expresses his suspicions of Macbeth to an unnamed lord. The lord reports that Macduff, who refused to answer Macbeth’s summons, has gone to England to obtain the aid of King Edward and Lord Siward in order to remove the tyrant Macbeth and restore the Scottish crown to Malcolm.