1. Act three: key points

2. Act Three Scene I: Key Points
In this scene Banquo’s thoughts are on Macbeth, the witches and his own future. He strongly suspects Macbeth is guilty: “… and I fear, / Thou play’dst most foully for’t”.
The predictions for Macbeth have all come true and he realises that there is a good chance of them coming true for him also.
Like Banquo, Macbeth’s thoughts are on the second half of the prophecies. He fears Banquo and is embittered that he has only a “fruitless crown” and a “barren sceptre” while Banquo has the promise of succession. He determines to change his destiny and decides to kill Banquo and his son. However, this time he does not want to get his hands dirty and hires murderers.

3. Macbeth: Act Three Scene I
A Changed Man:
Macbeth’s greatest dream has been realised. He is now King of Scotland. However, the achievement of power has brought him little happiness. He is aware that he has forfeited his soul to the devil. He is suspicious, insecure and obsessed with the future:
“To be thus is nothing;
But to be safely thus”
The change in Macbeth since Duncan’s murder is striking. He does not consult his wife about the murder of Banquo. Banquo’s murder is characterised not by doubts and hesitancies but by lies and hypocrisy.

4. Macbeth: Act Three Scene I
A Changed Man:
While appearing to graciously extend an invitation to Banquo, Macbeth cunningly extracts the information which will bring about Banquo’s death. He has become a master at deception.
In this scene Macbeth begins to display the paranoia and insecurity associated with tyrants throughout history. Those like Macbeth, who murder their way to power rarely enjoy a peaceful reign. Instead tyrants are often plagued by fear and insecurity, seeing threats everywhere. For now, Banquo is the source of his paranoia – his fears “stick deep”.
Macbeth feels he has endured too much to make “the seeds of Banquo kings”. He feels that once Banquo is dead his reign will be secure, there will be no need for further killing and he will be able to relax and enjoy the benefits of power.

5. Act Three Scene II: Key Points
It is clear in this scene that, like her husband, Lady Macbeth has found no satisfaction or peace of mind in gaining the crown but when Macbeth enters she hides her own thoughts.
Macbeth tells her his fears and torments: “We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it”
Concerned that he will betray himself by his uneasiness at the banquet, Lady Macbeth pleads with him:
“Come on;
Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night.”

6. Lady Macbeth: Act Three Scene II
Lady Macbeth’s short soliloquy shows her disillusionment: “Nought’s had, all’s spent, / Where our desire is got with content.”
She is tired and living in constant fear and now thinks that she and her husband would be better off dead.
She reveals her true feelings when alone but does not betray such thoughts to her husband. She continues to advise him and there is a gentleness and love in her concern for him.

7. Lady Macbeth: Act Three Scene II
She knows that there could be very real threats to their reign but she no longer has the will or strength to be involved in doing what it necessary to deal with these threats.
Whereas once Lady Macbeth had the ambition and the will to push her husband to commit murder, she now seems happy to remain ignorant of his crimes even when Macbeth strongly hints at his plans for Banquo.
Macbeth, in turn, is content to act alone, telling her to “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”. The roles have been reversed and it is Macbeth who has taken charge of their bloody affairs.

8. Macbeth: Act Three Scene II
Paranoia and Insecurity:
Macbeth’s mind is totally preoccupied with Banquo and Fleance: “We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it.”
The consciousness of guilt is very strong in him. He is tortured by conscience, fear and jealousy. He keeps alone, his sleep is haunted by nightmares. He envies Duncan who “sleeps well” while he himself sleeps “In the affiction of these terrible dreams”.

9. Macbeth: Act Three Scene II
Paranoia and Insecurity:
He is affectionate towards Lady Macbeth, calling her “love”, “dear wife” and “dearest chuck” but he does not share his innermost thoughts with her.
The idea of behaving like a good king and being perceived as such no longer seems important to Macbeth. Having committed a monstrous crime to secure the throne, Macbeth now believes the only way to hold on to it is to commit further evil.

10. Act Three Scene III: Key Points
Banquo’s murder, like Duncan’s, takes place under cover of darkness. A third murderer joins he two lying in wait, indicating Macbeth’s lack of trust.
The murderers successfully kill Banquo but in the confusion of the moment Fleance escapes.
While Banquo’s death will remove some of Macbeth’s fear of discovery, Fleance’s escape gives obvious truth to the witches’ prophecy.

11. Act Three Scene IV: Key Points
Macbeth’s role as gracious host is interrupted by the news of Banquo’s death and Fleance’s escape.
Just as Macbeth remarks on Banquo’s absence, he sees Banquo’s ghost and oblivious to of his guests, he address himself to the apparition.
Lady Macbeth excuse his conduct, the ghost disappears and Macbeth recovers sufficiently to repeat his wife’s explanation that he has suffered from fits since he was young.
However, just as he regains control, the apparition returns and this time Lady Macbeth has no choice but to ask the guests to leave before Macbeth incriminates himself.

12. Act Three Scene IV: Key Points
At the end of the scene Macbeth seems to find a new determination and defiance. He decides to visit the witches. This, together with the news of Macduff’s challenge, marks a turning point in the play.
Scene IV is a crucial scene for many reasons. It marks the highest point of Macbeth’s power, it marks Macbeth’s failure to rule Scotland justly, it marks the change in character from a man of feeling and conscience to an insensitive tyrant.

13. Macbeth: Act Three Scene IV
Descent into Tyranny:
Macbeth is friendly and welcoming at the start of the scene but news of Fleance’s escape has made him subject to doubts and fears.
The conscience that Macbeth stifled before Banquo’s murder rises to confront him in the image of Banquo’s ghost. Macbeth never doubts the reality of the apparition that nobody sees but himself, though Lady Macbeth immediately recognises Banquo’s ghost as being “the very painting of your fear”.

14. Macbeth: Act Three Scene IV
Descent into Tyranny:
It is significant that Macbeth is able to banish the ghost from his sight by making a supreme effort at self-control. This is in fact Macbeth’s last confrontation with his conscience.
After the murder of Banquo he becomes a ruthless and open tyrant. He realises that Macduff is openly challenging his authority. He trusts nobody and has a servant paid to spy in every household.
Having become desperate, he becomes ruthless: “… I am in blood
Stepp’d so far, that should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”

15. And hath been from his youth”
Lady Macbeth: Act Three Scene IV
Though in the previous scene we saw Lady Macbeth’s iron will deteriorate, in this scene some of her former qualities come to the fore.
As Macbeth breaks down on seeing Banquo’s ghost, she rises to the occasion and with perfect self-control offers an explanation to the guests:
“… My lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth”
She does her best to save the situation but Macbeth is in the grip of imaginative guilty and she cannot maintain any pretence of normality in front of the guests. She dismisses them quickly and efficiently giving them no time to question or protest.

16. Lady Macbeth: Act Three Scene IV
However, as Macbeth regains composure and determination she grows noticeably quieter. She has had to make an enormous effort to save her husband from complete exposure.
When the guests have departed we get a sense of how utterly exhausted Lady Macbeth is feeling. Whereas before she would have been furious with her husband’s performance at such a critical moment, here Lady Macbeth barely speaks.
She has already carried the burden of preventing Macbeth from betraying himself after Duncan’s murder and the strain is beginning to show.

17. Act Three Scene V: Key Points
Scene V prepares the way for Macbeth’s return to the witches. This time they are with their queen, Hecate, who reprimands them for dealing with Macbeth without her.
Hecate sees clearly what Macbeth will do and why. The scene reinforces the impression of evil and raises an ominous expectation about Macbeth’s future.

18. Act Three Scene VI: Key Points
In Scene VI Lennox and another lord discuss happenings in Scotland. It is a short scene but supplies important points of information.
Lennox lists and comments on all the strange deeds that have taken place. The lord speaks of Malcolm’s warm welcome in England. We learn of Macduff’s journey to England to seek assistance against Macbeth and that Macbeth is preparing for war.
Though Lennox’s words are deliberately vague, it is obvious he is speaking sarcastically when he discusses Macbeth’s reaction to Duncan’s murder: “How it did grieve Macbeth!”.
It is clear now that he was not fooled by Macbeth’s killing the two grooms and can see through the theory that Duncan’s sons were to blame. He sarcastically observes that Banquo must have been killed by Fleance “For Fleance fled”. He prays for the success of Macduff to help the suffering Scotland.

19. Act Three: Revision Quiz

20. Act Three: Questions
Discuss the changes in the relationship between Macbeth and Banquo from the start of the play to Act Three Scene I.
Describe Lady Macbeth’s state of mind in Act Three Scene II.
Some critics have claimed that the third murderer is Macbeth himself. Is there any evidence in Act Three Scene III to support this view?
Compare Macbeth’s attitude to the first appearance of Banquo’s ghost in Act Three Scene IV with his attitude at the end of the scene.
Why does Lady Macbeth’s mood change when the guest have left in Act Three Scene IV?
What important information do we discover from Lennox’s conversation with the lord?

21. Act Three: Key Quotes
“… I fear, / Thou play’dst most foully for’t” Banquo
“To be thus is nothing; / But to be safely thus” Macbeth
“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown” Macbeth
“Nought’s had, all’s spent / Where our desire is got without content” Lady Macbeth
“We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it” Macbeth
“full of scorpions is my mind” Macbeth

22. Act Three: Key Quotes
“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck” Macbeth
“Thou canst not say I did it; never shake / Thy gory locks at me” Macbeth
“my lord is often thus, / And hath been from his youth” Lady Macbeth
“This is the very painting of your fear” Lady Macbeth
“Unreal mockery, hence!” Macbeth
“Stand not upon the order of your going / But go at once” Lady Macbeth

23. Act Three: Key Quotes “I will to the Weird Sisters” Macbeth
“… I am in blood / Stepp’d in so far, that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” Macbeth
“As by the strength of their illusion / Shall dram him on to his confusion” Hecate
“… you may say, if’t please you, Fleance kill’d / For Fleance fled” Lennox
“… a swift blessing / May soon return to this our suffering country / Under a hand accurs’d!” Lennox