1. Act 3 Scene 1
Main Characters: Banquo, Macbeth, and two murderers, and Lady Macbeth
Setting: Forres,
The Royal Palace
Banquo opens the
scene with a soliloquy
during which he expresses
his suspicion that Macbeth
has not acted honorably in becoming King.
Macbeth enters, and he and Banquo have a stilted conversation, which
clearly indicates they are no longer friends and confidants.
Macbeth hires two assassins to kill Banquo and Fleance as they ride
their horses before the big banquet Macbeth has planned.

2. Act 3, Scene 2
Characters: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth
Setting: Forres, in the palace
Lady Macbeth laments that, although they have exactly what
they wanted, they are not happy.
Macbeth joins her and reveals his tortured thoughts. He admits
that he feels vulnerable as long as Banquo and his son are
alive.
He does not share his murderous plans with Lady Macbeth, but
instead tells her to pay special attention to Banquo at the
banquet.

3. Act 3, Scene 3
Characters: The two murderers, a third(!) murderer, Banquo and
Fleance
Setting: On the grounds outside the Royal Palace at Forres
The murderers lay in wait for Banquo and Fleance when they
are joined by a third murderer that Macbeth sent to help with
the job, evidence that Macbeth trusts no one.
They set upon Fleance and Banquo.
Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes.

4. Act 3, Scene 4 “The Banquet Scene”
Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords and Ladies all, and … the ghost of Banquo. Setting: In a banquet hall in the palace at Forres
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth host their first official banquet as King and Queen. As
they are welcoming their guests Macbeth learns that his hired assassins have killed
Banquo, but have failed to kill Fleance.
Immediately distraught, Macbeth comes undone. He sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in
Macbeth’s place. No one else can see the ghost, and the guests quickly become
alarmed at Macbeth’s behavior.
Lady Macbeth does her best to try to get Macbeth to keep it together while
distracting the guests, asking them to ignore Macbeth’s strange behavior. Finally
she gives up and sends everyone away. Her banquet, a disaster.

5. Characters: Hecate and the three witches Setting: A heath
Act 3, Scene 5
Characters: Hecate and the three witches
Setting: A heath
A strange scene. Many people believe it
was added later and not written by Shakespeare.
Collaborative writing was common in the theater at
the time.
Hecate, the queen of the three witches, is angry
that they have meddled in Macbeth’s affairs. She is
also highly critical of Macbeth and promises to do
some meddling of her own to assure his downfall.

6. Act 3, Scene 6
Characters: Lennox, and an unnamed Lord
Setting: Forres, inside the palace
An expository scene in which we learn that the Thanes are not
loyal to Macbeth, but they are afraid of his many spies. Lenox
is sarcastic and snide throughout the entire conversation,
revealing his belief that Macbeth killed Duncan and Banquo.
We also learn that Macduff has gone to England to join with
Malcolm in attempting to remove Macbeth from the Scottish
throne.
“The gracious Duncan was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead.”