MACBETH: ACT 3 Bethany Dickey, Emily Lavergne, Travis Fong, Wesley Fisher, Sarah Smith and Lindsay Young

MAJOR CHARACTERS  Macbeth  Lady Macbeth  Banquo  Hecate

 Macbeth plays the biggest role in this act. He is married to Lady Macbeth and is now the current King of Scotland. Macbeth is wracked with guilt over his murder of Duncan. Soon, he will suffer even more guilt from another heinous act he has yet to commit. MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH  Lady Macbeth is another major character in this act. She is Macbeth’s wife and therefore the Queen of Scotland. She feels some guilt but is still hungry for even more power. Lady Macbeth is extremely intelligent and powerful and controls the majority of Macbeth’s actions.

 Banquo dies in this act because Macbeth feels threatened by his potential to usurp the throne. The witches prophesied that Banquo was to be the father of kings, and Banquo is beginning to aspire to something greater than his current position. BANQUO AND HECATE  Hecate is the Queen of the witches. She discusses Macbeth with one of the three witches. She is displeased with how they have handled him and regrets not being more involved. She believes that he is a selfish man who doesn’t deserve the benefits of their witchcraft.

MINOR CHARACTERS  The three murderers are hired by Macbeth to kill Banquo and Fleance. They express no moral qualms about killing.  Lennox, Ross and the other Lords are mistrustful of Macbeth and believe that he will cause the downfall of their country.  The first witch has a very minor role. She is obedient to Hecate’s wishes.  Fleance is Banquo’s son. He is the one who is most likely to overthrow Macbeth, according to the witches’ prophecy

PLOT OVERVIEW AND IMPORTANT QUOTES

SCENE 1  Setting: A room in the palace  Macbeth deceitfully pretends to be Banquo’s friend while he is planning how to kill him.  Banquo suspects that Macbeth may have killed Duncan, but does not say anything.  Macbeth announces a banquet that night.  Macbeth tells two murderers when and where to kill Banquo and Fleance.

SCENE 1 CONTINUED 1.“It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must find it out to- night.” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 1, Line ) Macbeth was talking to himself. He was discussing his planned murder of Banquo. This is significant because it shows Macbeth’s determination to have him killed. One interesting thing and audience member can take from this is the fact that Macbeth says that Banquo’s soul will go to heaven. 2.“There is none but he whose being I do fear; and under him my genius is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony’s was by Caesar.” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 59-61) Macbeth was talking to himself. He was describing his main reason for wishing Banquo dead: he fears that Banquo is superior to him and could potentially usurp him.

SCENE 1 CONTINUED 3. “Why, by the verities on thee made good, may they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?” –Banquo (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 8-10) Banquo was talking to himself. He was describing his great ambition. He is saying that since the prophecies about Macbeth came true, the ones about him may come true as well. This quote is significant because it is about ambition, a huge theme in Macbeth. It shows the audience members that Macbeth’s suspicions are not unfounded.

SCENE 2  Setting: A room in the palace  Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel very guilty and are anxious that they will be found out.  Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that they must mask their anxiety and feign happiness and serenity at the banquet.  Macbeth hints that he has planned something, but does not say what.

SCENE 2 CONTINUED 1. “Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial among your guests tonight.” –Lady Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 30-31) Lady Macbeth was talking to her husband. She is telling him to seem perfectly happy and calm at their banquet. This quote is significant because it shows Macbeth’s enormous guilt and Lady Macbeth’s huge intellect in her plans to hide their guilt.

SCENE 3  Setting: Outside in a park  The two murderers are joined by a third, also sent by Macbeth.  Banquo and Fleance arrive with a torch, which is accidentally extinguished during the commotion.  Amidst the confusion, Banquo is stabbed and dies, while Fleance escapes.

SCENE 3 CONTINUED 1. “The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.” –First Murderer (Act 3, Scene 3, Line 7) The first murderer was talking to the other two murderers. He is describing the setting of the scene: late twilight with only a little daylight left. This quote is significant because it contains imagery of darkness. It sets the scene for the gloomy dark, atmosphere.

SCENE 4  Setting: A banquet room in the palace  One of the murderers comes to the door and Macbeth is told that the murderers were only partially successful.  Macbeth is called back to the table. Banquo’s ghost appears and he is horrified. The guests are confused by his ravings. Continued next slide…

SCENE 4 CONTINUED  Lady Macbeth attempts to calm her husband down and eventually succeeds.  Macbeth toasts to Banquo and the ghost reappears. Macbeth rants and begins to reveal their secrets: Lady Macbeth is forced to dismiss their guests.  Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth that he is angry that Macduff did not attend their banquet, and reveals that he plans to visit the witches again.

SCENE 4 CONTINUED 1. “Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse is the initiate fear, that wants hard use: we are yet but young in deed.” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 4, Lines ) Macbeth was talking to Lady Macbeth. He is referring to the fact that he is allowing his guilt from the murders of Duncan and Banquo to weigh heavily on his conscience.

SCENE 5  Hecate, the queen of witches is angry at the witches for not involving her in their doings with Macbeth.  She knows that Macbeth plans to seek out the witches the next day.  They plot to lead Macbeth to his downfall by causing him to be overconfident.

SCENE 6  Lennox and another lord discuss their suspicions about Macbeth’s crimes. Scotland, they believe, is very fearful and they are scared for their country.  Malcolm is at the court of Edward, the King of England. Macduff is going to join him.  Macduff, Malcolm, and Edward are planning to join forces and attack Macbeth, freeing Scotland from his reign.

FIN