1. Macbeth
Act III Notes

2. Scene 1
In the royal palace at Forres, Banquo paces and thinks about Macbeth as king and the weird sisters’ prophecies
Banquo wonders if the witches’ predictions for him will come true
Macbeth enters with Lady Macbeth as king and queen
They ask Banquo to attend their feast that evening
Banquo accepts and says he plans to go for a ride on his horse for the afternoon
Macbeth mentions that they should discuss the problems of Malcolm and Donalbain who have fled Scotland – Macbeth declares them traitors

3. Scene 1 continued Banquo departs and Macbeth dismisses his court
Macbeth is left alone with a single servant who directs Macbeth to some men who have been waiting
Macbeth gives a soliloquy – he talks about Banquo and says this is the only man he fears
He notes that if the witches’ prophesies are true his will be a “fruitless crown.”
The servant reenters with Macbeth’s two visitors

4. Scene 1 The two men are hired killers
Macbeth reminds the men of their job and creates false reasons why they should kill Banquo
Macbeth asks them if they are courageous and manly enough to kill Banquo
They promise to murder Banquo
Macbeth reminds the murderers they must also kill Fleance, Banquo’s son

5. Scene 2
At another spot in the castle, Lady Macbeth expresses despair and tells a servant to get her husband
Macbeth enters and tells his wife he is in discontent (unhappy) and that his mind is “full of scorpions.”
He feels that the business of killing is not yet complete – he feels threatened and paranoid
Macbeth hints (but does not tell) to his wife his plans for Banquo and his son (never involves her in the plan)
The scene ends with Macbeth calling on night to come and asking for the death of Banquo and Fleance

6. Scene 3
It is dusk and the two murderers, joined by a third linger in a wooded park outside the palace
Banquo and Fleance approach on their horses and dismount
Banquo and Fleance light a torch and the murderers attack
Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes
The murderers leave to go and tell Macbeth the news

7. Scene 4
Onstage stands a table filled with food and drink – Macbeth’s coronation banquet is about to take place
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter and bid welcome to their guests
Macbeth walks among his guests and the first murderer appears in the doorway
Macbeth is told that Banquo is dead but that Fleance has escaped
Macbeth is angry and worried over Fleance’s escape
Lady Macbeth urges her husband to mingle with his guests

8. Scene 4
Macbeth turns to his guests and makes a toast; commenting that he wishes Banquo were present
Macbeth goes to take his seat at the head of the table but finds Banquo’s ghost in his chair
Horrified, Macbeth speaks to the ghost which is only visible to Macbeth
The guests questions Macbeth’s behavior and ask him what is wrong
Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband’s behavior and tells everyone to ignore him
She speaks to Macbeth in an aside questioning his manhood and urging him to pull it together
The ghost disappears and Macbeth apologizes and tells his guests that he is fine

9. Scene 4
As he offers a toast Banquo’s ghost reappears and Macbeth continues to make reckless outbursts
Lady Macbeth finally orders the alarmed guests to leave just as the ghost vanishes again
Macbeth mutters that “blood will have blood” and tells his wife that Macduff will not come to Macbeth’s court (treasonous behavior)
Macbeth also lets on that he has spies everywhere – he has planted a spy in Macduff’s home
He says that he will visit the witches tomorrow to find out more information
He says he will do whatever is necessary to keep his throne
Lady Macbeth tells him he needs to sleep and they go to bed

10. Scene 4 Quotes and Events
Significance of Fleance’s escape
Marks Macbeth’s first failure
Hints that the witches’ prophecy may still come true
Banquo’s murder and the appearance of his ghost mark the climax of the play
Guilt continues to plague Macbeth
His tirade will lead the other lords to question his sanity and will create suspicions
“I am in blood/Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,/Returning were as tedious as go over.”
Macbeth says that there is no going back in his actions

11. Scene 5
Upon a stormy heath the witches meet with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft
Hecate yells at the witches for involving themselves with Macbeth and not asking for her permission
Hecate declares that she will take over in adding mischief to Macbeth’s life
Hecate tells the witches that when Macbeth comes they must give him a false sense of security and draw him to continued confusion
Hecate vanishes and the witches go to prepare for Macbeth

12. Scene 6
That night Lennox walks with another lord discussing what has happened to Scotland
Banquo’s murder has been officially blamed on Fleance
But Lennox and the other lord suspect Macbeth whom they call a tyrant
They also suspect Macbeth has killed Duncan
The lord tells Lennox that Macduff has gone to England to join Malcolm and ask for help from the English king to unseat Macbeth
This information has reached Macbeth who is preparing for war
Lennox and the lord express their hope that Malcolm and Macduff can defeat Macbeth

13. Act III Analyis
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is worried over having to commit multiple murders in order to become king
By Act III Macbeth has and is also willing to kill anyone who is in his way
He hires murderers to kill not only his friend but his friend’s son in order to make sure the witches’ prophesies do not come true

14. Act III Analysis
Macbeth and his wife have traded roles by this point in the play
Macbeth uses the same strategies his wife used on him to goat him into killing Duncan
Macbeth questions the murderers’ manhood and tricks them into thinking Banquo has done something wrong to them
Macbeth has begun making decisions of murder on his own w/o his wife’s consent (the king’s guards and Banquo and Fleance)
Macbeth then tells his wife that she must hide her true feelings: “make [their] faces visors to [their] hearts,/Disguising what they are.”
However Macbeth is obviously filled with guilt over the things he has done – says his mind is filled with scorpions

15. Act III Analysis
During scenes 2 and 4, the Macbeths both seem unhappy, even though they have accomplished their goal
Both seemed shocked that possessing the crown has not brought them happiness
Ironically, instead of happiness, Macbeth has become suspicious, paranoid, and guilt-ridden
He plots murder, commissions murder, installs spies, and sees ghosts

16. Act III Analysis
Banquo’s ghost represents Macbeth’s guilt and fears of the crimes he has committed
Notice that Banquo’s ghost “haunts” Macbeth and not Duncan’s. Why?
Banquo was present for the witches predictions
However, unlike Macbeth, Banquo took no criminal action