Act 3 Flashcards
What is the purpose of Act 3?
- Midpoint of the play
- Shows his tyranny.
What is Banquo suspicious about in Act 3 Scene 1?
- That Macbeth became King through treachery.
Why is Macbeth annoyed at Banquo and wants to kill him?
- Banquo is a threat to Macbeth’s power.
- He is annoyed that “his children will be kings.”
Macbeth challenges fate to the challenge of killing Banquo, where does he challenge fate previously?
In Act 1 Scene 2: “brave Macbeth, disdaining fortune.”
How does Macbeth attempt to convince the murderers to kill Banquo?
- Banquo will make you poor.
- Prove their masculinity, challenging them, if they are up to the task….
Lady Macbeth is no longer involved in Macbeth’s plans, explain why….?
- Macbeth has reclaimed the power….
- He feels as though he doesn’t need her anymore.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 2?
- Lady Macbeth feels guilty for her actions
- Macbeth appears, and she tells him to stop dwelling on their actions.
- Macbeth talks about how difficult he is finiding his rule….
- He doesn’t tell Lady Macbeth the PLAN
What does Lady Macbeth say to Macbeth to convince him to stop dwelling on the past (Act 3, Scene 2)?
-“What’s done is done.”
PROVERB
What does Macbeth mean by: “We have scorched the snake not killed it? “
- Symbol of evil “snake.”
- Ironic as he is the one who is going against God by killing a King at first.
- Shows how obsessed and mad he is about Banquo.
What does Lady Macbeth being upset about murdering the King show?
- Shows there was no point into doing it.
- Appearance vs reality: telling the audience to not fall for appearances
What does: “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck show.”
- Treating her like a “standard Jacobean woman.”
- Demure and repressed (helps her husband.)
- This power has destroyed their loving relationship: “my dearest partner of greatness.”
What is regicide?
- Regicide is the murder of a monarch.
Give a quote about Macbeth being tormented by his actions
“O full of scorpions is my mind.”
Vivid image in this metaphor
Madness of Macbeth
What happens in Act 3, Scene 3?
- Murderers kill Banquo
- Fleance escapes
What does Macbeth adopting a 3rd murderer show?
- Shows that Macbeth doesn’t trust anybody.
AIMING HIGH
How is light and dark imagery used in the scene where Banquo is murdered?
- Light at beginning of scene, there is hope in the world.
- Torch being extinguished before Banquo murder, symbol of hope and life being lost
What happens in Act 3 Scene 4?
- Baquet scene
- Banquo’s ghost sits in Macbeth’s place
- Lady Macbeth tries to cover for her husband.
- The ghost enters again
- Alone with his wife, Macbeth speaks about his worries in Macduff.
What does Banquo sitting in Macbeth’s place show?
- Shows that Banquo will take Macbeth’s throne (foreshadowing the future.)
What is significant about the banquet scene in terms of public appearance?
- First time he seems openly ruining his good image.
- His choice vs madness
Why does the Banquet become a hollow and lifeless event?
What is Shakespeare trying to show?
- Wrongful power means no fun basically!!
What does Macbeth say to the ghost of Banquo?
- “never shake thy gory locks at me.”
How does Lady Macbeth reprimand Macbeth in The Banquet Scene?
- Questions Macbeth’s masculinity
What are the 2 interpretations of Banquo’s Ghost?
- He is real and in a supernatural way, only Macbeth can see him.
- He isn’t real - simply a result of Macbeth’s madness.
How is it clear that Macbeth is aware of his bad actions to Duncan and Banquo at the end of The Banquet Scene?
- “stepped in so far that I shall wade no more.”
- He has put himself in that position!!
What does the word weird mean in Old English? What could the witches represent?
- Destiny/ fate.
- Three fates in Greek mythology –> more powerful than Gods.
Why is Hecate annoyed at the witches in Act 3, Scene 5?
- Annoyed for giving Macbeth any sembelence of power.
Why is Hecate annoyed at the witches in Act 3, Scene 5?
- Annoyed for giving Macbeth any sembelence of power.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 6?
- Lennox speaks about the bad state of the country, he believes Macbeth is reponsible.
- Malcom is attempting to raise military support.
- Macduff is attempting to join Malcom.
What King is introduced in Act 3 Scene 6 (from England?)
What is the contrast Shakespeare makes with him and Macbeth?
- King Edward
- Edward is pious whereas Macbeth has put the country in havock.
Now that Banquo is dead, who does Macbeth set his attention to? Why?
- Macduff
- Macduff didn’t attend coronation, banquet and was suspicious about Macbeth in the first instance.
What do we learn about Macbeth in power in Act 3 Scene 6?
- He has abused it
- Isn’t fair
- “Give to us our tables meat”: Lord
- Lord’s Prayer –> echoed by The Lord
What is the context of Hecate saying that “security is mortals’ chiefest enemy?”
Think morality plays
- Medieval morality plays.
- Satan tempts mankind by playing on their fears of future loss.
- Macbeth is scared that he will lose the power he has.
What does Hecate want to do to Macbeth in terms of deceiving him?
- She wants to make him think that he’s immortal and arrogant
- And then…. the witches will attack
Give a quote from Act 3, Scene 2 that shows Macbeth knows that he will be murdered.
- “Blood will have blood.”
What does Macbeth say in his: To be thus soliloquy?
- He wants to kill Banquo as his fears of him are deeply rooted.
- He knows Banquo acts in safety and it will be difficult.
- Annoyed that the witches placed on Macbeth, “a fruitless crown.”
- Challenges fate to fight him
Contextually speaking, Macbeth was an actual Scottish King, but he was a good man - why does Shakespeare make him appear tyrannical in Act 3?
- Hyperbole
- Showing what treason can do to a great King of history.
What is the significance of the ghost of Banquo entering when Macbeth thinks he has reclaimed power in The Banquet Scene?
- Shows that the supernatural are more powerful than Macbeth - able to control Macbeth along with the reactions of others
What is different about the dagger hallucination and Banquo’s ghost’s hallucination?
- Dagger: Macbeth is aware of hallucinating.
- Banquo: Macbeth is unaware he is hallucinating.
