Act 3 Flashcards
Summary of Act 3: Scene 1
-Banquo starts to have suspicions on the witches’ prophecies, thinking how his children are on line to the throne next.
-Macbeth, in his royal attire, invites Banquo to a feast. Banquo then departs, leaving Macbeth by himself.
-Macbeth starts to realise that if it is true what the witches had said, it would mean that Banquo’s child would take over with Macbeth having no heir after him.
-Macbeth reminds the murderers that Fleance must be killed along with his father and tells them to wait within the castle for his command.
Key ideas in Act 3: Scene 1?
-“Thou play’dst most foully for’t,” suspicious of Macbeth since everything the witches have said is true.
-“To be this is nothing, but to be safely thus,” he feels like the crown and power in meaningless if he cannot keep them forever.
“To make them kings, the seed of Banquo’s kings,” exclamatory, very jealous.
Summary of Act 3: Scene 2
-Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth about how discontent he feels after the killing, and feels that the business they have begun is not complete.
-Macbeth urges Lady Macbeth to be jovial and kind to Banquo during the evening’s feast, in order to lure their next victim into a false sense of security.
Key ideas in Act 3: Scene 2?
-“Nought’s had all spent, where our desire is got without content,” this hints how their work has not made them happy, despite it being what they asked for.
-“What’s done is done,” Lady Macbeth tries to reassure Macbeth, think that it is best to just stay focused on the present.
-“He sleeps well,” hinting how Duncan is now at peace and this motif of sleep is explored again, symbolises peace and innocence.
-“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” This animal imagery represents Macbeth’s conscience. Appearance vs reality.
-“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,” Macbeth now gains dominance in the relationship, feeling more determined to achieve more.
Summary of Act 3: Scene 3
-The murderers kill Banquo, who dies, urging his son to flee and to avenge his death.
-Fleance escapes and the murderers leave with Banquo’s body to find Macbeth and tell him what has happened.
Key ideas in Act 3: Scene 3
-“It will be rain to-night,” pathetic fallacy, effect of the dark setting, adds to the mystery and the uncertainty.
-“O, treachery!” He had implications of suspicious acts, backstabbed.
-“Thou mayst revenge,” foreshadows Macbeth’s death.
Summary of Act 3: Scene 4
-Macbeth and Lady Macbeth host a feast, and Macbeth talks to the first murderer, learning that Banquo is now dead and Fleance has escaped.
-Fleance escaping angers Macbeth.
-Returning to the table, Macbeth is horror-struck when he sees a ghost of Banquo.
-Lady Macbeth makes excuses of this and tells everyone that the guests should simply ignore his behaviour and that he usually has “visions.”
-Macbeth is repeatedly shocked by Banquo’s ghost and Lady Macbeth sends the alarmed guests out of the room as the ghost vanishes again.
-Lady Macbeth says that he needs sleep, and they retire to their bed.
Key ideas in Act 3: Scene 4
-“You know your own degrees,” everyone knows their ranks, ironic as he used to be Thane of Cawdor and then King but then his downfall is foreshadowed.
-“The worm that’s fled,” Fleance is young, not a priority to him yet.
-“Are you a man?” questions Macbeth, signifying her power when he is more vulnerable and paranoid.
-“Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence!” He is more enraged as he believes he is more powerful than the ghost.
Summary of Act 3: Scene 5
-Upon the stormy heath, the witches meet with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft.
-She says that Macbeth is to come the next day, and they must summon visions and spirits whose messages will fill him with a false sense of security.
Key ideas in Act 3: Scene 5
-Rhyming couplets throughout the whole speech.
-“Loves for his own ends,” Narcissistic, selfish, self- centred, Macbeth.
-“pit of Acheron,” instructs the witches to meet her throne, river in the classical Hell. It reinforces the supernatural elements of the play.
-“Security is mortal’s chiefest enemy,” confidence is what is tricking Macbeth.
Summary of Act 3: Scene 6
-Banquo’s murder was blamed on Fleance, who has fled.
-However, both Lennox and another Lord suspect Macbeth, whom they call a “tyrant.”
-Lennox and the lord express their hope that Malcolm and Macduff will be successful and that their actions can save Scotland from Macbeth.
Key ideas in Act 3: Scene 6
-“How did it grieve Macbeth!” It is not something for Macbeth to grieve, making is more suspicious.
-“His presence at the tyrant’s feast,” calling Macbeth a tyrant, what Macbeth has done is unacceptable.
