Act 3

Question 1

Act 3 Scene 1
“To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.”

Answer 1

• Language: Macbeth’s line reveals that he views his kingship as meaningless if it is insecure. The phrase “to be thus is nothing” shows his paranoia and fear of losing power, even though he has achieved his ambition.
• Context: Macbeth’s insecurity reflects the Elizabethan worldview that a throne gained through sin would not bring peace. For Jacobean audiences, this would reinforce the consequences of usurping power without divine right - think about the Gunpowder Plot.
• Structure: This moment is pivotal as Macbeth begins to openly justify further violence to secure his rule. It shows his escalating paranoia and desire for control, setting up the murder plot against Banquo and Fleance.

Question 2

Act 3 Scene 2
“We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it:
She’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth.”

Answer 2

• Metaphor: The “snake” metaphor captures the dangerous consequences of Macbeth’s actions. The snake is a symbol of evil and treachery, suggesting that Macbeth understands the treacherous nature of his ambition but is unable to control it.
• Imagery: The snake imagery echoes the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and the serpent, highlighting the notion of temptation and sin.
• Context:The audience might recall Macbeth’s earlier hesitation and ambition, symbolised by the “serpent” imagery in Act 1, Scene 5, when Lady Macbeth instructs him to “look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t.” Here, the serpent has grown more dangerous, as if forewarning of Macbeth’s eventual ruin.
• Themes: Ambition and Consequence

Question 3

Act 3 Scene 3
“O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge. O slave!”

Answer 3

• Exclamation and Repetition: Banquo’s repeated cries of “fly” build a sense of urgency and desperation, highlighting his paternal instinct to save his son.
• Foreshadowing: The line “Thou mayst revenge” foreshadows potential retribution by Fleance and the possibility of Banquo’s line continuing, as prophesied by the witches.
• Context: Revenge and lineage are deeply rooted in the context of Shakespeare’s time, where family honor and the succession of power were of utmost importance.
  Banquo’s dying words show his hope that his lineage, though threatened, will endure and possibly bring justice.
• Themes: Fate and Free Will. Banquo’s plea for Fleance to escape hints at the resilience of fate, despite Macbeth’s efforts to control it. This moment emphasises that some aspects of destiny may be inevitable.

Question 4

Act 3 Scene 4
“This is the very painting of your fear;
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Led you to Duncan.”

Answer 4

• Metaphor: Lady Macbeth calls the ghost a “painting” of Macbeth’s fear, suggesting it is a figment of his imagination, much like the hallucinated dagger he saw before killing Duncan.
• Tone: Her words attempt to trivialise Macbeth’s hallucinations, reflecting her continued role as a figure of control, though her power over him is waning.
  She’s dismissive.
• Themes: Control and Guilt. Lady Macbeth’s effort to downplay the ghost highlights her desire to control Macbeth’s descent. Her reference to the “dagger” also hints at her complicity in the murder of Duncan and foreshadows her own downfall.

Question 5

Act 3 Scene 6
“The gracious Duncan was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead.”

Answer 5

• Sarcasm - Lennox sarcastically comments on how Macbeth “pitied” Duncan, only for Duncan to end up dead. This dark humor suggests that Lennox sees through Macbeth’s pretense.
• Theme: Tyranny and Kingship - Lennox’s irony highlights Macbeth’s hypocrisy and contrasts Duncan’s graciousness with Macbeth’s tyranny, exploring the qualities of a true versus a corrupt king.
• Structure: This is an important shift, as it openly criticises Macbeth, marking a turn in the play where his allies and the public are increasingly suspicious of him.