Act 3 Scene 1 Flashcards
How is Macbeth’s descent into evil further exemplified?
Macbeth is already plotting to kill Banquo soon after the murder of Duncan in order to secure his position on the throne.
What does Banquo’s soliloquy reveal about his thoughts?
Banquo is not comfortable with the way Macbeth has acquired the throne; there are a few characters after Duncan’s murder that do not entirely believe that Macbeth did not kill the king.
“I fear thou played’st most foully for’t”
Banquo fears that Macbeth did not acquire the throne through honesty.
What is important about the way Macbeth speaks to the murderers?
Macbeth speaks to the murderers in prose rather than his usual poetic blank verse, highlighting his descent into evil and further exemplifying his alignment with lower-level characters.
“Fail not our feast.”
Macbeth has plotted to kill Banquo and knows he will not make the feast; this indicates Macbeth slipping further into evil and using the language of his wife and the witches.
“My lord, I will not.”
Banquo tells Macbeth that he will attend the feast; this is ironic since his ghost does appear at the feast in Macbeth’s own seat to haunt him with guilt.
“if you have a station in the file not i’th’worst rank of manhood, say’t”
Macbeth speaks like his wife to the murderers, by challenging their manhoods to persuade them to commit the murder.
What is important about the fact that Macbeth seems to take on the role of LM?
There is a clear role reversal between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, since he is plotting murders on his own and using her techniques to persuade the murderers; perhaps Shakespeare is trying to highlight the corrupting effects evil has on a person.
