English 20-2
Macbeth - Summary Notes for Act III
Act III, scene i
Setting the Stage
Macbeth is now King of Scotland. In Scottish history, the real King Macbeth ruled
from 1040 to 1057. He became king after leading a rebellion against King Duncan and
slaying Duncan in battle. For ten years, Macbeth was a fairly good monarch. But in the last
seven years of his rule, he became suspicious and cruel.
For the murder plot in the play, Shakespeare borrowed from another time in history.
A Scottish king named Duff was murdered in his sleep when he was a guest of Donwald,
one of his nobles. According to history, Donwald’s wife convinced him to murder King
Duff.
So Shakespeare used historical facts to make his play exciting and to please King
James. But he changed history to suit his purposes.
In scene i, notice how the murder has affected Macbeth.
This scene begins at Macbeth’s royal palace. Banquo enters alone. The audience will
learn the secret thoughts of both Banquo and Macbeth in their soliloquies.
In this soliloquy, the reader finds out that Macbeth is suspected of murdering King Duncan and
that Banquo is able to see through Macbeth's mask. Banquo says,
Thou hast it now --King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and I fear
Thou _________ most ___________ for ’t
Banquo comments on how Macbeth has everything he was promised, but he thinks Macbeth gained
it through evil. Banquo considers whether his prophecies will come true and his ________ will be
kings. He shows his own desire for fulfillment of his part of the prophecy, "May they [witches]
not be my oracles as well / And set me up in __________?”
Macbeth invites Banquo, his chief guest, to a __________. Banquo and Fleance are riding that
afternoon, but can be back by supper. Macbeth says that Malcolm and Donalbain, their cousins
whom guilt rests upon, are in England and Ireland but don't ___________ to the crime. Macbeth
bids them (Banquo and Fleance) farewell, then tells the servant to fetch the ____________.
While waiting, Macbeth delivers a soliloquy about how it is insufficient to be king, unless he is
____________. He fears that Banquo, with his wisdom and temper, will try to unseat him, since the
prophecies said his children would be kings. Macbeth fears he has given up his ________ to the
____________ and committed an evil act, just to put Banquo's descendants on the throne. “Upon
my head they placed a ____________ crown / And put a ____________ scepter in my gripe.” He
tells fate to fight him to the death.
Macbeth has felt power. He is now King, and he doesn't want to give it up. At first he wasn't at
peace because he wanted the throne, but now that he has the throne, he loses his peace with the
prospect of loosing the __________. He murdered Duncan in order to make the prophecies come
true, but now he plots to murder Banquo and Fleance so that the witches promise to Banquo will
__________ come true.
Macbeth hires murderers to do the job for him, but doesn't just give them a command to kill
Banquo and Fleance, he also expertly ______________ them. He makes the murderers believe that
Banquo is an ______________ of their country and that they would be patriotic if they killed
Banquo. Macbeth tells the murderers they have a special role as __________ to avenge their
misfortune. (He challenges their ____________ like his wife did to him). The murderers say they
have had a rough life and would do anything. Macbeth tells them to kill Banquo, their mutual
enemy. He tells them to do it carefully, and to kill Banquo's son Fleance as well. The murderers
agree and leave to carry out the task.
Act III Scene ii
Setting the Stage
To this day, some people are fearful when a black cat crosses their path. This old
superstition is linked to the notion that cats were helpers of witches and devils.
People in the Middle Ages and in Elizabethan times held many such beliefs about
animals. Like cats, hares that crossed your path were unlucky because they, too, were
linked with witches. The meat of the hare was not good for you, either. It was thought to
produce sadness.
Another unlucky sign was the crowing of a hen. Such a sound supposedly meant
someone would die soon. Ravens could be unwelcome birds as well. Their appearance
was said to foretell disease, starvation, and death.
Among other strange animal beliefs, it was said pelicans fed their young with their
own blood. Deer were believed to shed tears. And toads were thought to have a great
jewel in their heads which would cure poison.
As you read Scene ii and iii, notice if the insects and animals mentioned bring good
fortune or bad.
Scene ii begins before the banquet. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are alone together.
Macbeth is greatly troubled.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth go through a reversal in roles. Macbeth has become the plotting,
treacherous one who can't rest until the murder of Banquo and Fleance are completed. Lady
Macbeth shows her first sign of ____________ for what they have done when she says (read
modern version),
"When we gain ____________ and __________ everything
when we get what we want without achieving ___________.”
That is, when one has attained one's goal without mental ease and satisfaction, all the effort used to
attain the goal has been put forth for nothing. She continues by saying that it is safer to be the
murdered person ("the ______________ we destroy") than to be the murderer living in uncertain
happiness ("dwell in _______________ _______________").
She asks Macbeth why he is keeping to himself and acting worried when he can't change what he
has done. (“what’s ________ is _________”). Macbeth says there is still a threat, and he wishes
he were one of the dead, who are in peace, rather than to have such constant worries. Lady Macbeth
tells him to act happy. Macbeth says his wife needs to remember that, too, and that they need to
_____________ Banquo to cover up for their dark plans. He adds that before night a dreadful deed
shall be done. "What's to be done?" she asks. "He replies that she does not have to know about the
deed until it is over, at which time she can _____________ him for it. Macbeth hides the facts
from Lady Macbeth and this is the beginning of the break in their relationship.
When Macbeth calls upon ‘____________night’ to hide his wickedness, we should remember
how Lady Macbeth, before the murder of Duncan, had called for the night ( and the spirits of
darkness) to hide the murdering dagger from the sight of heaven. This truly is a reversal of roles.
Act III Scene iii
Three murderers wait in hiding for Banquo and Fleance to return to the castle. Two of them we
know; they had the interview with Macbeth in the first scene of this act. The third one is known
neither to us nor to the first two Murderers. Macbeth can ___________ no-one, not even the thugs
he appointed to murder Banquo. Banquo is murdered, but just before he dies, he gives Fleance an
command, "_____________ ________ _____________" [Avenge my death] Will Fleance do
something to take revenge upon his father's killer?
Act III Scene iv
Setting the Stage
Shakespeare’s plays often feature supernatural creatures. Yet none are more
terrible than the ghost Macbeth will meet.
The thought of a ghost was even more frightening to Elizabethans than it is to horror
fans today. Some people who thought they’d been visited by a ghost went mad. Most
Elizabethans thought that ghosts came back to earth for a reason. Usually that reason was
thought to be revenge.
The Church of England has its own beliefs about ghosts. Clergymen insisted that
spirits were really devils that took on the shape of a dead person. This notion was
naturally very alarming. People feared that these demons could drag them to hell.
As you read Scene iv, notice how Macbeth reacts to the horrifying shape that
haunts him.
The banquet begins, and the lords and ladies of the court sit in the order of their rank.
Macbeth is anxious to hear from the killers.
Macbeth finds out from a murderer that Banquo was killed but _____________ escaped. Macbeth
is disturbed by the news of Fleance, but is happy that Banquo is killed. He says, "There the grown
serpent lies; the worm that’s fled / Hath nature that in time will ____________ breed, /
No___________ for th’ present". In other words, he's worried that Fleance will still fulfill the
prophecy in time.
Macbeth is told by Lady Macbeth to make a ____________for his assembled guests. The speech
is interrupted by the appearance of __________ ____________. Macbeth rants and raves strange
things that confuse and worry his guests, "Thou canst not say I did it [murder]. Never shake thy
gory locks at me." The guests don't see who Macbeth is talking to. Lady Macbeth calms the group
down, telling them that Macbeth is just sick; that this is just a _____________fit. She tells
Macbeth that it is just his imagining from __________. Macbeth’s guilt has become so strong that
he believes that Banquo has come from the dead, even though he has sufferred “__________
mortal murders on their _________”. Macbeth comes “out of is imaginings” and explains to his
guests that he is just ill and drinks wine to Banquo. He tells the ghost to go away, that it is not real.
But the ghost returns and Macbeth goes into another rant. Macbeth says that he can fight anything
that is living, whether it is a “rugged Russian _________, the armed ________________ or th’
Hyrcan _____________”. Macbeth challenges Banquo to come back to life to fight because he
can’t win against a ghost. Lady Macbeth tells the lords to leave after Macbeth continues to act
strangely. She is attempting to protect Macbeth from saying something incriminating.
Is the ghost real or imaginary? ______________. As said earlier, Macbeth is talking to air, raving,
having gone partly insane. The ghost is a ________________ brought forth from his guilt.
Remember that he sent his best friend to his grave. No one else sees the ghost, giving the image
even less credibility.
After the nobles have dispersed, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he has put _____________ in
Macduff's castle and that he noticed that Macduff didn't attend the banquet. Will this turn into the
new struggle between light and dark? He also says, "I will, to the _________ _________: More
shall they speak, for now I am bent to know by the worst means the worst. (lines 134 - 136). Lady
Macbeth says that Macbeth lacks something that helps everyone: ____________. Macbeth really
needs peace, but he can't relax because he feels that his power is threatened.
Act III Scene v
_____________, the Queen of witches, is angry because the witches have been dealing with
Macbeth without consulting her. She says he will be told his destiny at the cave the next day. The
various spells she conjures up will lure him into a false ____________ of ___________. The point
of this short scene seems to be that the Witches will make Macbeth feel secure, and his sense of
security will lead him to destruction; his over-__________ will encourage him to take risks and this
will lead to his downfall. It is widely believed that Shakespeare himself did not write this scene.
Act III Scene vi
Setting the Stage
In this scene, you will deal with more Scottish history.
Northumberland is one name you will encounter. This was an English county on the
border between Scotland and England. For centuries, English and Scottish lords fought
over his land. Finally in the 10th century, an English king tried to settle the dispute by
giving the northern part of Northumberland to Scotland. However, the English earls never
accepted losing part of their land.
Siward is another name out of history. He was an English earl of Northumberland
during Macbeth’s rule. Siward agreed to help Duncan’s son Malcolm take the throne from
Macbeth. Perhaps Siward hoped to get back his homeland as a reward. No one knows.
As Shakespeare portrays him, he is an honest general who bravely defends Malcolm
against cruel Macbeth.
In scene vi, watch for hints that Macbeth’s role in Duncan’s murder is suspected by
his nobles.
Lennox thinks it is __________ how Macbeth has been acting. His entire speech is ___________
as he discusses the similarities between the deaths of Duncan and Banquo. Since Fleance fled, (like
Malcolm and Donalbain) he must have killed his father. One can see from Lennox’s speech that
people are starting to suspect Macbeth of the murderers.
Lennox now changes the subject. He has heard that Macduff is not in the king's good graces
because he has spoken "broadly", that is, Macduff has spoken too obviously - of course, too
obviously against the king; and he did not appear at the "___________'s feast" (Macbeth's
banquet). Macduff is reported to be in the English court, with Malcolm, rallying forces to remove
Macbeth. Macduff has gone there to ask Edward to encourage Siward, the Earl of Northumberland,
to help Malcolm in an undertaking to overthrow Macbeth.
All in all, Act III is based around the killing of Banquo. Having Banquo killed is just another
example of Macbeth's vaulting ambition. It is the murder that puts Macbeth at the point
of no return and contributes to his downfall. In the final scene, the reader learns that
________________, ______________, and King ________________ are planning to overthrow
Macbeth, which in the end, becomes very real.
English 20-2
Macbeth - Additional Summaries
Act III, Scene i
Macbeth has now taken up residence at Forres. Banquo suspects Macbeth may
have murdered Duncan, but he is tempted to remain silent in the hope that the
prophecies will be fulfilled for him as they have been for Macbeth. Macbeth
makes a formal entry with his attendants and announces a state banquet will be
held that night. Banquo tells Macbeth that he will be out horse riding with
Fleance until early evening, but he should return in time for the banquet. The
retinue exits, leaving Macbeth alone, and we learn that he lacks security in his
kingship: he is now obsessed by the witches’ prophecies to Banquo. An attendant
admits two hired murderers for whom Macbeth has sent. Macbeth convinces them
that Banquo is their enemy and deserves to be killed. They agree to murder
Banquo and Fleance that evening.
Act III, Scene i
Lady Macbeth expresses her unhappiness but, when Macbeth enters, she resumes
her role as the practical advisor. We learn that both she and Macbeth are
suffering from troubled sleep, nightmares, and loss of appetite. They determine
to hide their agitation and to be welcoming and jovial at their banquet. Macbeth
hints to Lady Macbeth that he has made plans for some significant action, but he
refuses to give her any details.
Act III, Scene iii
As they wait in the early evening for Banquo and Fleance to pass by, the two
murderers are joined by a third. It appears he has been sent by Macbeth who no
longer trusts anybody. When Banquo and Fleance arrive, carrying a torch, one
murderer puts out the light and the other two stab Banquo. In the darkness
Fleance escapes.
Act III, Scene iv
The Macbeths formally welcome their guest to the banquet. Macbeth prepares to
drink to their health, but glimpses one of the murderers at the door. When he is
informed of Fleance’s escape he is, of course, very upset, but is called back by his
wife to his duties as host. As he prepares to join his guests at the table, he
comments on how disappointed he is that Banquo is not present. As if in answer,
the murdered mans’s ghost enters and sits at the table. The guests, who do not see
the ghost, are startled by Macbeth’s horrified reaction. Lady Macbeth tries to
calm him with appeals to his manliness, his common sense and, finally, to his role
as host. When the ghost disappears, the Macbeths blame his behaviour on poor
health. Foolishly, Macbeth calls for a toast to the absent Banquo, who
immediately reappears. Macbeth’s ravings betray so much that Lady Macbeth
wearily tries to comfort him. Macbeth reveals that he is angry at Macduff and
plans to visit the witches again. He comforts himself with the thought that more
experience will prepare him to deal with the horrors he has created.
Act III, Scene v
On a bleak heath, we are introduced to Hectate, the queen of witches. She is
angry at the three weird sisters because they have not involved her in their
encounters with Macbeth. Knowing that he will seek them out next morning,
however, Hectate arranges with them the details of his reception. They plan to
lead Macbeth to his downfall by making him feel over confident.
Act III, Scene vi
Lennox and another lord discuss crimes they now are certain have been committed
by Macbeth. They also review new developments: Macbeth is furious because
Macduff refused to attend the banquet; Malcolm is safe at the court of Edward,
the King of England; Macduff is on his way to join Malcolm and seek England’s
military assistance to attack Macbeth; and Macbeth is making preparations for
defence. Scotland , they say, is filled with fear and suffering and they pray for a
return to normality.