Macbeth
​ Act III: Charting Macbeth’s Character Development
Shakespeare develops his characters in many ways:
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Through what the characters say to other characters in dialogue;
Through short ​asides
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and long speeches to the audience called ​soliloquies
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Through what other characters say about them;
Through their actions.
Examine the following scenes in Act III for what they reveal about Macbeth’s character. Use
specific lines from the play and cite them in parenthesis (act, scene, lines). Ex.: (3.1.110-112)
Scene
What Macbeth says, does, or
What this reveals about
what others say about him
Macbeth’s character
Act III, scene i
Macbeth invites Banquo to a
banquet
Act III, scene i
Macbeth conspires to
murder Banquo and Fleance
Act III, scene ii
Macbeth doesn’t reveal his
plans to murder Banquo and
Fleance to Lady Macbeth
Act III, scene iii
Macbeth acts the jovial host
at the banquet
Act III, scene iii
Macbeth learns that Fleance
has escaped
Act III, scene iv
Macbeth sees Banquo’s
ghost
❧​ Question​: How has your impression of Macbeth changed since the start of the play?