MACBETH

ACT III SCENE I

Banquo’s Soliloquy:
The scene opens with a soliloquy by Banquo, who now sees clearly through the guilt and duplicity of Macbeth.
Banquo suspects that Macbeth used foul play to make the witches’ prophecy of him becoming the thane of
Cawdor, Glamis and the King, come true. Banquo also notes that if the prophecies of the witches came true for
Macbeth then, it may also come true for him. Banquo becomes ambitious as he remembers that the witches
stated that the crown would not pass on to Macbeth’s children but it would be Banquo who will be father of
many kings to come. “But that myself should be the root and father of many kings”. Therefore, he becomes
hopeful and expect that they will be reliable in his case as well. Then Banquo becomes silent as Macbeth
crowned as the King and Lady Macbeth as the queen enters the room.
End Of Soliloquy.
Macbeth invited Banquo as the chief guest to the feast he organized at the Forres palace that evening. Macbeth
states that the great feast would have been incomplete and entirely unsatisfactory without Banquo. Banquo was
delighted to come and accepts the invitation, but he also intended to go riding that afternoon with his son
Fleance before the feast.
Macbeth tried to convince Banquo that Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain who have settled now in England
and Ireland were organizing a plot to go against his crowning with lying tales instead of accepting their cruel
parricide (killing of their father). Thus, he wanted to ask him for advice regarding the fleeing sons of Duncan and
states.
Banquo leaves to go on his ride with his son Fleance. Macbeth dismisses everyone until formal dinner except an
attendant who informs that somebody is waiting outside the castle gate and leaves.
Macbeth’s Soliloquy:
Macbeth thinks that to be king is nothing unless I can be with all safety. He wanted to remain the king with the
sense or feeling of security. He further states that his fears regarding Banquo are deeply rooted because
something in his king-like composure, dignity, in addition to his fearless mind, wise prudence and being a man
of infinite daring guides him safely in all tasks he undertakes. Macbeth remarks that there is no one whose
existence threatens him but his Genius (guiding spirit/guardian angel/conscience) seems inferior before Banquo
as if scolding him for doing wrong like killing the king, just like, Mark Antony’s guiding spirit was inferior to
Octavius Caesar’s guiding spirit in Julius Caesar. (Mythological Reference: the romans believed that each man has
a guiding spirit or guardian to look after him. In Julius Caesar, mark Antony found that his protecting spirit was
inferior to Octavius Caesar and hence he was doomed to lose.) Macbeth also recalls that Banquo scolded the
witches when they addressed him as the king and asked them to speak to him. The witches then greeted Banquo
as the father of many kings and placed a fruitless crown upon his head. Macbeth feels frustrated thinking that he
has defiled himself with crimes like killing the king for Banquo’s children and the crown he possesses will not be
passed down to his children and the barren scepter will also belong to Banquo’s children. Macbeth then
questions himself that has he destroyed his peace of mind and sold his soul to Satan, all to make Banquo’s
children the kings. He concludes that let fate itself come like an enemy into the arena and dare him to fight to
the last, to the death.
End Of Soliloquy.
 MACBETH
ACT III SCENE I

Macbeths Motivates the Murderers:

Macbeth persuades the two murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance by convincing them that Banquo is
responsible for their miseries and he is their enemy. He states that he has proved in their last conversation that it
was Banquo who was responsible for their wretched conditions in the past. He also adds that he has proved to
them how they were deceived and frustrated and also stated about the instruments used against them and the
agents, employed to keep them down, which even a half-witted person or a crazy person would conclude as
Banquo’s doing.
Macbeth states that the reason they are meeting for second time is because Banquo is their enemy. He
questions the murderers that do they possess patience so strongly as a quality in themselves that they can
forgive all of Banquo’s doings. He asks that are they so trained in the lessons of bible that they can pray for
Banquo and his family even after his oppression has brought them near death and reduced them and their family
to beggars.
When the first murderer states that they are men with human failings and not such perfect Christians. Macbeth
continues that in the catalogue there are all sorts of men just like there are various breeds of dogs like hounds
and grey-hounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves are all called by a common
name ‘DOGS’. But in a detailed list given various qualities or separate values of the dogs which distinguish them
from each other as which is swift, slow, clever, ferocious, guard dog, watchdog or hunter. These qualities would
describe each dog better than the mere title of ‘dog’.
After making this statement Macbeth says it is the same in case of men even. He questions the murderers that if
they have any place in the list of particular qualification and are not exactly the very lowest rank of mankind.
Then he would tell the task which will remove their enemy and unite them as loved and trusted allies. He says
that if their enemy remain alive then they will be sadly affected in their lives but will find perfect peace from his
death.
In his last speech Banquo confirms that their enemy is Banquo. He remarks that though he can boldly exercise his
royal powers to kill Banquo on his will but he can not do so as there are certain mutual friends of Banquo’s and
his whose love he cannot afford to lose and they will mourn his downfall if he kills him. That is why he request
their aid, so that the affair is kept hidden from public.
The murderers agree to perform the tasks he has assigned to them with their lives.

Significance Of the Scene:

1. The soliloquy of Banquo is provoking his rationalism and goodness shines through and do not allow him
to succumb to temptation. Banquo's regeneration is shown as he is not prepared to lose his sense of
honor.
2. The scene is the turning point in the development of play. Macbeth is seemed planning to get Banquo out
of his way as Macbeth feels his position is not safe till Banquo is alive.
3. Macbeth deters at the thought that Banquo’s children will snatch the crown from him and for their sake
he has committed the grave sin of killing the king.
4. Macbeth now embarks on the carrier of crime, as developed wises like hypocrisy, falsehood and has
become a criminal.
5. The character of Macbeth has changed. He has learnt to manipulate the weakness of others to further his
own ends.
 MACBETH
ACT III SCENE II
Regret Of Lady Macbeth:
Lady Macbeth, the newly crowned queen enters and learns from a servant that Banquo has gone from the court
and will return to join the ceremonial banquet. She sends the servant to call in Macbeth.
The scene starts with Lady Macbeth expressing her regret of killing King Duncan. It becomes clear to Lady
Macbeth that the greatness of the position and power, for which they have schemed, are bitter and unsatisfying
when acquired in the way that they have been. Her nerve has gone and she has no more plans for extreme and
high-handed action. “We have gained nothing, while we have lost all”. Lady Macbeth is depressed by the
uncertainty of her husband’s position, and she notices that it is weighing upon his spirit and has destroyed his
peace of mind, innocence and happiness. They are certainly much worse off than before. They have sent Duncan
to his peace, but doomed themselves to unrest and misery.
Macbeth enters and on seeing him she asks him why he appears so distant and aloof, obsessed with wretched
thoughts and dismal memory. Lady Macbeth requests Macbeth to stop using the thoughts which should have
died with Duncan since the ills that cannot be cure must be endured. As what is done cannot be undone.
Regret Of Macbeth:
Macbeth states that they have injured the snake slightly and let it go, implying that they have only inflicted a
wound on their dangerous enemy, not killed him (which is Fleance) “they have scotched the snake, not killed it”.
Now there is risk that like a wounded snake which recovers and is once more dangerous, will return to attack. So
the danger which remains with Fleance being alive is still to fear.
Macbeth further states that it is okay to let the whole structure of the universe fall apart, let this earthly world
and heavenly world suffer “let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer”, rather than them living in
perpetual fear and having their disturbed by such dreadful dreams that are troubling every night. Macbeth even
envies the peaceful rest that Duncan has in his grave. He regrets that though he has gained the throne, he has no
peace while the dead king has all peace and now nothing like assassin’s knife or poison, internal quarrel or
foreign invasion can ever trouble him.
Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to adopt a happy expression on his face in front of the guests invited to the
banquet. Macbeth agrees and ask her to do likewise. She should pay special attention to Banquo and honor him
as much as she can by her words and her looks as they are not completely safe, their faces must not indicate
what is going on in their mind.
Macbeth then voices his fears against Banquo and his son Fleance. His heart is filled with anguish at the thought
that they are still alive without any special significance. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that they are not eternal.
These words of his wife give great consolation to Macbeth that they are mortal indeed. He tells her that before
night, a terrible deed will happen and she will greatly speak of the deed when it is done but till then she should
not know more about it. Then in a poetic language, he invokes the night to close the eyes of the day so that it
may not look upon the deed that is to be done under the cover of darkness “Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful
day” and he concludes that position gained by one crime must be strengthen by another crime.
Macbeth has noticed falling way on Lady Macbeth’s part, so he has planned to murder Banquo and Fleance
without consulting her. Macbeth has changed, he is no more restrained by moral scruples and tender conscience,
but he become more daring, reckless and desperate by repetition of crimes as the time goes by. Lady Macbeth is
getting weaker and weaker, very near the breaking points.
 MACBETH
ACT III SCENE III

The appearance of the third murderer is unknow, was he a spy sent by Macbeth to see that the murderers carry
out their instructions or was it Macbeth himself.
It is dusk, and the two murderers, now joined by a third, linger in a wooded park outside the palace. Banquo and
Fleance approach on their horses and dismount. They light a torch, and the murderers set upon them. The
murderers kill Banquo, who dies urging his son to flee and to avenge his death. One of the murderers
extinguishes the torch, and in the darkness Fleance escapes. The murderers leave with Banquo’s body to find
Macbeth and tell him what has happened.

MACBETH
ACT III SCENE IV

Banquet Scene:
The banquet is ready, Macbeth crowned as the king, Lady Macbeth as the queen, Ross, Lennox, Lords and
Attendants enter.
Macbeth asks everyone to sit down according to their own rank and status, he himself sit at the center of the
company and thereafter the drinks are served. He asks Lady Macbeth to come and welcome the guests, to which
they answer her equally heartily in courtesy.
The first murderer appears at the door and Macbeth makes his way to him without anyone noticing. He sees his
face stained with blood, upon knowing that it belongs to Banquo he says that it pleases him better that it is on
his face rather than in Banquo’s veins and question the murderer that has he been killed. The murderer says yes,
he himself has cut his throat but his son Fleance has escaped.
The escape of Fleance dejects him, now there can be no peace of mind for him. After knowing that Fleance has
escaped, Macbeth expresses his fears and anxiety. He states that his satisfaction and happiness would have been
complete (Whole as the marble) if Fleance had shared his father’s fate. He would have been determined like a
rock (Founded as the rock), and as free and unconfined as the open air. But now he feels that he is confined
(Cabined), shut up as in a crib (Cribbed) and is chained and caged (Bound in). Now that Fleance lives to seek
vengeance, he will be a prey to doubts and fears.
The murderer assures that Banquo is buried safely in a ditch with twenty trenched gashes on his head, the least
of which would be enough to cause death.
Macbeth compares Banquo to a grown serpent and Fleance to a worm that has fled and is dangerous as with
time his poisonous teeth would appear and attack him.
The Murderer Departs
Lady Macbeth asks Macbeth to welcome the guest properly otherwise the feast will be similar to a meal bought
from an inn if it is not combined with cordial treatment of your guest. A feast is meaningless without ceremonial
welcome and polite hospitality, if merely eating was all that matter than one might just as well eat in once home.
The ghost of Banquo appears and sits in Macbeth chair.
Macbeth welcomes everyone and wishes them good digestion followed by good appetite and good health. He
states that, now that all the honored men of the country are assembled under one roof, he hopes that there is
only need for him to rebuke Banquo for not coming, and he will not sympathise with him for any misfortune or
accident as he is himself to blame for breaking his promise to be here.
Ross requests Macbeth to favour them and take a seat. Macbeth who has not yet recognized the spirit figure of
Banquo that is seated in his chair and is confused as all seats seemed occupied. Macbeth questions that who has
played this trick on him and that there is no chair for him to sit. When he realizes the ghost of Banquo, he is
shaken, dazed and forget that the eyes of others are upon him. While looking at the ghost he says that do not
shake your gory locks (blood stained hairs) at me.
When the lords arise from their seats at the sight of their unwell king, Lady Macbeth controls the situation and
convince the guests by saying that her husband often acts like this, his fit is momentary and he will get well
soon. But if you will look closely at him then it will offend him and extend his passion (lengthen the period of his
bad condition). Aside, Lady Macbeth then scolds Macbeth and questions that does he call himself a man after
acting so absurd. Macbeth declares himself as a bold man but sates that the sight he is looking at would even
terrify the devil himself, to which Lady Macbeth states as foolishness.
Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth that it is simply an illusion or a picture of his own fears just like the illusion of the
imaginary dagger which he claimed to have seen before killing Duncan. When compared to true terror and fear,
these outbursts of emotion and abrupt twitches are mere pretences (a deceptive outward appearance) which
only suit some woman telling a story learned from her grandmother before a fireside on a winter’s night. She
says that he looks like the very picture of shame. She further questions that why he shows such expressions
while staring at the chair.
Macbeth requests Lady Macbeth to look at the ghost and tell what it is.
Macbeth tells the ghost that he does not care and is not going get scared and that if he can nod then he can
speak as well. He further adds that if the graves will send back the dead bodies that are buried then to prevent
that its better to let them be eaten by hawks and there will be no need to bury them.
Ghost Disappears
Lady Macbeth says that he is looking not in his senses because his manhood has been swallowed up in his
foolishness. Over it, Macbeth assures that it is true that he had seen the ghost. He further adds that plenty of
bloodshed had occurred in the past before human laws were invented to make society gentler but then also
heinous crimes were committed. He states that but, in the past, even when brains were dashed out, there was
no uprising of the dead but now men murdered with twenty deadly wounds on their heads, rise and take their
seats in his place, which is even more strange then any murder itself.
Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to come to his senses and address the guests as they feel his absence from the
feast. Macbeth addresses the lords and tells them that they should not look at him with wonder at his strange
behavior. Macbeth says that is suffering from an unusual disease which is not strange to those who know him
and about the disease. He asks the lords to enjoy love and good health. After taking a cup full of wine, he states
that he drinks for their health and for the health of Banquo who is absent, for whom he wishes would be here.
As soon as Macbeth utters the hypocritical wish of Banquo to be present, Banquo’s spirit reappears.
The Ghost Reappears
Macbeth almost betrays himself when the ghost appears for the second time. He tells the ghost to go away and
let the graves once more conceal him as his bones are marrowless, blood is cold,