macbeth: act 3 bethany dickey, emily lavergne, travis fong, wesley fisher, sarah smith and lindsay...
TRANSCRIPT
MACBETH: ACT 3
Bethany Dickey, Emily Lavergne,
Travis Fong, Wesley Fisher, Sarah
Smith and Lindsay Young
M
acbeth plays the biggest role
in this act. He is married to
Lady Macbeth and is now
the current King of
Scotland. Macbeth is
wracked with guilt over his
murder of Duncan. Soon, he
will suffer even more guilt
from another heinous act he
has yet to commit.
MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH
L
ady Macbeth is another major
character in this act. She is
Macbeth’s wife and therefore
the Queen of Scotland. She
feels some guilt but is still
hungry for even more power.
Lady Macbeth is extremely
intelligent and powerful and
controls the majority of
Macbeth’s actions.
B
anquo dies in this act
because Macbeth feels
threatened by his potential
to usurp the throne. The
witches prophesied that
Banquo was to be the father
of kings, and Banquo is
beginning to aspire to
something greater than his
current position.
BANQUO AND HECATE
H
ecate is the Queen of the
witches. She discusses
Macbeth with one of the
three witches. She is
displeased with how they
have handled him and regrets
not being more involved. She
believes that he is a selfish
man who doesn’t deserve the
benefits of their witchcraft.
MINOR CHARACTERS
T
he three murderers are hired by Macbeth to kill Banquo and Fleance.
They express no moral qualms about killing.
L
ennox, Ross and the other Lords are mistrustful of Macbeth and
believe that he will cause the downfall of their country.
T
he first witch has a very minor role. She is obedient to Hecate’s
wishes.
F
leance is Banquo’s son. He is the one who is most likely to overthrow
Macbeth, according to the witches’ prophecy
SCENE 1
S
etting: A room in the palace
M
acbeth deceitfully pretends to be Banquo’s friend while he is planning
how to kill him.
B
anquo suspects that Macbeth may have killed Duncan, but does not say
anything.
M
acbeth announces a banquet that night.
M
acbeth tells two murderers when and where to kill Banquo and Fleance.
SCENE 1 CONTINUED
1. “It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must find
it out to-night.” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 158-159) Macbeth was
talking to himself. He was discussing his planned murder of Banquo.
This is significant because it shows Macbeth’s determination to have
him killed. One interesting thing and audience member can take from
this is the fact that Macbeth says that Banquo’s soul will go to heaven.
2. “There is none but he whose being I do fear; and under him my genius
is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony’s was by Caesar.” –Macbeth (Act
3, Scene 1, Lines 59-61) Macbeth was talking to himself. He was
describing his main reason for wishing Banquo dead: he fears that
Banquo is superior to him and could potentially usurp him.
SCENE 1 CONTINUED
3. “Why, by the verities on thee made good, may they
not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?” –
Banquo (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 8-10) Banquo was talking
to himself. He was describing his great ambition. He is
saying that since the prophecies about Macbeth came
true, the ones about him may come true as well. This
quote is significant because it is about ambition, a huge
theme in Macbeth. It shows the audience members that
Macbeth’s suspicions are not unfounded.
SCENE 2
S
etting: A room in the palace
M
acbeth and Lady Macbeth feel very guilty and are anxious that they
will be found out.
L
ady Macbeth tells Macbeth that they must mask their anxiety and
feign happiness and serenity at the banquet.
M
acbeth hints that he has planned something, but does not say what.
SCENE 2 CONTINUED
1. “Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks; be
bright and jovial among your guests tonight.” –Lady
Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 30-31) Lady Macbeth
was talking to her husband. She is telling him to
seem perfectly happy and calm at their banquet. This
quote is significant because it shows Macbeth’s
enormous guilt and Lady Macbeth’s huge intellect in
her plans to hide their guilt.
SCENE 3
S
etting: Outside in a park
T
he two murderers are joined by a third, also sent by Macbeth.
B
anquo and Fleance arrive with a torch, which is accidentally
extinguished during the commotion.
A
midst the confusion, Banquo is stabbed and dies, while Fleance
escapes.
SCENE 3 CONTINUED
1. “The west yet glimmers with some streaks of
day.” –First Murderer (Act 3, Scene 3, Line 7) The
first murderer was talking to the other two
murderers. He is describing the setting of the
scene: late twilight with only a little daylight left.
This quote is significant because it contains
imagery of darkness. It sets the scene for the
gloomy dark, atmosphere.
SCENE 4
S
etting: A banquet room in the palace
O
ne of the murderers comes to the door and Macbeth is told that the
murderers were only partially successful.
M
acbeth is called back to the table. Banquo’s ghost appears and he is
horrified. The guests are confused by his ravings.
C
ontinued next slide…
SCENE 4 CONTINUED
L
ady Macbeth attempts to calm her husband down and
eventually succeeds.
M
acbeth toasts to Banquo and the ghost reappears. Macbeth
rants and begins to reveal their secrets: Lady Macbeth is
forced to dismiss their guests.
M
acbeth says to Lady Macbeth that he is angry that Macduff did
not attend their banquet, and reveals that he plans to visit the
witches again.
SCENE 4 CONTINUED
1. “Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse is the initiate fear, that
wants hard use: we are yet but young in deed.” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 4,
Lines 172-174) Macbeth was talking to Lady Macbeth. He is referring to the
fact that he is allowing his guilt from the murders of Duncan and Banquo to
weigh heavily on his conscience. This quote is significant because it shows
Macbeth’s struggles to overcome his compassion.
2. “I am in blood, stepp’d in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were
as tedious as go o’er.” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 157-169) Macbeth
was talking to Lady Macbeth. The blood he is referring to is Duncan’s and
Banquo’s. This is significant because he is saying that he has already
bloodied his hands, and it would be pointless to back out now. The audience
can learn that Macbeth is willing to kill again if he must.
SCENE 4 CONTINUED
3. “It will have blood; they say blood will have blood.
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak;
augures and understood relations have by magot-pies and
coughs and rooks brought forth the secret’st man of blood.
What is the night?” –Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 152-
155) Macbeth was talking to his wife. He is anxious that he
will be found out for murdering Banquo. His concern is
that Fleance will find out who ordered his father’s death. It
is significant because it exposes Macbeth’s deepest fears.
SCENE 5
H
ecate, the queen of witches is angry at the witches for not
involving her in their doings with Macbeth.
S
he knows that Macbeth plans to seek out the witches the
next day.
T
hey plot to lead Macbeth to his downfall by causing him to
be overconfident.
SCENE 5 CONTINUED
1. “Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, loves for
his own ends, not for you.” –Hecate (Act 3, Scene 5,
Lines 12-13) Hecate was talking to the first witch. She
is annoyed with the witches for helping Macbeth
because he is greedy and selfish. This is significant
because it reveals Hecate’s insight on Macbeth. One
interesting that is that Macbeth will no longer respect
the witches after they have told him what he wishes to
know. He only seeks them for his own benefit.
SCENE 6
L
ennox and another lord discuss their suspicions about
Macbeth’s crimes. They are scared for their country.
M
alcolm is at the court of Edward, the King of England.
Macduff is going to join him.
M
acduff, Malcolm, and Edward are planning to join forces
and attack Macbeth, freeing Scotland from his reign.
SCENE 6 CONTINUED
1. “May soon return to this our suffering country
under a hand accursed!” –Lennox (Act 3, Scene 6,
Lines 51-52) Lennox is talking to another lord. He is
hoping that Macduff and Malcolm will return soon to
free their country from Macbeth. This is significant
because it shows that his subjects are unhappy with
the current state of their country and how Macbeth is
handling their affairs.