Victor Liu

MACBETH
Act III
1. a) Foreshadowing
In the conversation between Macbeth and murderer, Macbeth says: “If’t be so, / For Banquo’s
issue have I filed my mind” (3.1.64-65) It is a foreshadowing that Macbeth has a plan to kill
Banquo and his son.

b) Dramatic Irony
At the beginning of Act 3, Macbeth says: “I wish your hoses swift and sure of foot, / And so I
do commend you to their backs.” (3.1.37-38) At that moment, Macbeth thinks that Banquo is
not a friend anymore. Macbeth has already talked to the murderers that the killing of Banquo.
However, Macbeth still is welcomed with Banquo apparently instead of his evil motive.

c) Parallels to Previous Scenes

At the beginning of Act 3, Banquo is thinking the words that the tree witches said before,
“Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, / As the weird women promised…” (3.1.1-2)
Another parallel to previous scene is that Macbeth mentions he killed the King in his
soliloquy, “…For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered…” (3.1.66)

d) Night Imagery
“Ere the bat hath flown his cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons the shard-borne
beetle with his drowsy hums hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done a deed of
dreadful note.” (Act III:2:43-47)

(e) Sleep Imagery

“Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake
us nightly.” (Act III:2:18-19)
“Duncan I sin his grave; after life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.” (Act III:2:24-25)

2. Banquo suspects Macbeth of the murder of Duncan when he echoes the memory of the
words said by the three witches. “Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, / As the weird
women promised, and I fear / Thou played’st most foully for’t.” (3.1.1-3).

3. Macbeth wanting to have Banquo murdered has following reasons. Firstly, Macbeth fears
that Banquo’s outstanding and superior ability and wisdom that his “genius is rebuked” if
Banquo is not killed (3.1.59). Secondly, Macbeth fears that the murder of King Duncan would
make the witches’ prophecy go fast. Macbeth notes that if the witches’ prophecy is true, his
will be a “fruitless crown,” because Banquo’s son will overthrow his King. (3.1.62). Thirdly,
Macbeth noticed that he will not have an heir. He says: “No son of mine succeeding.” (3.1.67)

4. The second crime made with two murderers who are hired by Macbeth. Macbeth has a plan
then he calls the two murderers to finish this criminal task. Unlike second crime, the first
crime that killing the King, Macbeth done it on him with complicate mental struggles and
fear.
 Victor Liu

Macbeth
Act III
5. The two murderers are belittled by Macbeth which motivates them to kill Banquo.
“Are you so gospeled to pray for this good man sand for his issue, whose heavy hand
hath bowed you to the grave and beggared your forever.” (Act III:1:89-91). Because
they are completing tasks of the king, therefore the two murderers want to perform
well and successfully complete the task.

6. Macbeth does not want to share the new murder plan with his wife Lady Macbeth
anymore because he becomes more ambition and cruel. The quote: “Be innocent of
the knowledge, dearest chuck, / Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, scarf
up the tender eye of pitiful day…” (3.2.47-49)

7. (a) “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo and his
Fleance lives.” (Act III:2:39-40)
“…and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood;
good things of day begin to droop and drowse, whiles night’s black agents to their
preys do rouse.” (Act III:2:51-56)
(b) “We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll close and be herself, whilst our
poor malice remains in danger of her former tooth.” (Act III:2:15-17)

8. The purpose of this scene is to reveal the character of Macbeth in which describes
his corruption state of mind and who suffers from the struggle with witch’s prophecy.
“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo and his
Fleance lives.” (Act III:2:39-40)

9. The deaths of Duncan and Banquo are both planned out by Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth and are both carried out to fulfill the ambitious desires of Macbeth. Macbeth
also suffers from spiritual corruption and which led to his insanity. However, Macbeth
is stressed and undetermined when murdering King Duncan, in contrast to the murder
of Banquo.

10. The possible third murderer is Macbeth. When the other two murderers ask the
third who sent him to join them, the third answers it is Macbeth who sent him.
However, there is only two murderers present when Macbeth assigns the task to the
murderers.

11. The appearance of Banquo’s ghost is a turning point of the play because in reveals
Macbeth’s insanity and that his innermost corruption state of mind become a known
by the public. “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hid thee! Thy bones are
marrowless, thy blood is cold; thou hast no speculation in those eyes which thou dost
glare with.” (Act III:4:94-97)
 Victor Liu

12. “Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth. Pray
you, keep seat. The fit is momentary; upon a thought he will again be well. If much
;you note him ;you shall offend him and extend his passion. Feed, and regard him
not.” (Act III:4:54-58) Lady Macbeth first tries to convince the Thanes who attend the
banquet that Macbeth had a temporarily illusion and he would be fine. In her aside to
Macbeth, she again questions his manhood and encourages him to be brave: “Are you
a man?” (Act III:4:58). When she realizes that Macbeth cannot restore to normality,
she tries to minimize the public awareness of Macbeth’s insanity and the illusions by
conclude the banquet.

13. “This is more strange than such a murder is.” (Act III:4:83)
“Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is
nothing to those that know me.” (Act III:4:86-88)
“Without our special wonder? You make me strange even to the dispositions that I
owe,” (Act III:4:113-114)
“Strange things I have in head, that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be
scanned.” (Act III:4:140-141)
“My strange and self-abuse is the initiate fear that wants hard use.” (Act III:4:143-
144)

The repeated use of word “strange” reveals Macbeth’s inner emotions of desire for
power and the dark ambitions that can not be controlled.

14. Scene five foreshadows the tragic outcome later in the plot and also portrays the
character traits of Macbeth in depth. The scene and the quotes of the queen of the
witches, Hecate, indicates that Macbeth’s cruelty, aggressiveness and his wrathfulness
resulted that even the witches, which symbolizes the nature of evil, betrays him.
“And, which is worse, all you have done hath been but for a wayward son, spiteful
and wrathful, who, as others do. Loves for his own ends, not for you.” (Act III:5:10-
13)