8/14/2019 Act III Notes Macbeth

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Act III, scene i

Characters: Banquo, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Attendant, Servant, Murderers

Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth but is not going to do anything about it because he wants the

witches prophecies about him to come true as well (that his sons would be kings). Macbeth andBanquo talk and Macbeth questions him about who hes going to be with whi le he is riding thatday and if he is going to be back in time for the feast that night. Macbeth has hired twomurderers to kill Banquo. The murderers say that their life has been so horrible that theyll doanything to mend it, so Macbeth convinces them that Banuo is their enemy and he must bemurdered along with Fleance. Macbeth calls them cowards the same way Lday Macbeth did tohim. Macbeth cannot just order Banquos death as king because they have mutual friends.

Act III, scene ii

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Servant, Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is miserable and starting to feel regret about what they have done but she stillstires to comfort Macbeth. They have switched roles; Macbeth wants to kill Banquo and LadyMacbeth is trying to convince him not to but he does not listen. How he talks to her now is veryvague, as opposed to the direct day he talked to her earlier in the play, their relationship hasdramatically changed.

Act III, scene iii

Characters: 3 murderers, Banquo, Fleance

The murderers kill Banquo but Fleance flees.

Act III, scene iv

Characters: Macbeth, Lords, Lady Macbeth, Murderer, Lennox, Ross, Ghost.

Macbeth welcomes the lords. Macbeth talks to the murderer and the murderer confirms thatBanquo is dead but tells Macbeth that Fleance escaped. Macbeth is worried about this. LadyMacbeth tells Macbeth to make his guests feel welcome. Then Banquos ghost enters and no onesees him except for Macbeth, everyone thinks that he is not well or crazy. Lady Macbeth scoldshim for being cowardly and causing a scene. After Macbeths second fit when the ghost leavesan returns again, Lady Macbeth asks the guests to leave.

Act III, scene v

Characters: The three witches, Hecate (head witch)

8/14/2019 Act III Notes Macbeth

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Hecate is angry at the witches for messing with Macbeth without her. She says she is going tomake him feel confident and invincible in order to ruin him because security/ is mortalschiefest enemy (32 -33).

Act III, scene vi

Characters: Lennox, another lord

Lennox delivers a sarcastic speech in which he demonstrates his suspicion and distrust of Macbeth. Macduff has gone to retrieve Malcom from England.