11th April 2018

Act 3 Summary

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 1 Summary

Characters: Banquo, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Lenox, Rosse, Attendant.

Location: Forres, a room in the castle

Time: After Macbeth has been crowned.

Events: Banquo expresses his suspicion about Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth come in and talk about Banquo’s ride today. Macbeth talks to two murders about Banquo.

Quote: “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, put a barren sceptre in my grip thence to be wrenched with an unlined hand, no son of mine succeeding. ” (The crown in fruitless and the sceptre barren because Macbeth’s descendants would not inherit them.) – Macbeth

Quote: “For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; put rancours in the vessel of my peace only for them; and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man, to make them kings and seed of Banquo kings!” (I have polluted my mind with Banquo’s descendants and I have given my soul to the devil just so Banquo’s children can be kings!) – Macbeth

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 2 Summary

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Servant, Macbeth.

Location: Forres, a room in the castle.

Time: After Banquo has left.

Events: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth briefly discuss what to do about Banquo and his son, Macbeth says he has it all under control and to be a gracious hostess for the banquet that night.

Quote: “Come, seeling night, scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale.” (Come night and blindfold the kindhearted day, use your bloody and invisible hand to tear the life bond of Banquo who has me in fear.) – Macbeth

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 3 Summary

Characters: Three murderers, Banquo, Fleance

Location: a mile outside the castle at Forres.

Time: At night as Banquo arrives back.

Events: The three murderers attack Banquo, killing him but Fleance escapes.

Quote: O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou may ’st revenge —O slave! (Treachery, good Fleance run, run, run! Someday get revenge. Oh you slave) – Banquo

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 4 Summary

Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Lords, Murderer, Lenox, Rosse.

Location: A room in the palace, at a banquet table.

Time: After Macbeth’s coronation.

Events: Macbeth attends a banquet to celebrate his coronation and murderer appears to say that Banquo is dead but his son got away. Banquo’s ghost appears but only Macbeth sees him. To the lords in attendant, Macbeth looks like he’s acting crazy and Lady Macbeth tries to cover for him.

Quote: “For mine own good all causes shall give way: I am in blood stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in head, that will to hand, which must be acted, ere they may be scanned.” (I will sacrifice anything to get what I want. I have got blood on my hand and I have gone too far to turn back now.) – Macbeth

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 5 Summary

Characters: Witch, Hecate.

Location: The heath.

Time: Not sure.

Events: One of the witches meets with Hecate who says she feels left out and that their situation with Macbeth can be dangerous.

Quote: “You all know, security is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” (Giving a mortal confidence and security can also be their greatest enemy) – Hecate.

Overconfidence can lead to selfishness and a greed to get more power and can lead to their own destruction or that of others. 

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 6 Summary

Characters: Lenox and another Lord.

Location: Somewhere in Scotland

Time: Not sure.

Events: Lennox expresses his suspicions of Macbeth to another lord. (Using a bit of sarcasm)

Quote:

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