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The Shakespeare Companion
What is Really Going on in Macbeth?
Act III
Act III, sc. I
Banquo suspects that Macbeth may have murdered Duncan to become king
sooner than the 3 witches prophesized. (This is a very dangerous thought for
Banquo to have and if Macbeth suspects he believes this, it could be his
downfall). “And I fear Thou played’st most foully for ‘t” thinks Banquo. He
also thinks about what the witches said about his children becoming kings.
Banquo wonders, is this too much to hope for, to have his sons become
kings, seeing that all the prophesies from the witches for Macbeth, so far,
have come true?
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter with various lords. Macbeth tells Banquo
he has been missed, and tonight there will be a feast in his honor, and he will
be expected to be there. Banquo tells Macbeth he has to ride today until an
hour or two into the dark, but will be back for the feast. They speak of the
“bloody cousins” who are Malcolm and Donalbain, whom everyone believes
(except Banquo and perhaps Macduff) that they killed Duncan, their father to
become king.
As soon as Banquo and Fleance are gone, Macbeth asks his servant, where
are those men who came to the castle? The servant tells him they are outside
the palace gate. Macbeth asks him to invite them in. Macbeth says to
himself, “There is none but he whose being I do fear; and under him my
genius is rebuked,” There is no one Macbeth fears except Banquo, he was
with him when he heard the prophesy from the witches, he knows what the
witches said. Macbeth then thinks, “No son of mine succeeding. If ‘t be so,
for Banquo’s issue I have filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have
I murdered… to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings”. He wonders
to himself, why have I done this, murdered Duncan, come up with this
ingenious plan to become king, only so that Banquo’s kids can be king!
Macbeth thinks, “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. Our fears in
Banquo stick deep” Macbeth does not trust Banquo, because the witches
said his children will be kings, and Macbeth is afraid that his children will
not. Now Macbeth is beginning to become paranoid, Macbeth knows that
Banquo is brave and will stop at nothing to get what is rightfully his. The 3
witches said “They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they
placed a fruitless (childless) crown and put a barren scepter in my grip”.
Macbeth begins to think that he will have no children, so why has he
(Macbeth) taken so many chances if he is to have no heirs, for Banquo’s
sons? Already we can see that Macbeth has tentative plans to silence
Banquo and his son Fleance.
Macbeth and the two (2) murders talk. They are probably not murders, but
poor men, who are willing to do murder for the king (Macbeth) to better their
situation for money($). Macbeth mentions he spoke with them yesterday, so
he has been planning this for a while. He tells them, all their problems in life
have been caused by Banquo. He says, “Know that it was he (Banquo) in the
times past, which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our
innocent self”. He has told these men that it is Banquo who has been
responsible for all the bad that has happened to them. Banquo caused their
problems, not as they originally thought, Macbeth; they understand now.
They tell Macbeth that they are ready to do his bidding, they are angry at
their poverty, and state of life, and believe it is Banquo’s fault. Macbeth tells
them that Banquo is also his (Macbeth’s) enemy. Macbeth tells them he
can’t kill Banquo, because too many of his friends will be angered, but they
can… and no one will make the connection to Macbeth. The men agree to
murder Banquo and his son Fleance for Macbeth tonight, out on the road
before they return to the castle. Macbeth tells the murders where to find
Banquo on the road, “I will advise you where to plant yourselves, acquaint
you with the perfect spy o’ the’ time”. Macbeth tells them, don’t botch this
up, Fleance must be killed, in fact, he is more important than Banquo in this
murder.
Act III, sc. ii
Lady Macbeth & Macbeth talk, she tells him not to worry any more, they
have what they wanted now (King and Queen of Scotland), and “ what is
done is done.” Don’t worry about how we got where we are or the methods
we used. Macbeth says, “We have scorched the snake, not killed it”
meaning there are still people to fear. Macbeth alludes to a “deed of
dreadful note” which will be done at night. She asks what deed? He tells
her to “ be innocent of the knowledge” essentially, what you don’t know,
will not hurt you. Lady Macbeth does not know that Macbeth is planning to
kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Lady Macbeth says, “Be bright and jovial
amongst our guests tonight”. Macbeth says, “Let your remembrance apply
to Banquo; present him eminence both with eye and tongue; unsafe the while
we must lave our honors in these flattering streams and make our faces
vizards to out hearts disguising what they are.” (Return to the theme of
concealing their true emotions, wearing a mask) We should let Banquo think
we are pleased with him, show him honor, make sure that our faces do now
show what we are really thinking, that he is plotting Banquo’s murder.
Act III, sc. iii
On the road a third man joins the two men Macbeth has sent to murder
Banquo and his son Fleance. The murders talk of hearing Banquo approach,
guiding his horse on foot, not riding it. When Banquo and Fleance approach
the three men attack. Banquo says, as he is being killed, “O treachery! Fly,
good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge – O slave!” He dies and
Fleance escapes. He tells Fleance to go away fast, and when he can, to
avenge his father’s death. The murders are aware they have not completed
the task Macbeth laid out for them. They go back to the castle to tell him
what has happened, that Banquo is dead, but Fleance still lives.
Act III, sc. iv
The banquet at the castle is underway, and Lady Macbeth and Macbeth greet
their guests. One of the murder’s comes to tell Macbeth the news that
Banquo is dead, but Fleance has escaped. He tells him Banquo has twenty
(20) knife wounds. Macbeth says, “There the grown serpent lies, (meaning
the ditch in which Banquo died). The worm that’s fled (Fleance) hath
nature that in time will venom breed, no teeth for the present” Macbeth is
happy that Banquo’s dead, but he is still worried about Fleance, who still has
the opportunity to become king, and that he, Fleance will want revenge for
his father’s death and will come for Macbeth, but that is for another day, for
now Macbeth is safe.
The ghost of Banquo enters the banquet hall, and sits down at Macbeth’s
place in his chair. Lennox wants Macbeth to take his seat, but Macbeth
talks about Banquo being missed. They ask him to take his seat again, and
Macbeth replies that the table is full. Macbeth can see Banquo, as a ghost,
sitting in his chair. Lennox, who can’t see the ghost of Banquo – insists that
a seat has been saved for the king. Then Macbeth begins to talk to Banquo,
whom no one but Macbeth can see. Macbeth says, “Thou canst not say I did
it. Never shake thy gory locks at me”. (He tells the ghost I did not murder
you). Ross tells all of those around, that the king is not well. Lady Macbeth
tells everyone, not to worry, from time to time he does these silly things, and
will be well soon. “The fit is momentary; upon a thought he will again be
well”. Lady Macbeth draws Macbeth aside, and asks him, “Are you a man?”
She tells him, there is nothing there but an empty stool, stop looking so
scared. Macbeth asks her, can’t you see him? The ghost of Banquo leaves.
Lady Macbeth tells him, to stop fooling around, he is acting weak. Macbeth
tells all at the banquet, don’t mind his actions, he has “I have a strange
infirmity, which is nothing to those who know me”. He asks them to continue
to eat and drink.
The ghost of Banquo enters again. Macbeth makes a toast to the missing
Banquo. Macbeth sees the ghost and begins to talk to him again “Avaunt,
(begone) and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee.” The ghost leaves again.
Lady Macbeth yells at him for ruining a good time at the feast. “You have
displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting.” Macbeth can’t believe that no
one else can see the ghost. Lady Macbeth takes Macbeth away, afraid he
will say more. She says good night to all.
When Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are alone, he mentions that Macduff did
not come for his installation as king, (which angers him) and when he asked
him to come to dinner. “How say’st thou that Macduff denies his person at
our great bidding.” He tells his wife he has spies in all the nobles houses
reporting back to him. He also mentions he will have to go to see the three
witches again.
Act III, sc. v
Many believe Shakespeare did not write these lines – they were added later…
Thunder is heard, and the three witches are meeting with Hecate the chief
witch. Hecate (head witch) is angry with the 3 witches for fooling with
Macbeth’s life and not including her. “…how did you dare to trade and
traffic with Macbeth in riddles and affairs of death, and I, the mistress of
your charms, the close contriver of all harms was never called to bear my
part…”. She is unhappy that she was never informed of what they were
doing, or how they performed their spells without her, now she wants to join
in their mischief. She is angry that they helped Macbeth, because he is
unworthy of their help. “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”. Hecate tells them to meet her tomorrow in the pit of
Acheron (a river in the underworld). Here the prophesy will confuse
Macbeth and lead to his downfall. Macbeth will be there to find out more
about his destiny. The witches dissolve and fly away with their spirits and
other spirits.
Act III, sc. vi
Lennox and a lord speak. He tells him that there have been too many deaths:
both Duncan and Banquo are dead. Using sarcasm he speculates that
Banquo, was killed by Fleance, his son who has run away, just like the son’s
of Duncan, further saying sarcastically isn’t that what son’s do? Lennox
speaks sarcastically about how well Macbeth killed the servants who
conspired with Duncan’s sons, making them unable to defend themselves of
these charges. Lennox says that Macduff is disgraced, because he did not
attend Macbeth’s investiture as king. The Lord tells Lennox that Malcolm is
in England, at the court of King Edward. Macduff has gone off to get King
Edward and two of his important generals, Northumberland and Siward, to
help them against Macbeth. “To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward
that, by the help of these (with Him above to ratify the work).” This news has
made Macbeth angry and he is preparing for war, against Malcolm and
Donalbain and the English army. Macduff is in further trouble, because he
refused to go to Macbeth when summoned by him. “Sir, not I,” Macduff
responded to Macbeth. They infer that Macbeth will have his revenge on
Macduff. Macbeth is going mad with power. They both agree that Scotland
is suffering under the rule of King Macbeth. “Some holy angel fly to the
court of England and unfold his message ere he come, that a swift blessing
may soon return to this our suffering country under a hand accursed”.