Summary of Act 3

Macbeth: Act 3 Summary
Summary of Act 3 Scene 1

In the royal palace of Forres, Banquo states his suspicion that Macbeth fulfilled the witches' prophecy
by foul play. But he notes that since the prophecy came true for Macbeth, perhaps it will come true for
him as well.
Banquo suspects Macbeth, but it is his own ambition—the possibility that the prophecy might be true for
him too—that occupies his mind.
Macbeth enters, with other thanes and Lady Macbeth. He asks Banquo to attend a feast that evening.
Banquo says he will, but that meanwhile he has to ride somewhere on business. Macbeth asks if Fleance
will be riding with him. Banquo says yes, then departs. Once he's alone, Macbeth sends a servant to
summon two men. As he waits for them to arrive, he muses if the witches prophecy is true, then
Banquo's descendants will be king, and he'll have murdered Duncan for nothing.
Macbeth wants to kill Banquo because he resents Banquo's honor and because the prophecy makes
Banquo a threat. Also, Macbeth's guilt at murdering Duncan makes him want that murder to be
"worthwhile." Macbeth's guilt about one crime pushes him to commit another.
The two men (identified in the stage directions as "murderers") enter. Macbeth tells them it's Banquo's
fault they're poor, then questions their manhood for bearing such offenses. The murderers agree to kill
Banquo and Fleance
Macbeth uses the same methods to get the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance that Lady Macbeth
used against Macbeth: he questions their manhood.

After sending a servant to fetch Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, waits, and muses that she has what she desires
but isn't happy.
First indication that all is not well with Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth enters. She asks why he spends so much time alone. Macbeth responds: "We have scorched
the snake, not killed it" (3.2.15). He fears someone might try to kill him as he killed Duncan, and seems
envious of Duncan's "sleep" (3.2.25).
...and that vicious cycle begins to take a psychological toll on Macbeth.
Macbeth says that before the night is through there shall be a "deed of dreadful note" (3.2.45), but adds
that she's better off being innocent until she can applaud what has happened.
Macbeth tries to protect Lady Macbeth: traditional male-female roles.

The two murderers lie in wait a mile from the royal castle. A third murderer joins them, sent by
Macbeth.
The Third Murderer is an unsolved mystery. No critics know who he is or why he's there.
Banquo and Fleance enter. The murderers attack. Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes. The murderers
return to the castle to tell Macbeth what's happened.
Macbeth's effort to control fate seals his doom. Fleance lives and Banquo's death makes the Thanes
suspicious.

Macbeth bids all the lords welcome to the feast. Just at that moment, he notices that one of the
murderers is standing at the door. The murderer tells Macbeth that Banquo is dead but Fleance
escaped. Macbeth comforts himself that Fleance will not be a threat for quite some time.
Macbeth learns that his first attempt to control fate has failed.
Lady Macbeth calls to Macbeth and asks him to return to the feast and sit. But Macbeth doesn't see an
empty seat at the table. When Lennox gestures at a seat, saying it's empty, Macbeth sees Banquo's
ghost sitting there. Macbeth alone can see the ghost. He astonishes the thanes by shouting at the empty
chair.
Is Banquo's ghost real or a figment of Macbeth's guilty mind? The uncertainty emphasizes that
Macbeth's fate is part of him, caused by his character: his ambition and guilt.
Lady Macbeth tells the thanes not to worry, that since childhood Macbeth has suffered fits. She pulls
Macbeth aside and once again questions his manhood. The ghost disappears. Macbeth rambles about
murders and spirits risen from the grave until Lady Macbeth reminds him of his guests. He echoes her
story about his fits, then leads a toast to the missing Banquo.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth continue to try to lie to keep their secrets and hold on power, but these lies
become less and less effective as guilt about the violence they have committed begins to affect them.
The ghost reappears and Macbeth, terrified, starts shouting at it. Lady Macbeth tries to play down her
husband's strange behavior. The ghost again disappears. Macbeth is amazed that everyone could be so
calm in the face of such sights. When Ross asks what sights, Lady Macbeth steps in and asks the guests
to leave at once. The thanes exit.
Macbeth has become so warped he cannot tell the unnatural from the natural anymore. Lady Macbeth
sees lying is useless and chooses isolation: she tells the thanes to leave.
Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth: "Blood will have blood" (3.4.121), and asks what Lady Macbeth makes of
the fact that Macduff does not appear at the royal court. He decides to visit the weird sisters to find out
more about his fate.
Macbeth's desperation to keep power motivates him to visit the weird sisters. He has sacrificed
everything for his ambition…
He says: "I am in blood / Stepped in so far" (3.4.135) that turning back is as difficult as continuing on.
… now ambition and violence are all he has left, and he knows it.

The weird sisters meet with Hecate, the goddess of witches. She rebukes the sisters for meddling with
Macbeth without first consulting her. But she says she'll help them when Macbeth comes to see them
tomorrow. She says that they'll show him visions that will give him confidence and "draw him to his
confusion" (3.5.29).
Many productions of Macbeth cut this scene. It introduces Hecate, and establishes that the witches truly
are out to get Macbeth. Many productions of the play prefer to keep the witches' motivations more
vague.

Lennox and another lord talk sarcastically about Macbeth and the too great similarities between the
murders of Duncan and Banquo, with Donalbain and Malcolm accused of the first and Fleance blamed
for the second.
Macbeth's murder of Banquo, committed to control his fate, has had the opposite effects. Now the
thanes see Macbeth for what he is: a tyrant.
Macduff, the lord says, has gone to England to meet with Malcolm and try to get the English King
Edward and his lords to gather an army to help them defeat Macbeth. The rumour is that Macbeth sent
a messenger to Macduff. Macduff rebuffed the messenger, who turned his back as if to say that Macduff
would pay for that decision.
Compare Macduff and Macbeth: Macbeth will do anything for personal power; Macduff will do anything
to save his country.
Both men hope Macduff remains safe and soon returns with the armies of Malcolm and England to free
Scotland from Macbeth.
Ambition has made Macbeth a violent tyrant who holds the throne only through fear.

Summary of Act 3

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Macbeth: Act 3 Summary

Summary of Act 3 Scene 1

Summary of Act 3 Scene 2

First indication that all is not well with Lady Macbeth.

...and that vicious cycle begins to take a psychological toll on Macbeth.

Macbeth tries to protect Lady Macbeth: traditional male-female roles.

Summary of Act 3 Scene 4

Summary of Act 3 Scene 5

Summary of Act 3 Scene 6

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