Macbeth Plot Summary, Act Iii, Scenes 1-4 Essay, Research Paper
Scene 1: The royal palace at Forres, Banquo talks on
his own, he fears M has become King through evil means, but does not worry as
he believes that the prediction the witches gave him will now come true. Then
others come in, M requests Banquo?s presence at the feast they are having. M
asks B where he is going, and then spreads rumours about the King?s sons. M
asks B whether Fleance is going with him and then he dismisses court, leaving
him and a servant alone, then M sends servant to get the two murderers, while
servant is gone he has a bid soliloquy, which is, briefly, to not be safely
guaranteed being king, is not worth being king at all, M is scared of B-B has
wisdom to guide his valour, fears no-one but B. Annoyed that B will have line
of kings and he won?t ??barren sceptre? and ?fruitless crown?. Decides that he
has had all this worry for B?s sons and not his. Then murderers enter, M
persuades them to kill Banquo with 3 things, B is their enemy, they are the
scum of mankind if they don?t kill him, and that he, M, will favour them
greatly if they carry out the deed. Murderers say thet have had such bad lives
that they?ll do anything. M gives reason for not being able to kill B
openly-?for certain friends are both his and mine?-them tells murderers that he
will tell them where to be in order to kill B and F.Key Phrases: (soliloquy not included) ?I? fear/Thou
played?st most foully for?t?, B on his own thinking M had become king
dishonestly. ?Fail not our feast?, M tells B not to miss the feast even
though he is planning to have him killed so that he won?t be able to. Somewhat
ironic taking later scenes into account. ?Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men?.name of dogs?, M
telling murderers that they are at the bottom of the pile of mankind. ?Banquo thy soul?s flight/If it find heaven, must find it
out tonight.?, lovely rhyming end to scene.Scene 2: A room in Macbeth?s palace, LM is worried
and tells M not to worry about what?s been done, but he is still bothered-?we
have scorched the snake, not killed it?-M says he is jealous of D, as he gets
to rest in death. M tells LM to be very nice to B at the banquet-tells her
again to ?look like the flower but the serpent under?t?, but in other words. M
hints at the ba
worry, almost as if he is protecting her.Key Phrases: ?Nought?s had, all?s spent/Where our desire is got without
content?, LM saying nothing?s gained and everything?s lost. ?Tis safer to be that which we destroy/Than by destruction
dwell in doubtful joy?, LM again, saying shouldn?t be complacent.? ?? ?Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck?, M not telling
LM his plans, he doesn?t want to include her, trying to protect her, not to
implicate her? ?Things bad begun, make string themselves by ill?, M saying
that a bad thing can be turned good by doing another bad thing, but 2 wrongs do
not make a right.Scene 3: A lonely place near Forres, the murder takes
place but Fleance scarpers.Scene 4: The banqueting hall at Forres, the Banquet
takes place, murderer enter to tell M B is dead but F escaped, M says he is
worried again. Murderer leaves and M goes to sit down and the ghost scene
happens and then again, LM tells lords to leave. Lords leave; LM and M are left
alone. M worries about murder and strange things and then complains that
Macduff said he did not want to come to the banquet. M says he will go and see
the witches the next day. LM says that he needs to sleep, they leave with M
saying that they still have far to go.Key Phrases: ?Thou canst not say I did it; never shake/Thy gory locks at
me!?-M when he see B?s ghost. ?It will have blood they say?What is the night?? M talking
to LM about how a murder will result in another murder, he goes on to say that
prophecies and birds have brought forth the murderer.Scene 5: A desolate Place, Hecate has a go at the
witches for meddling with Macbeth and his affairs and says that they must
confuse and confound the over confident M, H leaves.Key Phrases: ?Hath been but for a wayward son?-H saying that M is
evil/sinister. ?Love for his own ends, not for you?-H saying M does not
care about the witches, only himself.Scene 6: The castle of Lennox, L is talking to
another Lord and he keeps hinting at M being a traitor, being the murderer,
without ever actually saying it. Tells lord about Macduff refusing to go to M?s
banquet and how Macduff wants to overthrow M with the king of England?s help.Key Phrases: ?Men must not walk too late? L says that if men walk too
late at night, they will be killed.
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