MACBETH ACT 3 SUMMARY
1. The act begins with a soliloquy from Banquo who conveys his suspicion about
Macbeth because “I fear, thou play’dst most foully for’t” as this scene portrays
the declining relationship between Banquo and Macbeth.
2. Another Macbeth soliloquy whereby he feels unsure about his safety now that he
has become king because “to be thus is nothing but to be safely thus”. He
iterates his fear about Banquo finding out that he murdered King Duncan
because Banquo “hath to wisdom that doth guide his valour”.
3. The three murderers enter the scene as Macbeth conveys to them that they must
kill Banquo because “Banquo was your enemy” and Macbeth considers him a
threat to the throne. He tells them to kill both Banquo and Fleance; Banquo’s
son so that Banquo will have no heir.
4. Lady Macbeth conveys that “what's done is done” so her and Macbeth have to
move on, but Macbeth replies that they have “scotch’d the snake, not killed it”-
referring to his paranoia.
5. The three murderers are able to murder Banquo, but Fleance escapes- “O
treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge. O slave!
6. Macbeth is having a banquet in order to celebrate him becoming king- “sit down
at first and last the hearty welcome”.
7. He is informed by the murderers that they succeeded in killing Banquo, but not
Fleance- “There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled.
8. During the Banquet, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo as his paranoia is
evident- “Never shake thy gory locks at me”- His hallucination shows that he is
unable to move on after the death of Banquo.
9. Lady Macbeth then questions his masculinity as “Are you a man? and “You look
but, on a stool”- The idea that he is mentally weak and his little goodness is
holding him back from achieving his full potential.
10. Macbeth plans to revisit the witches as they also plan to meet up with him again
because he is now suspicious of Macduff- “I keep a servant fee’d: spying on
Macduff.
1. The act begins with a soliloquy from Banquo who conveys his suspicion about
Macbeth because “I fear, thou play’dst most foully for’t” as this scene portrays
the declining relationship between Banquo and Macbeth.
2. Another Macbeth soliloquy whereby he feels unsure about his safety now that he
has become king because “to be thus is nothing but to be safely thus”. He
iterates his fear about Banquo finding out that he murdered King Duncan
because Banquo “hath to wisdom that doth guide his valour”.
3. The three murderers enter the scene as Macbeth conveys to them that they must
kill Banquo because “Banquo was your enemy” and Macbeth considers him a
threat to the throne. He tells them to kill both Banquo and Fleance; Banquo’s
son so that Banquo will have no heir.
4. Lady Macbeth conveys that “what's done is done” so her and Macbeth have to
move on, but Macbeth replies that they have “scotch’d the snake, not killed it”-
referring to his paranoia.
5. The three murderers are able to murder Banquo, but Fleance escapes- “O
treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge. O slave!
6. Macbeth is having a banquet in order to celebrate him becoming king- “sit down
at first and last the hearty welcome”.
7. He is informed by the murderers that they succeeded in killing Banquo, but not
Fleance- “There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled.
8. During the Banquet, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo as his paranoia is
evident- “Never shake thy gory locks at me”- His hallucination shows that he is
unable to move on after the death of Banquo.
9. Lady Macbeth then questions his masculinity as “Are you a man? and “You look
but, on a stool”- The idea that he is mentally weak and his little goodness is
holding him back from achieving his full potential.
10. Macbeth plans to revisit the witches as they also plan to meet up with him again
because he is now suspicious of Macduff- “I keep a servant fee’d: spying on
Macduff.
