Act 3, Scene 6 – Lennox is Suspicious
Lennox and a Lord discuss how Malcolm is in England, who is getting an army together to
attack on Macbeth.
“Fleance killed, for Fleance fled”
Lennox is being sarcastic by saying that Fleance killed his father, Banquo, just like
Malcolm and Donalbain killed their father, Duncan, as he knows it’s not true.
“To kill their gracious father?” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Lennox uses rhetorical questions to imply that the answer is the opposite of what he
seems to be suggesting – he doesn’t believe that Malcolm and Donalbain has murdered
their father, Duncan.
“Damned fact!” – Character: Lennox
This shows how angry Lennox is, but also hints that he is afraid to show his anger.
“How it did grieve Macbeth!”
Lennox suspects that Macbeth is responsible for Duncan’s and Banquo’s murders but he
is careful not to speak his mind.
“Tyrant’s feast”
Macbeth is described as a ‘tyrant’, who rules with violence. The Thanes’ viewpoints of
Macbeth has changed.
“Macduff lives in disgrace”
Macduff is in fear as he was not loyal to the king and missed the banquet, suggesting
Macbeth would kill him.
“Holy king” – Theme: Kingship
The saintly King Edward of England provides a contrast with the tyrannical Macbeth.
“Sleep to our nights” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
This is another example of the sleepiness caused by Macbeth’s reign.
“Suffering country”
Macbeth only cares about his suffering, not his people – Macbeth has his own civil war
in his mind.
“Hand accursed”
Lennox ends the scene by sending a message to the English Court to free Scotland from
Macbeth. This builds tension because it becomes a question of how far Macbeth will go
before he is stopped. The audience sees that Macbeth’s death is inevitable and the only
way to restore peace to Scotland.
Even minor characters such as Lennox and the Lord hate Macbeth. This shows how
widespread the discontent is – it’s affecting everyone.
Lennox and a Lord discuss how Malcolm is in England, who is getting an army together to
attack on Macbeth.
“Fleance killed, for Fleance fled”
Lennox is being sarcastic by saying that Fleance killed his father, Banquo, just like
Malcolm and Donalbain killed their father, Duncan, as he knows it’s not true.
“To kill their gracious father?” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Lennox uses rhetorical questions to imply that the answer is the opposite of what he
seems to be suggesting – he doesn’t believe that Malcolm and Donalbain has murdered
their father, Duncan.
“Damned fact!” – Character: Lennox
This shows how angry Lennox is, but also hints that he is afraid to show his anger.
“How it did grieve Macbeth!”
Lennox suspects that Macbeth is responsible for Duncan’s and Banquo’s murders but he
is careful not to speak his mind.
“Tyrant’s feast”
Macbeth is described as a ‘tyrant’, who rules with violence. The Thanes’ viewpoints of
Macbeth has changed.
“Macduff lives in disgrace”
Macduff is in fear as he was not loyal to the king and missed the banquet, suggesting
Macbeth would kill him.
“Holy king” – Theme: Kingship
The saintly King Edward of England provides a contrast with the tyrannical Macbeth.
“Sleep to our nights” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
This is another example of the sleepiness caused by Macbeth’s reign.
“Suffering country”
Macbeth only cares about his suffering, not his people – Macbeth has his own civil war
in his mind.
“Hand accursed”
Lennox ends the scene by sending a message to the English Court to free Scotland from
Macbeth. This builds tension because it becomes a question of how far Macbeth will go
before he is stopped. The audience sees that Macbeth’s death is inevitable and the only
way to restore peace to Scotland.
Even minor characters such as Lennox and the Lord hate Macbeth. This shows how
widespread the discontent is – it’s affecting everyone.
