Act 3, Scene 3 – Banquo is Murdered
The murderers kill Banquo, but Banquo’s son, Fleance, escapes.
Macbeth sends a third murderer because he doesn’t trust the first two murderers. This
suggests that he is anxious and paranoid.
“The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
The sun is setting and darkness is coming; this symbolises the terror of Macbeth’s reign.
“It will be rain to-night”
This is dramatic irony as it foreshadows Banquo’s death, which the audiences knows is
going to happen.
“Who did strike out the light?” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Banquo approached carrying a torch – the light symbolises Banquo’s goodness. When he
is murdered, the light goes out – his goodness is destroyed.
“We have lost best half of our affair” – Theme: Fate and Free Will
Fleance escapes – the Witches’ predictions about Banquo’s descendants becoming kings
and still come true. This shows that it is impossible to cheat fate, which suggests that
Macbeth would have become king even if he did not kill Banquo.
The murderers kill Banquo, but Banquo’s son, Fleance, escapes.
Macbeth sends a third murderer because he doesn’t trust the first two murderers. This
suggests that he is anxious and paranoid.
“The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
The sun is setting and darkness is coming; this symbolises the terror of Macbeth’s reign.
“It will be rain to-night”
This is dramatic irony as it foreshadows Banquo’s death, which the audiences knows is
going to happen.
“Who did strike out the light?” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Banquo approached carrying a torch – the light symbolises Banquo’s goodness. When he
is murdered, the light goes out – his goodness is destroyed.
“We have lost best half of our affair” – Theme: Fate and Free Will
Fleance escapes – the Witches’ predictions about Banquo’s descendants becoming kings
and still come true. This shows that it is impossible to cheat fate, which suggests that
Macbeth would have become king even if he did not kill Banquo.
