Macbeth Act 3

Macbeth Act 3

1. ...and I fear thou play'dst most folly for it.

   • (Banquo soliloquy) Banquo admits he has suspicious Macbeth was the murderer of Duncan.

2. To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo stick deep.

   • (Macbeth soliloquy) To be king is nothing, but to be securely stationed in a position of power is much better. Macbeth thinks Banquo will turn him in.

3. It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it find heaven, must find it out tonight.

   • (Macbeth soliloquy) Macbeth has successfully arranged Banquo's death.

4. Naught's had, all's spent, where our desire is got without content.

   • (Lady Macbeth soliloquy) They have their goal but not the happiness they expected to come with it.

5. We've scorched the snake, not killed it.

   • (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) They cannot stop their violence because the need for power will never end.

6. Alone at Macbeth's court, Banquo voices his suspicions that Macbeth has killed Duncan in order to fulfill the witches' prophesies. He muses that perhaps the witches' vision for his own future will also be realized, but pushes the thought from his mind. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter to the fanfare of trumpets, along with Lennox and Ross. Macbeth announces that he will hold a banquet in the evening and that Banquo will be honored as chief guest. Banquo states that he must ride in the afternoon but will return for the banquet. Macbeth tells him that Malcolm and Donalbain will not confess to killing their father. After confirming that Fleance will accompany Banquo on his trip, Macbeth wishes Banquo a safe ride. Left alone, Macbeth summons the two murderers he has hired. While he waits for them, he voices his greatest worry of the moment—that the witches' prophecy will also come true for Banquo, making his children kings. He will put an end to such worries by hiring two men to kill Banquo

   • Scene 1

7. Scene 2

   • Alone on stage, Lady Macbeth expresses her unhappiness: there seems to be no end to her desire for power and she feels insecure and anxious. Macbeth enters looking upset and she counsels him to stop mulling over the crimes they have committed. But Macbeth declares that their job is not done: he still spends every waking moment in fear and every night embroiled in nightmares. He even envies Duncan, who now sleeps peacefully in his grave. Lady Macbeth warns him to act cheerful in front of their dinner guests. She also tries to comfort him by reminding him that Banquo and Fleance are by no means immortal. Macbeth responds by telling her that "a deed of dreadful note" will be done in the night, though he will not divulge the details