Macbeth Act III-Questions

What title would you give Act III? Hail King Macbeth; for he becomes king, as the three witches predicted during their first encounter in Act I
In the short soliloquy that opens Scene 1, what does Banquo reveal that he knows about Macbeth? Banquo believes that Macbeth killed Duncan, but he decides not to voice his suspicion.
In Scene 3, who escapes the murderers? Fleance escapes the murderers
Describe what happens in Scene 4 when Ross, Lennox, and the other lords invite Macbeth to share their table. What does Macbeth do? What does Lady Macbeth do? Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost and speaks to him. Lady Macbeth tries to cover for Macbeth by saying that he customarily has fits, then she dismisses the guests.
Macduff does not appear at all in Act III. Where is he, and why is he not there? Macduff has gone to the court of Edward, King of England, to ask for an army to overthrow Macbeth
By Scene 6, what opinion do Lennox and the other lords hold towards Macbeth? They believe he is guilty of the murderers of Duncan and Banquo and has become a tyrant.
Why do you suppose Shakespeare did not have Macbeth kill Banquo with his own hands, as he killed Duncan and his two guards? Macbeth is not only accustomed to murder, but becoming more devious in his planning and arranging the crime.
The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth has changed in several ways since they became rulers of Scotland. What reasons can you suggest for these changes? Lady Macbeth planned the first murderer, but Macbeth plans Banquo’s murder without consulting her. They were very close as they planned and carried out Duncan’s murder, and now she is not in his confidence. Perhaps their feeling of guilt and their growing distrust of others have eroded their trust in each other.
In Scene 2, Macbeth describes his surroundings by saying, “Light thickens, and the crow/Makes wing to th’ rooky wood” How can these remarks also be seen as a metaphorical commentary on the events of the play? This is metaphorical because the world around him is slowly drifting away, further and further, as well as his sanity.
In Shakespeare’s tragedies, a turning point usually occurs in the third act. At this moment, something happens that moves the action ever downward to its tragic conclusion. How is Fleance’s escape a turning point? It is the first time that Macbeth’s plans have gone wrong and it leaves open the possibility that Banquo’s descendants will be kings.
How does the banquet scene blur the clear-cut and common-sense distinction that most of us make between the real and the imaginary? In what other scenes has this distinction also been blurred? The scene leaves open the question of whether or not the ghost is real or Macbeth’s hallucination. This blurring also happens in the witches’ scene and in the descriptions of the natural world’s response to Duncan’s murder
At the beginning of Scene 2, Lady Macbeth quietly tells herself “Nought’s had, all’s spent/ where our desire is got without content” What does she mean? At this point, would her husband agree? They want their sons to be king, Prophecy states that Banquo’s sons will be kings, not Macbeth’s. So Lady Macbeth pushes at her husband to kill Banquo so Macbeth’s sons will be kings and not Banquo’s.
Nobody except Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost. What effect is created by having Banquo appear at the banquet, made up as a ghost? Having the ghost appear blurs reality and fantasy, and shows the strong influence guilt can have on the mind. Having no ghost appear emphasizes the guests’ realization that Macbeth is seriously disturbed.
After his vision of Banquo’s ghost in Scene 4, Macbeth finally accepts that “blood wil have blood”. What does this phrase mean? Is it relevant to today’s world? How? Those guilty of taking a life will be found out and will pay with their own lives. The line is relevant today in the debate over death penalty.
Shakespeare never reveals the identity of the Third Murderer. Who do you think the murderer is? The murderer might be Macbeth in disguise, one of Macbeth’s men, one of Banquo’s men, or the witches.
August 10, 2019