Response 4: Macbeth, Act III

Act 3 scene 1 starts out with banquo talking about his worries. He knows that its dangerous for him and his son since Macbeth heard what the witches told him too. Macbeth comes and invites him to dinner. Banquo say he has to ride somewhere. Macbeth asks where he is going to go and if his son Fleance is going to be with him. At this point, if I was in Banquos position I would be suspicious of Macbeth. Why does Macbeth want to know where Banquo is going to be and the time he will be there? Next we find out why. Macbeth is plotting to kill Banquo. He gets some murderers to do the job by questioning their manhood. They agree to do it.

In scene 2 Lady Macbeth has a servant call Macbeth. She is worried about her husband. Macbeth says that "We have scorched the snake, not killed it" (Act3.2.13). This means that they still have something to worry about. He tells Lady Macbeth that he is worried about Banquo being alive. Lady Macbeth tries to tell him not to worry but it doesnt help. Then Macbeth tells her about his plan to murder Banquo and his son. He also tells her not to show any sign of whats going to happen. Now it seems like Macbeth is the one giving the orders and coming up with the plans. This makes me believe that Macbeth has really become an evil person.

In scene 3 Banquo is murdered. The murderers waited for him on the trail and ambushed him. The lights were put out and Banquo was able to tell Fleance to flee. Fleance gets away. It turns out one of the murderers thought it would be better to put out the lights. It treally wasnt. With Fleance still alive Macbeth is still at risk.

In scene 4 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are having supper with their guests at the palace. The murderers enter and tell Macbeth aside that Banquo has been killed but Fleance got away. Macbeths says his fit has come again. The murderers leave. What happens next leads to the climax of the story. At the dinner table Macbeth sees Banquos ghost sitting on his seat. He freaks out and thinks someone is playing tricks on him. Since nobody else could see it they thought Macbeth was loosing it. Then Macbeth really starts freaking out and says "Though canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me". This line right here is important because Macbeth has just incriminated himself. Ross tells everyone to leave but Lady Macbeth tells them not to worry. Macbeth freeks out more and then the ghost leaves. He then notices that no one else saw it. He asks them to excuse his behavior. The ghost comes back and then he mentions Banquos absence. Lady Macbeth again tries to tell the guests not to worry. When the ghost leaves Ross asks him what sights hes talking about. Lady Macbeth then says that Macbeth is getting worse and that he shouldnt be questioned. The guests leave. After this scene, we see that people are now suspicious of Macbeth. He has self-incriminated himself by saying that he cant say he didnt commit murder. From this point in the story it seems like everything will be going downhill for Macbeth.