Macbeth Act 3, Scenes 3 & 4

In this episode of Read It and (Don’t) Weep, we explore Act 3, Scenes 3 and 4 of Macbeth. Macbeth’s plan to eliminate a possible threat to his crown is put into motion, but the outcome is not exactly what he expected. The results of the attack leave the future uncertain and the witches’ prophecy still hanging over him.

Later that evening, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth host a royal banquet, hoping to present themselves as confident rulers. However, the evening quickly takes an unexpected turn as Macbeth begins to lose control in front of the Scottish nobles, raising new questions about his leadership and state of mind.

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Transcript

Hello and welcome to "Read it and (Don't) Weep," the podcast that will help you breeze through your high school literature classes. Are you tired of struggling to understand the themes and characters in classic works of literature? Well, I’ve got you covered! I am your host, Jackey Taggart, and I taught high school English for almost 20 years. Join me each episode as I dive into the world of high school literature and break down the essential elements of each work. From Shakespeare to Steinbeck, I'll cover it all. My goal is to give you valuable insights and analysis on some of the most popular high school literary texts, as well as tips and tricks for acing your tests and essays. Let’s start reading!

Act 3, Scene 3

Welcome back! We left Macbeth in Act 3, scene 2 planning the murders of Banquo and Fleance, determined to make sure they would not steal his crown. If you have not yet read up to this point in the play, it would be a good idea to get caught up with your reading and listen to my other episodes before continuing.

Scene 3 takes place outside near the castle grounds and focuses entirely on the assassination attempt. It is a short scene, but it is very important.

The two hired hitmen are already waiting in the dark when a third man suddenly joins them. When they question him, he simply says he was sent by Macbeth, which tells us this was carefully planned.

The hitmen wait for Banquo, watching as daylight fades. Soon they hear him arriving with Fleance and carrying a torch. Banquo casually mentions that it looks like rain tonight, but before he can say anything else, the murderers attack.

Banquo immediately realizes what is happening and cries out in betrayal. With his final breath, he shouts for Fleance to escape so he might one day seek revenge. “O, treachery. / Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly – thou mayst revenge.”

In the chaos, the torch is snuffed out, and when the darkness clears, the murderers realize what has happened. Banquo is dead, but Fleance has escaped. They have only completed half the job. While they do not know it, they audience knows that this means the prophecy can still come true for Banquo.

The scene ends with the hitmen running off to report back to Macbeth, and we already know this failure is going to matter big time!

Before moving on, take a few minutes to record your thoughts in your reading journal. Why is Fleance’s escape important, and how does it keep the witches’ prophecy alive?

Hey teachers! Are you looking for some top-notch resources to go along with this podcast episode? You'll find them right in my store. A quick click on the link in the show notes gets you right there. What awaits? A stash of guided questions, note-taking aids, and assessments to use with your students. Go ahead, make the most of these resources today!

Act 3, Scene 4

We are going to a party! In scene 4 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are hosting the Scottish noblemen, and Macbeth is trying to play the role of a honorable king. He tells his guests to enjoy themselves as he mingles.

But the moment is interrupted when one of the hitmen appears at the door. Macbeth pulls him aside and immediately notices the blood on his face. The hitman tells Macbeth that it is Banquo’s blood and that Banquo is dead. For a second, Macbeth is relieved. Then he asks, was Fleance killed, too?

Nope.  Fleance has escaped. Any sense of relief is gone. Macbeth realizes the prophecy is still a possibility, and so is the threat to his crown. His paranoia rushes back immediately. This is important because, as the scene continues, Macbeth will once again struggle to tell the difference between what is real and what exists only in his mind. Just like he did with the dagger in Act 2. 

Now, Macbeth returns to the banquet trying to act calm, cool, and collected and even raises a toast to Banquo, calling him their “dear friend.” But when he goes to sit down at the banquet table, he suddenly sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in his place.

Macbeth freezes and when Ross asks him to join them for the feast, he says the table is full. The nobles are confused because they see nothing, and Macbeth begins to panic, shouting at the ghost and insisting it cannot accuse him, “Thou canst not say I did it!”

Lady Macbeth immediately jumps up to try to control the situation. She tells their guests that her husband sometimes has these strange fits and that they should ignore them. Then she turns to Macbeth and angrily whispers, “Are you a man?” She goes on trying to convince him that the ghost isn’t real. It is just his fear creating the image in his mind, just like the dagger he imagined before the murder. She thinks he’s overreacting and embarrassing himself in front of the nobles. She tells him he is not seeing a ghost at all; he is just staring at an empty chair. 

But Macbeth can’t think clearly. He keeps seeing the ghost and rants about the dead rising again. Eventually the ghost of Banquo disappears, and Macbeth tries to recover by raising another toast. But the ghost of Banquo returns, and this time Macbeth openly begs it to leave.

At this point, the banquet is ruined. Lady Macbeth asks the guests not to question Macbeth as it will only make him worse and then requests that they leave. The night ends in confusion and suspicion.

This moment is important because it marks a turning point in Macbeth’s story. Up until now, his rise to power has looked like success. But here, in front of the nobles, his control begins to crack. This is the start of his reversal of fortune. He is still king, but he is no longer secure, respected, or in control. In a Shakespearean tragedy, the reversal of fortune is what shifts the action of the play and starts to bring about the protagonist’s downfall. 

When the guests leave, Macbeth says, “It will have blood. They say, blood will have blood.”  He is basically saying that violence only leads to more violence. Which is sort of true, and we see it immediately, because he goes on to say he does not trust Macduff and that he already has paid spies watching the nobles. At this point, Macbeth isn’t just holding onto power. He’s starting to rule through fear, suspicion, and violence.

Then he makes another important decision. He is going to go back to the witches ask for more information. He knows he is going down a bloody and violent path but turning back would be just as hard as moving forward. This shows that he knows what he’s doing is wrong but no longer sees a way out.

This is what makes Macbeth a tragic hero. His downfall is not caused by fate, but by the choices he keeps making, or his own free will. Instead of correcting course, he doubles down. And from this point on, his fall is no longer just possible. It is inevitable. For more on the characteristics of a tragic hero, listen to Episode 37, The Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragic Hero.

Before moving on, take a few minutes to record your thoughts in your reading journal. How does the banquet scene show the beginning of Macbeth’s downfall, and why is this moment important for understanding him as a tragic hero?

Closing

Thanks for listening to this episode of Read it and (Don’t) Weep. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you will be notified when new episodes are released. If you liked today’s show, please leave a review so others can discover my show.  If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, drop me an email at readitanddontweep@gmail.com, or reach out to me on social media. I would love to hear from you. The links are in the show notes.  

Thank you for listening.  I am Jackey Taggart and remember to Read It and Don’t Weep.