Name:English 11

Date:Oswin/Cox/Duckworth

Macbeth Act III Study Questions

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Some time has passed. Macbeth is officially king and has been king for a while. Everyone acknowledges that he is king.

  1. What does Banquo think of Macbeth and the witches’ prophecies at the beginning of act III? Give a quote as evidence.

“…I fear Thou play’dst most foully for’t.” (III i 3). Banquo is afraid that Macbeth did something evil to become king, but Banquo realizes that his family will benefit from Macbeth’s actions. If the witches’ prophecies were true for Macbeth, then they also will be true for Banquo (he will be happier than Macbeth, and his children will be king).

  1. What promise does Banquo make to Macbeth? What is Macbeth planning in scene i?
  • Banquo promises that he will come to Macbeth’s dinner. Macbeth fears only Banquo. He says he has given up his soul to make Banquo’s children kings. Now, Macbeth is planning to murder Banquo and Fleance.
  1. Explain the following quote: “To be thus is nothing but to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo stick deep…”
  • Macbeth says to be king is nothing unless he is safely king. He is not safe with Banquo around because Banquo’s children have been predicted to be kings.
  1. Why is Macbeth so upset that Banquo’s children will be kings?
  • Macbeth gave up his soul to be king, and now his kingship (throne/crown) is threatened because, according to the witches, Banquo’s children will become king.
  1. Macbeth meets with Murderers in scene i. Explain why. How does he convince them to “take care” of Macbeth’s problem?
  • Macbeth meets with the Murderers to persuade them to kill Banquo.
  • Macbeth convinces them that Banquo is to blame for all of their troubles. He also questions their manhood when they seem reluctant to kill Banquo. Now, Macbeth seems without conscience; he is extremely manipulative (like Lady Macbeth).
  1. Why can’t Macbeth “with barefaced power, sweep [Banquo] from [his] sight”?
  • Macbeth can’t kill Banquo because the two share friends who might be upset with or suspicious of Macbeth.
  1. What final request does Macbeth give to the murderers at the last second? Why save it for last?
  • The final request is that the Murderers also kill Fleance, Banquo’s young son. He saves this request until last because Fleance has done nothing wrong and because they might have been reluctant to kill a young boy.
  1. Explain the significance of the following quote: “Naught’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is got without content. Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.”
  • While alone, Lady Macbeth admits that she is unhappy. She and Macbeth have what they wanted (crown), but life is uncertain joy (unhappy). They are concerned that they will lose their throne – they feel insecure.
  1. How does the following quote reflect the theme of “duplicity”?: “Things without remedy should be without regard. What’s done is done.
  • Now that Macbeth is around, Lady Macbeth says that they can’t change what has been done – they should stop thinking about feeling bad. She is not honest with Macbeth about how she really feels.
  1. Explain the dramatic irony in Macbeth’s lines: “Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace.”
  • Macbeth would prefer to be dead than to be alive than to be so worried. This is ironic because, unknown to Macbeth, Lady Macbeth has just expressed this same thought.
  1. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says “you must leave this”? Why is it important that this quote comes from her?
  • Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he must stop whatever he is planning. This is important because it was she who originally goaded (persuaded) Macbeth into murdering Duncan. Her character seems to be changing/shifting – role reversal between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
  1. What is the outcome of the murder attempt?
  • Banquo is killed successfully, but Fleance, the young son, escapes. (hmmmm…the prophecy?)
  1. Explain the action that occurs during the Banquet. Who sees what and why is that important?
  • Macbeth learns from the Murderer that Banquo is dead but Fleance escaped. When Macbeth goes to sit down at the banquet table, the ghost of Banquo is sitting in Macbeth’s chair. Only Macbeth sees the ghost. He rants and raves about and to the ghost, while the lords look on and wonder. Lady Macbeth says Macbeth has had these “fits” since youth.
  1. Explain the meanings of the names “Banquo” and “Fleance”.
  1. Explain the importance of the following quote: “There’s not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee’d.”
  1. Explain the importance of the following quote: “I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning where as tedious as go o’er”
  1. What are the two reasons Hecate is mad at the witches? What does she mean when she says “Security is mortals’ chiefest enemy”?
  1. Where is Macduff during act III? Why is Macbeth referred to as “The tyrant”?