Act three, Macbeth

Act three is essentially a build up to the murder of Banquo in scene 4, the preceding scenes act as a tool of suspense and ever increasing forebode. Scene 1 is an interesting display of the change in relationship between Banquo and Macbeth, who have gone from best friends in act 1, ‘think about what hath chanced, and at more time…let us speak our free hearts each to other.’, to suspicious and untrustworthy friends by the third act. In Banquo’s soliloquy (L1-10) he displays the sincerity of his character and also lack of malice and manipulation that his character contains, in stark contrast to Macbeth. ‘Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised’, Banquo talks about how Macbeth has all that the witches prophesised and what that must mean for him, showing that until this point Banquo has not obsessively thought about how he must make the prophecies come true as Macbeth has. His soliloquy also demonstrates how suspicious Banquo is of Macbeth ‘I fear thou play’dst most foully for’t’. Yet still it demonstrate the kindness of Banquo, as he fears Macbeth’s immoral actions, as he still cares for him.

Upon Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s entry they immediately compliment Banquo in an attempt to sweeten him, ‘here’s our chief guest’, this demonstrates the unease that Macbeth obviously still feels as he feels the need to keep his friend sweet so as not to arouse suspicions. On the other hand Macbeth’s attempts at flattery and sincerity are portrayed as something completely the opposite, behind his words there is an almost cynicism and sarcasm ‘fail not our feast’, this exposes the darker side of Macbeth in the sense that Macbeth is completely aware that Banquo will not be joining them at the feast as he has ordered him killed.

Lady Macbeth begins scene two with a rhyming soliloquy, mimicking that of the witches’ in act one. The poetic dialogue we get from Lady Macbeth in this scene is a first from her usually strong, almost masculine character, and suggests she is attempting to find her femininity again. Linked to this is a role reversal in power between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, whilst Lady Macbeth rhymes and is re-establishing her role as the woman, Macbeth is taking power his role as King, man and husband by keeping secrets from his wife. ‘Be innocent of the knowledge…till thou applaud the deed’.

Macbeth also seems obsessed by darkness, it seems like he is reliant on darkness to cover his deeds and to gain this confidence he needs to commit his deeds ‘good things of day to droop and drowse, whilst night’s black agents to their preys do rouse’. Here it is like Macbeth is one of ‘night’s black agents’, not just because of the dark and evil deeds he has already committed, but because the ‘good things of day’ sleep at night, or ‘droop and drowse’, which Macbeth of course cannot do. ‘Sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly.’

Scene 3 features the dramatic murder of Banquo, this differs to all other scenes of the play as the murder is actually described and would be played out in a performance. Scene 3 works as a transition between scenes, as the previous scenes have been all talking and scheming, whereas this presents action to the play and also shows the depths of betrayal Macbeth has gone to. Also the murder of Banquo gives us insight into the death of Duncan, as we weren’t given a first hand description of it, allowing us to sympathise with Duncan and also realise just how dark and obsessed with gaining the title Macbeth has become. ‘Who did strike out the light’, I feel this quote here is important as it symbolises the only ‘light’ or good in the play (Banquo) going out, leaving the play completely consumed by the darkness of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and also the impending revenge that Banquo has asked of Fleance ‘thou mayst revenge’.

Once again cracks begin to appear in the character of Macbeth, upon the impending news of Banquo’s completed murder, Macbeth hallucinates of Banquo’s ghost at the banquet, it is ironic that Macbeth himself said ‘fail not our feast’ knowing Banquo would not attend, yet Banquo still in a sense attends. There is also another role reversal occurring in this scene, Lady Macbeth is seizing the power back taking advantage of Macbeth’s hallucination, asking him ‘are you a man?’ she often questions his masculinity, in an attempt to belittle him and almost guilt trip him into acting as if nothing has happened. Weakness in relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is evident in this last scene particularly, as well as the rest of the play, as yet again they do not support each other when it is most needed and also care an awful lot about face and how they appear to be, which puts a strain on their relationship.