Act 3 Macbeth
Act 3 Scene 1
How does this scene demonstrate elements of the crime genre?
The scene opens with Banquo, who represents the tragic victim and demonstrates
suspicion. Asyndetic listing of “king, Cawdor, Glamis, all” is at a fast rhythm, mirroring the
suspiciously fast way Macbeth acquired the throne.
Macbeth in his soliloquy in scene 1 act 3 praises Banquo’s nature. Links to flattery of James I
which was Shakespeare’s intentions with this character.
Natural fertility Imagery, extended metaphor of fertility, where Macbeth has no decedents
to continue his line on the crown. Links to the couple giving up a dynasty for power, with LM
saying she would “dashed the brains out” of a child and her rejection of her feminine
motherhood attributes. “Seed of Banquo kings” “ No son of mine succeeding”
Also more literally, The natural image of fertility could link to his disruption of nature, as he
murdered the king, going against God’s will and the chain of being.
“wrench’d with an unilineal hand” Link to Macbeth stealing the lineage of Duncan by
becoming king.
Macbeth promises to get these hitmen out of poverty and suffering. Remember some
interpretations show Macbeth continues to kill them later on after they kill Banquo. “ I will
put that business in your bosoms.”
“ it is concluded Banquo, thy soul’s flight. If it find heaven, must it find out to-night.” Ends
with rhyming cuplet, shows M’s determination and evil plans.
Act 3 Scene 2
Themes of Deceit and secrecy with Macbeth and LM maintaining facades of normalcy during
the public banquet, even though they both harbor dark secrets and guilty consciences.
Macbeth is also deceitful to LM as he does not include her in his plans, and this is a common
element in crime genre narratives as characters hide their involvement in crimes. Perhaps
their uncooperating with each other leads to their downfall.
LM : “Nought’s had, all’s spent, where our desires is got without content” Rhyming couplet
reveals LM’s unhappiness. This describes that when you have got what you want but have
no peace of mind, what you get isn’t worth it.
Macbeth : “ We have scorch’d the snake, not kill’d it.” Metaphor/ sibilance of snake, his
fears of being usurped or discovered for his crimes, he knows he is in danger. A snake is a
predator and he fears being attacked, he is not a safe king.
Macbeth : “Black hecate’s summons” Uses evil imagery much like LM in Act 1, he mirrors
her language. Here the audience can see his evilness and his evolution from the tragic act 1.
Character arc here.
LM: “what’s to be done” return to traditional gender roles, her asking questions, him with
the power. Stark difference to act 1 and two.
Macbeth : “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Chuck. Til thou applaud the deed.”
Act 3 Scene 3
When Banquo is killed, he warns his son Fleance to get away safely saying “ O Treachery!
Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!”
Banquo uses imagery of birds, and wishes him to “fly” away to freedom. He is alluding to the
idea that birds are free, and therefore wants his son to be the same. It could also allude to
the oppression of Macbeth’s regime, who kills anyone who may challenge this, and he
wishes for his son to flee this.
Act 3 scene 4
“ Are you a man?” Lady Macbeth refers to his madness as with a lack of masculinity
“Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me.” Macbeth speaking to the
ghost of Banquo. He is shocked by seeing the man he just killed, and the imagery of “gore”
signifies the serious guilt he holds, he cannot even look at Banquo, he feels horrid. He tries
to convince himself that due to him not killing Banquo with his own hands, he is innocent in
Banquo’s death, however he knows he has the blood of Banquo on his hands. This very guilt
degrades his sanity to the point where he becomes delusional and sees spirits of the dead.
“I am in blood, Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as
go o’er”
Macbeth feels that he has done so many bad deeds that trying to change his ways would be
as hard as it was to commit these deeds in the first place. This is an example of Nihilistic
elements to his character, where all religious and moral values are rejected in the belief that
life is meaningless. This is center to the noir genre of crime fiction where the protagonist is
seriously flawed and morally questionable. The characters greed lust jealousy and alienation
leads them into a downward spiral as their plans and scheme inevitably go away.
In the physical landscape that surrounds Macbeth, the normal rules of nature serve as weak
constraints against the grotesqueries of the witches and the horrific ghost of Banquo. The
emergence of the supernatural as a powerful force in this scene and until the end of Act 3 is
ironic as it establishes Macbeth’s lack of power. He committed regicide and other acts of
murder to become king, yet he becomes weak and has a lack of power against supernatural
forces. This could suggest that going against nature (chain of hierarchy and god) unleashes
supernatural forces that God might protect the king from otherwise. The forces of the
witches and Banquo’s ghost are not (of God). Macbeth loses control of the hierarchy of rule
and seems to be losing his mind. Macbeth is not the true king, and this scene shows that he
cannot either sustain the appearance of royal rule.
Act 3 Scene 5
Dark and sinister characters, such as the witches, with their supernatural abilities and
sinister prophecies epitomize characters commonly found in crime genre narratives. They
possess knowledge of past and future deeds, adding an element of mystery and intrigue.
Their foreboding prophecies predicts future crimes and nefarious deeds, which intensifies
the sense of danger but also introduces the argument of free will versus destiny.
Hecate is in this scene, a figure from Greek mythology, often associated with witchcraft,
magic and the supernatural. She was a goddess associated with crossroads, entrances, light,
magic and witchcraft.
This monologue shows us some very interesting motifs of power. With the Scotts and their
noble families, there is a hierarchy shown as there is a king, his trusted nobles, and
everyone else. The Witches, on the other hand, show us another hierarchy. The matriarch,
instead of the patriarch, Hecate is the leader of the Witches Coven, and she governs their
use of their practice. This also alludes to the themes of Femininity being fae (magical). Lady
Macbeth is shown to be more magical or mystic with her chanting, and her insanity later on.
Shakespeare often conveys this through the use of prose instead of iambic pentameter.
The female characters of the play are all associated with magic and evil. Any woman (LM )
that subverts the patriarchy is considered evil. Even Hecate being a powerful female figure,
is painted in an evil light. Whether she could just be a powerful goddess, she is associated
and commits heinous acts by plotting Macbeth’s destruction. This is a deliberate decision by
Shakespeare to conform to James I’s beliefs and ideology – Any women that subverts the
patriarchy is evil and therefore a witch. This is in line with the Jacobean belief of women
outside of society were often accused of being witches. Often widows, single women and
elderly.
Act 3 Scene 6
Lennox and the lord engage in a conversation marked by suspicion and secrecy. They discuss
their concerns about Macbeth’s rule and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of
Banquo and Duncan. This element of secrecy and the character’s suspicion align with the
genre’s focus on hidden motives and covert actions. This is also touching upon the theme of
investigation and the quest to uncover the truth. Lennox and the lord are not convinced by
the official explanation of recent events and this subscribes to investigative aspects of the
crime genre.
“Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives.” Shows the brutality of Macbeth’s
regime and lack of peace in his nation. Plosive alliteration emphasises the lord’s anger at the
tyranny.
“Men must not walk too late.” Ironic as these men are soldiers but they are saying it is too
dangerous. This is because all the heinous events up till this scene are committed at night,
and highlights the danger of Macbeth’s tyranny.
“Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too” Questions how Macbeth killed the guards
before asking why they supposedly killed the king – hints at the coverup that Lennox
suspects.
“May soon return to this our suffering country Under a hand accursed!” – Lennox hopes for
Macbeth to be usurped, defiance among Macbeth’s leadership.
“Ill send my prayers with him” – Macbeth’s regime is based on the supernatural and the evil,
against god ( regicide), however, Duncan and Macduff’s is on god ( the rightful ruler)