Doe 1
Jane Doe
Ms. Reeve
English 12, Period __
18 October 2013
Act III , Sc I Forres. The Palace.
The Scottish Play
Reaction/ Analysis / Connections
Synopsis: Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan in order to become king. Macbeth
invites Banquo to a feast that night. Banquo promises to return in time. Macbeth, fearing
that Banquo’s children, not his own, will be the future kings of Scotland, seizes upon the
opportunity provided by Banquo’s scheduled return after dark to arrange for his murder.
To carry out the crime, Macbeth employs two men who he has persuaded to regard
Banquo as an enemy.
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“They hailed him father to a line of kings.”
Macbeth, line 60
 “Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds
and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are
clept. All by the name of dogs; the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtitle,
the housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed, whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill That writes
them all alike; and so of men.” Macbeth, lines
92-101
 ”I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and
buffets of the world Hath so incensed that I am
reckless what I do to spite the world. And I
another So weary with disasters tugged with
fortune, That I would set my life on any
chance, To mend it or be rid on’t.” Second and
First Murderer, lines 109-114
Act III, Sc 2 The Palace.
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“We have scorched the snake, not killed it;”
Macbeth, line 13
“Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In
the affliction of these terrible dreams That
shake us nightly; better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to
peace, That on the torture of the mind to lie In
restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; After
life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.” Macbeth, lines
17-23
“Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial among your guests tonight.
So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you: Let your
remembrance apply to Banquo Present him
eminence, both with eye and tongue: Unsafe
the while, that we must lave Our honors in
these flattering streams And make our faces
vizards to our hearts, Disgusting what they
are.” Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, lines 27-34
“His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s
summons” Macbeth, line 41
“What’s to be done?”
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Synopsis: Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth express their unhappiness. Macbeth speaks of
his fear of Banquo especially. He refers to a dreadful deed that will happen that night but
does not confide his plan for Banquo’s murder to Lady Macbeth.
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Doe 2
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“ Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest
chuck,” Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, lines 44
&45
 “Which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the
crow” Macbeth, line 50
Act III, Scene III Near the Palace
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“But who bid thee join with us?”
“ Macbeth” First and Third Murderer, lines 1 &
2
Act III, Scene IV The Palace
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“If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.”
Macbeth, line 19
 (Aside)”There the grown serpent lies; the
worm that’s fled Hath nature that in time will
venom breed, No teeth for th’ present. Get
thee gone. Tomorrow” Macbeth, lines 29-31
 “Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy
gory locks at me” Macbeth, lines 50 & 51
 “Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts
Impostors to true fear, would well become A
women’s story at a winter’s fire, Authorized by
her grandma. Shame itself!” Lady Macbeth,
lines 63-66
 “What; quite unmanned in folly?”Lady
Macbeth, 72
 It will have blood, they say; blood will have
blood. Stones have been known to move and
trees to speak; Augures and understood
relations have By maggot-pies and choughs
and rooks brought forth The secret’st man of
blood. What is the night?” Macbeth, lines 122126
 “You lack the season of all natures, sleep. “
Lady Macbeth, lines 141
Act III, Scene V A Witches Haunt
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“Shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall
spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His Hopes
‘bove wisdom, grace, and fear: And you all
know security” Hecate, lines 29-32
Act III, Scene VI
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“Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pay the holy king, upon his aid To
wake Northumberland and warlike Siward;”
Lord lines 29-31
“And hums, as who should say, “You’ll rue the
time That clogs me with this answer”” Lord,
lines 42 & 43
Synopsis: A third man joins the two whom Macbeth has already sent to kill Banquo and
Fleance. The three assassins manage to kill Banquo. Fleance escapes.
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Synopsis: As Macbeth’s banquet begins, one of Banquo’s murderers appears at the door
to tell Macbeth of Banquo’s death and Fleance’s escape. Returning to the table, Macbeth
is confronted by Banquo’s ghost, invisible to all but Macbeth. While Lady Macbeth is able
to dismiss as a momentary fit Macbeth’s expressions of horror at the ghost’s first
appearance, the reappearance of the ghost and Macbeth’s outcries in response to it force
Lady Macbeth to send all the guests away. Alone with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth resolves to
meet the witches again. He foresees a future marked by further violence.
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Synopsis: The presentation of the witches in this scene differs from their presentation in
the rest of the play. Most editors and scholars believe that neither this scene nor the
passages in 4.1 were written by Shakespeare.
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Synopsis: Lennox and an unnamed lord discuss politics in Scotland, Lennox comments
sarcastically upon Macbeth’s “official” versions of the many recent violent deaths. The
nameless lord responds with the news of Macduff’s flight to England to seek help in
overthrowing Macbeth.
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