Act 3

Test out your knowledge of the events and characters in Act 3 by answering these questions:

• Why does Macbeth ask Banquo so many apparently casual questions about where he is riding? Why should Macbeth be worried about Banquo (think about what he knows and about his character)?
• How does Macbeth persuade the murderers to help him? He tells the murderers that it was really Banquo who did some things they thought Macbeth had done to harm them. Is this convincing?
• What does Macbeth say that he envies about Duncan (in scene 2)?
• How successful are the murderers in following Macbeth's instructions? Comment on what happens to Fleance, and why this matters to Macbeth.
• How does Lady Macbeth react when her husband sees (or believes he sees) Banquo's ghost? What similar thing does she recall? (Macbeth has not told her of this in the dialogue of the play, so we must suppose he has told her between scenes.)
• What does Macbeth mean when he says, “We are yet but young in deed”? (Act 3, scene 4) What does this suggest about his future conduct?
• Who or what is Hecate and what does she think of the witches' involvement with Macbeth?
• What is Hecate's strategy for Macbeth? Comment on the way the audience learns of this before he does.
• In Act 3, scene 6, Lennox comments on Macbeth's actions. In your own words, try to explain what he says directly and what he really thinks or hints at. Why might he not want to say directly what is really in his mind?
• The lord's reply to Lennox contains some interesting information about Macduff. What is this, and how might it affect things in Scotland?