Act 3

• Engels
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Lesson objectives 

You will consider character development in Act 3 

You will consider Banquo and Macbeth's soliloquies in Act 3 scene 1

What are they thinking? 

You will consider the collapse of the bromance 

Read Act 3 scene 2 

Consider Macbeth's speech in comparison to Lady Macbeth 

Act 3 - during this act 

One of the key points to consider about Act 3 is the manner in which power shifts towards Macbeth away from his wife, though Macbeth suffers torment for what he has done. 

Is there any evidence already (up to Act 2) that Macbeth was beginning to take the lead in events?

Act 3

Macbeth is now king, but is he happy?

Macbeth is worried about Banquo. Is he right to be? Use evidence from this soliloquy to support your answer.

Act 3 scene 1

Read Macbeth's soliloquy Act 3 scene 1 lines 47 - 71

1. In your groups, underline or highlight parts of the speech that give reasons why Macbeth is dissatisfied with his friend, Banquo.
2. number them from most to least important (number 1 being the reason that makes Macbeth most dissatisfied with Banquo).

Act 3 scene 1

Banquo is the only person Macbeth is afraid of. 

Macbeth has given his soul to the devil for someone else's children 

Banquo's children will steal Macbeth's throne. 

The weird sisters told Banquo that his sons would be kings. 

Banquo is noble 

Banquo is both brave and wise

Banquo insisted that the weird sisters told his fortune as well as Macbeth's 

The weird sisters gave Macbeth the crown and sceptre, but no children 

Banquo is the only person Macbeth is afraid of

Macbeth has given his soul to the devil for someone else's children

Banquo's children will steal Macbeth's throne.

The weird sisters told Banquo that his sons would be kings.

Banquo is noble

Banquo is both brave and wise

The weird sisters gave Macbeth the crown and sceptre, but no children

Banquo insisted that the weird sisters told his fortune as well as Macbeth's

Act 3 scene 1 

1. Why do you think that this act starts with a soliloquy from Banquo showing his inner thoughts? 

2. What mood are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in? Write down the words that show their separate moods. 

3. What will Banquo be doing before the banquet? 

4. What does Macbeth mean in his soliloquy when he says:

" To be thus is nothing,/ but to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep," p.43 l.50-51

" There is none but he /whose being I do fear" l. 56

"They hail'd him father to a line of kings./Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown" l.62

 

 

Lesson objectives 

Persuading the murderers 

Read Act 3 scene 2 

Consider Macbeth's speech in comparison to Lady Macbeth

 

Act 3 scene 1 

How does Macbeth persuade the murderers to kill Banquo? 

List the arguments. 

Find examples of animal imagery in the persuasive speeches. 

Are his arguments as persuasive as Lady Macbeth's ?

Act 3 scene 1 

Find a quote

Act 3 scene 2 

1. What does Lady Macbeth say Macbeth has become at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2? 
2. How does Macbeth explain his behavior? 
3. It may seem strange but Macbeth says he would rather be dead like Duncan. Why does he want to be like Duncan? 
4. How does Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to behave at the banquet? 
5. What does Macbeth say will happen tonight? 
6. Why does Shakespeare have Macbeth say that he cannot wait for night time and darkness? 

Act 3 scene 2 

What contribution does imagery make to the tone and action of the play in this scene? 

Write one PEEL paragraph that includes at least three pieces of evidence. Embed your evidence into your sentences as much as possible. 

Lesson objectives 

You will consider a comparison between a soliloquy from Lady Macbeth and a monologue from Macbeth 

You will consider the content of Act 3 scene 4 

You will watch and analyse act 3 scene 4 (pivotal scene in the play) 

You will watch the play up to the end of Act 3 

Act 3 scene 2 

Look at Macbeth's final speech in Act 3 Scene 2, and Lady Macbeth’s speech beginning ‘The raven himself is hoarse…’ in Act 1.5.37-53 Make a table

• provide examples of the similarities suggested.
  

Lady Macbeth and  Macbeth's soliloquy 

Similarities	Example Lady Macbeth 1.5	Example Macbeth 3.2
References to ‘night’ and its effects
References to evil/dark forces that they need to ‘help’ them
Similar or repeated words and phrases
References to blindness/seeing

What differences are there between the speeches? 

Act 3 scene 2 up to Macbeth's soliloquy 

Similarities	Example Lady Macbeth 1.5	Example Macbeth 3.2
References to ‘night’ and its effects	"Come, thick night", "dunnest smoke of hell"	"seeling Night" "bloody and invisible hand", "light thickens"
References to evil/dark forces that they need to ‘help’ them	"Come, you spirits", "murdering ministers"	"night's black agents to their preys do rouse.", "Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond",
Similar or repeated words and phrases	"Hold, hold!", "Come, [...] Come[...] Come,	"droop and drowse" "seeling Night", "light thickens"
References to blindness/seeing	"sightless substances", "see not the wound it makes/Nor heaven peep"	"Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day", "seeling Night"

Act 3 scene 2 some differences  

1. The fact that Lady Macbeth’s speech is a soliloquy, and is almost like a spell or prayer to evil forces. 

2. Macbeth’s speech is a monologue as it is in the presence of his wife, though it also sounds like a spell or incantation 

3. Lady Macbeth’s references to her needing to be ‘unsex’-ed – whilst Macbeth’s speech has no obvious reference to his gender, or manliness.

Act 3 scene 2 what do these mean in modern English. Write your translation 

..night’s yawning peal

After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well

Let the frame of things disjoint

full of scorpions is my mind...

come, sealing night scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day

We have scorched the snake not killed it: /she'll close and be herself ––  whilst our poor malice/ remains in danger of her former tooth.

Act 3 scene 2 

1. Why doesn’t Macbeth tell his wife what fate he has planned for Banquo? 
2. How are we supposed to view Banquo, following what he says at the start of the act in reference to what the witches promised him? 
3. Who might the third murderer be who appears to help with the murder of Banquo? 

Act 3 scene 4 

Discuss: 

1. If you were directing this scene onstage, how would you tackle it? 

2. How do you want the audience to feel during the scene and how will you ensure you provoke that feeling?

3. How would you present the ghost? Would you have an actor playing him? 

4. What difference would it make to how we feel towards the character of Macbeth if we only see what Lady Macbeth and the Thanes see? 

We are here 

Act 3 scene 4 

	Polanski (1971)	Casson (1978)	Goold (2010)
Setting and its effect
How the ghost was presented (or not)
How Lady Macbeth behaves
How Macbeth behaves
Others’ behaviour and reactions to Macbeth
Which one was the most effective?

Act 3 scene 4 

1. Take note of the line that shows that the lords sat in a particular order to show their status. The closer they were to the king the more important they were. Why is this ironic? 

2. Where does Macbeth choose to sit?

3. What does it show about Macbeth's character development that he speaks to the murders during the banquet? 

4. What does Mabeth mean when he says "Tis better thee without, than he within" ? line 14

Act 3 scene 4 

5. What is Macbeth's reaction to hearing that Fleance has escaped? Look at the metaphors and imagery used 3.4.21 - 25 

6. Look at the reference to a snake on 3.4.29 - 32. What is Macbeth saying? 

7. Find the quotes that mean:

• I wish the most important guest was here
  
• I would rather scold him for being rudely late than worry about something happening to him. 
  

Act 3 scene 4 

8. Find the quote that means: 

• There is nothing there 
  
• It's just like the dagger, you said led you to Duncan
  
• These visions are pathetic, scary stories told by grandmothers are scarier
  
• You should be ashamed of your silly behaviour
  

9. What does Lady Macbeth say to mock Macbeth's masculinity? 

10. Where is there an example of dramatic irony?

Act 3 scene 4 

10. Explain these quotes: 

" you have displaced the mirth"  line. 109

" Can such things be,/ And overcome us like a summer's cloud" line. 110 - 111

" you can behold such sights,/ and keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,/when mine is blanch'd with fear." line. 114 - 116 

11. What does Macbeth mean when he says, " It will have blood they say: blood will have blood." line. 122

Act 3 scene 4 

12. Find and take note of where it says at the end of act 3 scene 4:

• that Macbeth pays one of Macduff's servants to spy on him? 
  
• That the next day he will return to see the witches
  
• That he has committed so many terrible deeds he might as well keep going
  
• Considering what sort of things are going to happen, what they've done so far is nothing at all. 
  

The Great Chain of Being 

'Ay in the catalogue ye go for men' 3.1.91

Look at some of the animals that have appeared so far: 

Rank these from the highest to the lowest in the great chain of being.

What is the effect of using these images in the play? 

We are here