Macbeth - Act 3 summary

• Banquo


  Suspects that Macbeth played 'most foully' to achieve the throne
• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth invite Banquo

  To a 'solemn supper' that evening
• Banquo and his son Fleance are going out riding that afternoon, but Banquo promises to return in time for the banquet
• Macbeth tells Banquo


  That he has heard Malcolm and Donalbain are spreading terrible rumours
• Macbeth: 'His murderous deeds to seize the 'barren sceptre' will have been fruitless for his own family'
• Macbeth convinces two murderers

  To kill Banquo and his son Fleance
• Lady Macbeth


  Advises Macbeth not to think on past deeds saying 'what's done is done'
• Macbeth is plagued by fears about potential threats and 'terrible dreams'
• Macbeth envies Duncan


  Who 'sleeps well' in his grave
• The murderers attack Banquo and Fleance


  Fleance manages to escape, Banquo is killed
• Banquo shouts after Fleance, 'Thou mayst revenge!'
• The murderers decide to return to the castle and tell Macbeth
• Macbeth sees one of the murderers arrive with blood on his face and is pleased to hear that Banquo is dead in a ditch 'with twenty trenched gashes on his head'
• Macbeth is disappointed that the 'worm' Fleance escaped
• As the banquet begins, the ghost of Banquo sits in Macbeth's place at the table
• Lady Macbeth criticises Macbeth for his 'flaws and starts' when he is only looking at a 'stool'
• As Macbeth makes a toast to 'our dear friend Banquo', the ghost reappears and he cries out at the ghost saying 'Hence, horrible shadow!'
• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss how Macduff declined their invitation and did not come to the banquet
• Macbeth decides that he will visit the witches again the next day
• Lady Macbeth says Macbeth lacks 'the season of all nature, sleep'
• Macbeth says there is no turning back now; they are 'yet but young in deed'
• Hecate, the Goddess of Witchcraft, is angry with the witches for giving prophecies to Macbeth without consulting her
• Hecate tells the witches to meet her in the morning where they will tell Macbeth his 'destiny' and lead him on to 'his confusion'
• Lennox is deeply suspicious about the murders of 'gracious Duncan' and 'right-valiant Banquo'
• Lennox reports how Macduff 'lives in disgrace' since missing the Macbeths' feast
• Another lord recounts how Macduff has gone to England to seek help in overthrowing Macbeth, calling him a 'tyrant'