Act 3, Scene 1 Summary

Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Lenox, Rosse, Attendant, Murderers

Location: Macbeth’s palace, inside the forres

Time: Mid-day

Events: Macbeth has now finally been made king, as well as Lady Macbeth being queen. Macbeth has now had some rights to provide a supper for his impressiveness, and invites Banquo on the spot. He wishes for all to wait until seven at night for the party to begin. But before then, Macbeth sees two murderers to explain the contents of now killing Banquo, because Macbeth is jealous of not just Banquo’s children, but Banquo himself! Macbeth must see Banquo dead by tonight!

Quotes:

• “Let every man be a master of his time”
• “If it find heaven, must find it out tonight”

Act 3, Scene 2 Summary

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Servant, Macbeth

Location: Another room in Macbeth’s castle

Time: Afternoon

Events: Lady Macbeth is talking with a servant talking about Banquo seeing if Macbeth has killed him. Macbeth enters saying that he will do the deed tonight, as it says in the last scene. He is aggravated by Banquo and Fleance still alive but keeps his honor and continues to wait until the death of Banquo is finished by the murderers. Until then, he waits until the feast in finished.

Quotes:

• ” O full of scorpions is my mind”
• “Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks”
• “Treason had done his worst: nor steel, nor poison”

Act 3, Scene 3 Summary

Characters: Three Murderers, Banquo, Fleance

Location: A park near the castle

Time: Night

Events: Three murderers have met with each other in a park talking about the plan of killing Banquo and even Fleance, and soon the two come in together and get assaulted. Fleance escapes but Banquo has died.

Act 3, Scene 4 Summary

Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lords, Murderer

Location: Macbeth’s castle, banquet room

Time: Evening

Events: The banquet of Macbeth’s success has begun, but trouble is full in the air as the guests are seated. A murderer enters to say that Banquo is dead, but the ghost of Banquo then enters and sits in Macbeth’s seat and makes him crazy for ruining the party. Lady Macbeth is ashamed for him being king but soon leaves, which resumes the party until the ghost comes back, and then ends the party for good. Lady Macbeth is enraged by this affair and leaves immediately.

Quotes:

• “The armed rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger, take any shape of that”

Act 3, Scene 5 Summary

Characters: Three Witches, Hecate

Location: Heath

Time: Night (stormy)

Events: Hecate, the leader of the three witches, is angry that Macbeth was now king. She wants the witches to go to Macbeth for answers of his kingship, and leaves after voices are heard. The witches decide to wait for her to come back and leave instantly.

Act 3, Scene 6 Summary

Characters: Lenox, A lord

Location: Forres, Scotland

Time: Unknown

Events: Lenox knows of Banquo’s death and talks to a lord about Fleance’s escape, but also says about Duncan’s death, and how Macduff feels about his dad pass away. He needs to see him soon.

No quotes are used in this scene