Macbeth+Act+3+-+4

Shelby Price Period 5 TEXT INFORMATION (TITLE, CHAPTER(S)) Macbeth Act 3.3 and 3.4

SUMMARY Act 3.3 Three murderers enter and kill Banquo, but his son Fleance escapes. The third murderer is a mystery because only two were previously assigned to the mission by Macbeth. They exit to tell Macbeth what they have accomplished.

Act 3.4 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are hosting a dinner at their house. The murderers come and tell Macbeth privately what they have accomplished. Macbeth hallucinates about the ghost of Banquo and believes he is at the table with them. Macbeth has a private conversation with LMB after the guests are asked to leave due to his behavior.

QUESTIONS Act 3.3 Who is the third murderer? What will happen since Fleance escaped?

Act 3.4 What do the guests think of Macbeth now that he is clearly unhinged? What further action is Macbeth going to take now that he is paranoid of being exposed?

THE LANGUAGE Act 3.3 – “We have lost best half of our affair” – Second murderer, meaning that they have only achieved half of what they were supposed to accomplish

Act 3.4 – “There’s blood upon they face” – Macbeth, which relates to the motif of blood that exists throughout the play. It wasn’t necessary to note the blood but Shakespeare included it to further the motif THE BIG IDEA Act 3.3 – One theme in this scene could be fate, because Fleance escapes CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 1

Act 3.3 – The first murderer is a mystery and thus is very important because we don’t know who he is. Previously, Macbeth assigned 2 murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance.

Act 3.4 – This scene further develops Macbeth’s character because he has another hallucination about Banquo’s ghost. This time he is completely convinced that what he sees is real even though none of the other guests see it. This shows that he is becoming progressively crazier.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 2 Act 3.3 – Banquo’s son, Fleance, escapes in this scene even though Macbeth ordered him dead. This is important because earlier, Banquo expressed suspicions about Macbeth and the audience can infer that he would have shared these with his son. Fleance may be the only person who can expose Macbeth for what he truly is.

Act 3.4 – This scene depicts Lady Macbeth as more and more controlling. She tells Macbeth what to do and when it is clear that he is out of her control, she instructs the guests to leave.

Act 3.4 – A theme in this scene is the psychological burden of sin, because Macbeth hallucinates again which shows that his mind is continuing to deteriorate since the murder of Duncan

VOCABULARY Act 3.4

Nonpareil – a person or thing having no equal Weal – well-being, prosperity or happiness Maws – mouth or jaws of an animal Avaunt – go away! Depart! Choughs – crowlike old world birds Rooks - crows Relates to his earlier hallucinations, but they are progressively worse which shows how his mind is becoming unsound due to the guilt and stress that he carries

Macbeth’s hallucination

Relates to his earlier hallucinations, but they are progressively worse which shows how his mind is becoming unsound due to the guilt and stress that he carries