Macbeth Act 3 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What does Banquo think about the witches prophesies?
answer
Since they have come true for Macbeth, they may yet come true for him as well.
question
Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead?
answer
He knows they suspect him of foul play, and he is furious that he has done all of the work (so-to-speak) of becoming king, and Banquo's descendants will benefit from it rather than his.
question
Macbeth says he will be alone until the feast. What does he really do during this time?
answer
meets with the two murderers
question
How does Macbeth convince the murderers to help him?
answer
plays on their sense of manhood (not unlike how Lady Macbeth did Macbeth in Act I), tells them Banquo is their enemy and if they want to be men, they will do something about him, says he'd do it himself but he doesn't want to upset their (his and Banquo's) mutual friends
question
What is Macbeth's plan for killing Banquo and Fleance? Does it work?
answer
He gets two convicted murderers to wait along the road to ambush them. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.
question
Macbeth says, "The worm that's fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present." What does that mean?
answer
Fleance will be a problem in the future, since he will have children who will become kings, but for now Macbeth can let him go and deal with other things because Fleance is of no immediate threat to him personally.
question
Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table?
answer
He saw Banquo's ghost.
question
How does Lady Macbeth cover for Macbeth at the banquet? What excuses does she give for his wild talk?
answer
She tells the guests that he often has these fits, that those who know him well have learned to ignore them. When Macbeth really gets out of hand, she sends the guests home.
question
Who else was missing from the banquet table (besides Banquo)?
answer
Macduff is missing.
question
Macbeth says, "I am in blood Stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er." What does he mean?
answer
There is no going back now. Macbeth is committed to this course of action, whatever terrible things he may yet have to do.
question
Why does Hecate "look angerly" upon the other witches (III.v.1)?
answer
They did not include her in the plan to bring down Macbeth.
question
What does Hecate want the witches to do?
answer
She wants the witches to give Macbeth some visions which will give him false impressions, false hopes for his personal safety and the safety of his rule, so he will continue on his path of destruction.
question
What does Lennox think about Macbeth, Fleance, and Duncan's sons?
answer
Literally, with NO sarcasm, he thinks Macbeth is the "good guy," Fleance killed Banquo, and Duncan's sons killed the king. Sarcastically, he seems to be saying the exact opposite: It is ridiculous to think Duncan's sons would kill him, Fleance had no reason to kill Banquo, and Macbeth has made a mess of Scotland.
question
Ironically, Lennox calls Macbeth what to show his real attitude toward him?
answer
a tyrant
question
At the end of Act III, what seems to be coming to Scotland?
answer
war (Macbeth (with his Scottish forces) vs. Malcolm (with Siward, English troops, and those loyal to Duncan)
