Author: Tess

Act 3 Scene 4

Characters: Macbeth, Murderer 1, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lenox, Lords and Attendants

Location: A room in the palace

Events: The feast takes place and everyone is seated. Murderer 1 is standing by the door with blood on his face, the murderer confirms Banquo’s death and tells that Fleance has escaped to Macbeth. He returns to the feast and pretends  to be upset at Banquo’s absence, but he then sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in his chair. Lady Macbeth tries to reassure the guests that her husband’s behaviour is nothing to worry about and it regularly happens.
Lady MB takes Macbeth aside and scolds him. MB apologises to the guests, Lady MB tells the guests to leave in fear that MB will reveal that they killed Banquo.
Macbeth wonders why Macduff didn’t attend the feast.

Quotes: ‘T is better thee without, than he within.” – Macbeth

 

Act 3 Scene 3

Characters: Murderer 1, Murderer 2, Murderer 3, Banquo and Fleance

Location: A road leading to the Palace.

Events: Two murderers await Banquo and Fleance to ambush. They are soon joined by a third sent by Macbeth. The murderers spot a light approaching and prepare to kill them. Murderer 1 puts out the light while the other two assault Banquo, he shouts to Fleance to run away. Banquo dies, while Fleance manages to escape.

Quotes: “O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly fly fly!” – Banquo

Act 3 Scene 2

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth and Servant

Location: A room in the castle

Events: The plan is arranged for Banquo and Fleance to be murdered before the banquet takes place.  Macbeth is wary of the consequences of killing Banquo and Fleance. A banquet is being held to celebrate Macbeth becoming King, close friends and noblemen have been invited.

Quotes: “O! full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” – Macbeth

Act 3 Scene 1

Characters: Banquo, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Attendant, 1 Murderer, 2 Murderer

Location: Forres. A room in the palace.

Events: Macbeth has been crowned King of Scotland. He plans on having a large feast (party) with all his friends and family, including Banquo. Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth and his involvement with Duncan’s death because he was there when the witches told him that he would be King. Macbeth meets with two murderers to arrange to kill Banquo.

Quotes: “It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight” – Macbeth

Act 2 Scene 4

Characters: Old man, Rosse and Macduff

Location: Outside Macbeth’s castle

Events: Macduff believes that Malcolm and Donalbain bribed the guards to kill Duncan, because they fled the scene so quickly. Macduff reports that Duncan’s body has been carried to Colme-kill. Macduff says he is travelling to Fife, Rosse decides he will follow him there.

Quotes: “That would make good of bad, and friends of foes” – Old man

Colme-kill is the place where kings are buried.

Act 2 Scene 3

Characters: Porter, Macduff, Lenox, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Donalbain and Malcolm

Location: A courtyard within Macbeth’s castle

Events: The porter begins the scene with a soliloquy imagining he is the porter of the gates of hell. He lets Macduff and Lenox into Macbeth’s castle. Macduff meets with Macbeth and asks if the King is awake, Macbeth offers to him to Duncan’s chamber. Upon entering Macduff and Lenox find the dead king’s body. Macduff immediately calls out that Duncan has been murdered. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth rush in and pretend to know nothing of what happened. Malcolm and Donalbain enter and are told their father has been killed by his guards. The guards have been found sleeping with blooded daggers. Macbeth says that in his rage of finding the king dead he killed the guards. Lady Macbeth faints.

Malcolm and Donalbain privately discuss their plans to travel to England and Ireland because they no longer feel safe.

Quotes: “Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:” – Macbeth

Act 2 Scene 2

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth

Location: A courtyard within Macbeth’s castle

Events: Lady MB has drugged Duncan’s guards and has placed their daggers ready for Macbeth to use to murder Duncan. Macbeth meets Lady MB after killing the King. Macbeth retails how distressed he is that he could not cry “Amen”.

Quotes: “My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white” – Lady Macbeth

Act 2 Scene 1

Characters: Banquo, Fleance, Macbeth and a Servant

Location: A courtyard within Macbeth’s castle

Events: Banquo, Fleance, and Macbeth are roaming the castle. (suspicious when they should all be asleep) Banquo wishes to speak about the Witches. Banquo and Fleance leave. Macbeth has a soliloquy, he sees a dagger in front of him, but he cannot touch it (hallucination), he goes on describing the dagger and Macbeth claims that it is the one he is planning to kill Duncan with. His soliloquy is a sign of madness.

Quotes: “Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell” – Macbeth

knell -the sounds of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.

Act 1 Scene 7

Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth

Location: A room in Macbeth’s castle

Events: Macbeth is unsure whether or not he shall kill Duncan, and if he does it must be quick. Lady Macbeth bullies Macbeth into finally agreeing to do it. She plans to get the guards outside severely drunk, so much so that they pass out. Macbeth will sneak in and kill Duncan and then the blame will be on the guards.

Quotes: “But screw your courage to the sticking-place and we’ll not fail.” – Lady Macbeth

In Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy, she says “And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty”. In this metaphor, she compares herself to bottle or cup by using the word “fill”. She does this so the evil spirits she is calling to will fill her with “direst cruelty” like it is a liquid…