Macbeth Act 3 scene 3 and scene 4 analysis and revision

Summary

In this analysis of Macbeth's Act 3, scenes 3 and 4, Matt Burch delves into the dramatic significance of the first on-stage murder, Banquo's betrayal, and the psychological unraveling of Macbeth. The scene exposes Macbeth's guilt and his desperate attempts to maintain a facade of innocence. Burch highlights the use of language, such as antithetical parallelism and dysphemism, to convey Macbeth's horror and paranoia. The ghost of Banquo's appearance at the banquet triggers Macbeth's loss of control, leading to a deeper exploration of his fear and the consequences of his actions. The summary also touches on the motif of sleep and its connection to guilt and madness, foreshadowing Lady Macbeth's tragic end.

Takeaways

• 🔪 The script discusses the dramatic significance of the first murder scene in Macbeth, where the audience witnesses the betrayal and horror of Macbeth's actions.
• 👑 The representation of Banquo and the mention of James I's lineage to flatter the king is highlighted, showing the political undertones of the play.
• 🍽 The banquet scene reveals Macbeth's facade as a gracious host, which contrasts with his true nature and the shocking events that unfold.
• 🗣️ The use of language, including antithetical parallelism and wordplay, is analyzed to show Macbeth's pleasure in Banquo's murder and the subsequent fear.
• 🐍 The motif of snakes is reintroduced, symbolizing the threat of Fleance, the young snake, who will grow to seek revenge.
• 👻 Macbeth's encounter with Banquo's ghost reveals his paranoia and guilt, as well as his deteriorating mental state.
• 🤯 Lady Macbeth's attempts to regain control and reassure the guests highlight her role in managing Macbeth's outbursts and maintaining appearances.
• 🎭 The script explores the theme of illusion versus reality, with Lady Macbeth mocking Macbeth's fears and comparing them to a woman's story.
• 🏰 The imagery of graves and monuments being desecrated by birds of prey symbolizes Macbeth's fear of the dead not staying dead and the consequences of his actions.
• 💬 Macbeth's soliloquy questions his own bravery and the nature of the supernatural, reflecting on the irreversible steps he has taken in his quest for power.
• 🌙 The motif of sleep is foreshadowed, indicating the psychological toll of Macbeth's actions and the impending madness that will result from his guilt.

Q & A

What is the significance of the first murder scene in Macbeth that takes place on stage?

The first murder scene is significant as it is the first act of violence the audience witnesses directly, revealing the full horror of Macbeth's betrayal of Banquo, his best friend, and marking a turning point in the play's dramatic tension.

How does the safety of Fleance relate to James I's vanity?

Banquo's shout to 'fly good Fleance' is a dramatic moment that potentially flattered James I's vanity, as James I traced his lineage back to Banquo, thus connecting the king's personal history with the play's events.

What is the role of the banquet scene in revealing Macbeth's guilt?

The banquet scene is crucial as it exposes Macbeth's guilt publicly. Until this point, Macbeth had managed to disguise his actions, but here he loses control, indicating his guilt to the audience and the other characters.

How does Macbeth attempt to appear humble and gracious in the banquet scene?

Macbeth presents himself as a 'humble host', inviting the guests to seat themselves without waiting for him and suggesting he will serve them, which implies a sense of humility and an attempt to win the lords' favor.

What is the significance of the word 'welcome' being used three times in the first eight lines of the banquet scene?

The repetition of 'welcome' emphasizes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's efforts to ensure the lords feel welcomed and on their side, as they are aware of the suspicion that rests upon them.

What is the antithetical parallelism used by Macbeth when discussing Banquo's blood?

Macbeth uses antithetical parallelism, stating 'better the blood upon the murderer's face than in Banquo's body', which is a conspicuous play on words that suggests Macbeth takes a twisted pleasure in the news of Banquo's murder.

How does Macbeth's reaction to Fleance's escape reflect his mental state?

Macbeth's reaction to Fleance's escape, saying 'then comes my fit again', indicates his growing instability and fear, as he believes Fleance will grow up to seek revenge and threaten his kingship.

What is the connection between Macbeth's description of the times of the past and Banquo's murder?

Macbeth's description of the past when 'brains were out, a man would die and there an end' contrasts with the present, where Banquo's ghost rises again, showing Macbeth's horror at the unnatural and the supernatural implications of his actions.

How does Lady Macbeth attempt to regain control after Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost?

Lady Macbeth tries to regain control by blaming Macbeth's outburst on a childhood mental illness to reassure the lords, and then she mocks Macbeth's fears, comparing his reaction to a woman's story, attempting to belittle his fears and regain his composure.

What does Macbeth's statement 'I dare do all that may become a man' echo from earlier in the play?

This statement echoes Macbeth's earlier declaration in Act 1, Scene 7, where he said the same, signifying his bravery and determination to commit to his dark ambitions.

How does Macbeth's fear of the supernatural manifest in his reaction to Banquo's ghost?

Macbeth's fear is evident in his reaction to the ghost, where he contemplates the impossibility of fighting an 'unreal form' and the horror of death, showing his vulnerability and the psychological impact of his actions.

What does Macbeth's final statement about sleep signify about his mental state?

Macbeth's reference to sleep as 'the season of all nature's sleep' and his own denial of it signifies his growing madness and the internal turmoil caused by his guilt and the consequences of his actions.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Macbeth's First On-Stage Murder and Banquet Scene

This paragraph discusses the dramatic significance of the first murder in Macbeth, witnessed by the audience, contrasting with the off-stage murder of Duncan. It highlights the role of Banquo and the potential flattery of James I through the character's lineage. The paragraph also delves into Macbeth's loss of control during the banquet, his and Lady Macbeth's attempts to appear gracious to the gathered lords, and the shocking revelation of Macbeth's guilt. The use of antithetical parallelism and wordplay is noted, along with Macbeth's fear and the implications of Banquo's murder, including the threat posed by Fleance, Banquo's son.

05:00

👻 Macbeth's Encounter with Banquo's Ghost and Lady Macbeth's Response

The second paragraph explores Macbeth's reaction to Banquo's ghost appearing at the banquet, reflecting his guilt and fear. Lady Macbeth's attempt to downplay the situation by comparing the ghost to an illusory painting and mocking Macbeth's fear is detailed. The paragraph also examines Macbeth's horror at the supernatural event, his concern about the dead not staying dead, and his struggle to convince himself of his bravery. The intertextual link to the air-drawn dagger and the motif of sleep are also discussed, concluding with Lady Macbeth taking control of the situation to mitigate the damage caused by Macbeth's outburst.

10:01

🔪 Macbeth's Descent into Paranoia and Impulsive Action

In this paragraph, Macbeth's paranoia is evident as he fears that even nature might reveal his secrets. His decision to seek out the witches indicates a reversal from his previous actions. The paragraph discusses Macbeth's realization that his actions are driving him further into bloodshed with no turning back, and his acceptance of this fate. The loss of rationality and the shift to impulsive actions are highlighted, along with the foreshadowing of sleep's significance and its connection to guilt and madness. Macbeth's self-delusion about the ghost's nature and his attempt to rationalize his fear are also covered.

Keywords

💡Macbeth

Macbeth is the central character and protagonist of the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. In the video script, Macbeth is depicted as a tragic hero who succumbs to ambition and commits regicide, leading to his moral and psychological downfall. The keyword is integral to understanding the video's exploration of guilt, power, and the consequences of one's actions.

💡Banquo

Banquo is a character in 'Macbeth' who is murdered on stage, marking a pivotal moment in the play. His death is a betrayal of friendship and a turning point that reveals the depths of Macbeth's moral decay. In the script, Banquo's murder and the subsequent appearance of his ghost at the banquet underscore the theme of guilt and the supernatural.

💡Fleance

Fleance is Banquo's son, whose escape after his father's murder is mentioned in the script. Fleance's survival represents a potential future threat to Macbeth, symbolizing the idea that the past actions have lasting repercussions. The script uses Fleance as a symbol of the cyclical nature of violence and revenge.

💡Supernatural

The supernatural elements in 'Macbeth' are represented by the witches and the ghost of Banquo. In the script, these elements are used to explore the theme of fate versus free will. The ghost of Banquo, in particular, is a manifestation of Macbeth's guilt and the play's exploration of the psychological impact of one's actions.

💡Guilt

Guilt is a pervasive theme in the script, evident in Macbeth's reactions to the murder of Banquo and the appearance of Banquo's ghost. The keyword is central to understanding Macbeth's internal conflict and the play's exploration of the moral consequences of power and ambition.

💡Ambition

Ambition drives Macbeth's actions throughout the play and is a key factor in his descent into tyranny. The script highlights how ambition, when unchecked, can lead to moral corruption and tragic outcomes, as seen in Macbeth's decision to murder Duncan and his subsequent actions.

💡Treachery

Treachery is exemplified by Macbeth's betrayal of his friend Banquo and his usurpation of the throne. The script uses the term to emphasize the dark side of ambition and the lengths to which Macbeth is willing to go to secure his power, which ultimately leads to his downfall.

💡Paranoia

Paranoia is a key aspect of Macbeth's character development in the script, particularly after the murder of Banquo. It reflects the psychological turmoil and fear of retribution that Macbeth experiences, which is a central theme in the play's exploration of the consequences of one's actions.

💡Honor

Honor is a concept that is subverted in the script as Macbeth's actions lead him away from the honorable behavior expected of a nobleman and a friend. The keyword is used to contrast the initial image of Macbeth with his later actions, highlighting the tragic nature of his character's moral decline.

💡Madness

Madness is a theme that is foreshadowed in the script, particularly in relation to Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking and Macbeth's increasing instability. It is used to illustrate the destructive impact of guilt and the supernatural on the characters' mental states, contributing to the play's tragic tone.

💡Blood

Blood is a recurring motif in the script, symbolizing both the literal act of violence and the figurative stain of guilt. It is used to emphasize the physical and moral consequences of Macbeth's actions, as well as the play's exploration of the cycle of violence and the corrupting influence of power.

Highlights

The first murder occurs on stage, contrasting with Duncan's off-stage murder, emphasizing the horror of the act.

Banquo's concern for his son's safety before his death potentially flatters King James I's lineage.

Macbeth's public loss of control during the banquet scene reveals his guilt.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use the word 'welcome' to ingratiate themselves with the guests.

Macbeth's attempt to appear humble by playing the host backfires as his guilt becomes apparent.

Antithetical parallelism in the dialogue hints at Macbeth's twisted pleasure in Banquo's death.

Macbeth's desire for 'perfection' in his reign is connected to the murder of Banquo and Fleance.

The imagery of snakes foreshadows the threat of Fleance's future revenge.

Macbeth's initial reaction to Banquo's ghost reveals his suspicious and deceitful nature.

Lady Macbeth tries to control the situation by attributing Macbeth's outburst to a childhood illness.

Macbeth's fear is mocked by Lady Macbeth, who compares it to a woman's story.

Macbeth's horror at the ghost's appearance is expressed through vivid and visceral language.

Macbeth's bravery is questioned by both Lady Macbeth and himself in the face of the supernatural.

The motif of sleep is introduced, foreshadowing its significance in the play's later stages.

Macbeth's paranoia grows as he fears the disclosure of his secrets by the natural world.

Macbeth's decision to act impulsively without rationality marks a departure from his earlier hesitation.

Macbeth's recognition that the ghost was a product of his fear shows his capacity for self-delusion.

Transcripts

hi this is Matt Burch and this is a

quick revision of Macbeth at free scenes

three and four scene freeze a really

short scene but it's really crucial

dramatically as this is the first murder

that takes place on stage

unlike the murder of Duncan the audience

witnesses this betrayal of my best best

friend and the full horror of what he's

initiated is evident to the audience

it's also typical of the representation

of Banquo with the term his first force

upon recognizing the treachery is the

safety of his son he shouts fly good

Fleance once again this would

potentially flatter the vanity of James

the first given that James the first

trace his lineage back to Banquo soon

Falls the banquet scene and until this

seemed at best been able to disguise his

actions attempting to look like the

innocent flower and adopt a false face

but at this point he loses control and

he loses it very publicly exposing his

guilt but Beth presents himself as a

generous and a genial host telling the

guests not to stand upon ceremony but to

seat themselves you know rather than

waiting for him to sit down before they

could take their own seats he says that

he will play the humble host which might

imply that he's going to go round and

charged the glasses of the lords that

are assembled essentially giving the

sense through all of this that he's

humble it's worth noting that Beth and

Lady Macbeth use the word welcome three

times in the first eight lines of the

scene really trying to ensure that

they're getting the Lords onside they

know they've got a battle to face

because suspicion rests on their

shoulders but it's this kind of attempt

at graciousness that makes what happens

subsequently even more shocking when

talking to one of the returning

murderers an antithetical parallelism is

used to joke that bancos blood is better

the without than he within so therefore

better on the murderers face tan in

Banquo's body it's the fact that there

is this wordplay

there's such a conspicuous play on words

through the antithesis that suggests

that there's a pleasure that my Beth

receives upon hearing this kind of news

upon hearing Polly once's escaped

Macbeth says then comes my fit again I

had else been put

which could be a reference to actually

seen one when he talks about Banquo

making him sickly in his life which in

his death were perfect

so the repetition of that key lexical

term perfect connect creates that

connection he said he would have been

whole as the marble founded as the rock

as broad and general as the casing air

if both Fleance and Banquo were killed

and those similes provide a sense of how

securement best position and mental

state would have been in that situation

there would have been a freedom because

he wouldn't have been troubled by the

potential threats to his kingship that

the witches had proposed through

Banquo's lineage in contrast to the

freedom that he would have experienced

if Fleance and Banquo were dead he now

feels confined by the knowledge of

Leonsis freedom words from the semantic

field of imprisonment who employed and

you have this harsh alliteration coupled

with the consonants of plosive sounds

that complements that sense of an

horrific state of fear that Macbeth now

finds himself in the nature of Banquo's

murder is recalled and the horror of it

is evident in the murderous claim that

the gashes in Banquo's head was deepest

trenches with each one sufficient to

kill him

we then return once again to the motif

of snakes thanks for that there the

grown serpent lies the worm that's fled

half nature that in song will venom

breed no tea for the present so we have

Banquo represented as the fully grown

snake with Fleance the young snake or

worm that will in time grow its venomous

teeth so but best referring to the

danger posed by the young Fleance in

time he will grow and he will seek

revenge

this is looting back to a tree scene to

weave scotch the snake not kill'd it

it's one of the threats that Macbeth was

alluding to in a tree scene to remove

ever sees the ghost his initial response

is which of you have done this

interestingly symptomatic of my best

suspicious nature and familiarity with

deceit because his immediate belief is

that one of the Lords is playing a trick

on him trying to deceive him but the

horror of the ghosts appearance is

clearly evident in the adjective all

choice

Gouri the gory locks with Macbeth's loss

of control Lady Macbeth tries to step up

and regain control blaming that Bess

outburst on a mental illness from

childhood in order to reassure the

Lord's when she addresses Macbeth once

again she tries to control him through

the same method that she used in act 1

scene 7 questioning his manhood the

echoes of act 1 scene 7 are maintained

with him at best response I in a bold

one that dare look on that which might

appall the devil in act 1 scene 7 he

said I dare do all that may become a man

so once again it's the same response to

the same kind of accusation Lady Macbeth

mocks Macbeth's visions saying this is

the very painting of your fear the

representation of painting is something

illusory something unreal it's a

representation of something and it seems

to be a link to act 2 scene 2 where we

have the sleeping and the dead are put

as pictures she makes a comparison to

the air-drawn dagger the very fact that

she suggests that this is similar to the

air-drawn dagger could actually give

credence to the idea that the dagger was

previously something that was born out

of the supernatural rather than the

heat-oppressed brain because we now as

an audience likely to have seen the

ghost of Banquo also she said that this

would well become a woman's story at a

winter's fire authorized by her Grand Am

so again she's mocking his bravery

claiming that his fears are as pathetic

as those found in a woman's story that a

grandmother's found suitable in other

words really childish and not likely to

disturb anyone mocking the best manhood

and bravery with the tools that she used

to persuade my Beth to kill Duncan but

now they're not working my Beth doesn't

pay attention to his wife instead

focusing his attention on the ghost as

you would but he uses this conditional

to express his horror at death if

Charnel houses and our graves must send

those that we bury back our monuments

shall be the Moors of kites it's a

concern that if graves and buildings

that would be used to store bones send

the bodies back

as appears to have happened with Banquo

then he postulates that the monuments

for the dead will be nothing more than

the stomach's of those birds that feed

off the dead he's haunted by the idea

that the dead are not staying dead hence

why they end up in the stomach's of

birds of prey

this points reinforced by his

description of the times of the past

when when the brains were out a man

would die and there an end but now they

rise again with 20 mortal murders on

their crowns a reference to those 20

trench like gashes that are supposed to

be in the head of Banquo this is showing

his horror of what he's witnessing that

dysphemism of when the brains were out

really capturing the visceral nature of

what he's witnessing and the horror of

it the bravery that defined Macbeth in

act 1 scene 2 brave Macbeth well he

deserves that name has been questioned

by Lady Macbeth earlier in the play and

yet now he seems to be trying to

convince himself of his own bravery in

the face of this threat by a

supernatural force he says that no enemy

would make him afraid no physical enemy

a bear I know a tiger a living man but

you cannot fight this unreal form and

therefore that's why the fear exists he

justifies it as a rational fear this

particular aspect of the speech begins

with what man dare I dare echoing again

that line from act 1 scene 7 I dare do

all that may become a man once again

reassuring himself of his bravery the

lines a form of parallelism and the

effect of it is to ensure that the

generality of man is also transferred

across to the singularity of I in other

words anything that any man would do he

would dare to do with the departure of

the ghosts Macbeth begins to doubt the

nature of their existence with the

question can such things be and this

might remind us of act 1 scene free when

Banquo with the departure of the witches

questioned were such things here as we

do speak about the simile like her

summers cloud could convey the

strangeness and the brevity of the

ghostly vision

one wouldn't expect to see a cloud on a

summer's day just as one wouldn't expect

to see Banquo's ghost and also it comes

and goes very quickly just as Banquo's

ghost has come and gone very quickly but

Beth draws a contrast between the

response of Lady Macbeth and his own

response to witnessing the ghost having

believed that Lady Macbeth had also

witnessed the ghosts appearance he

questions his own bravery really

believing that she can have seen the

ghost and yet kept the Ruby of her

cheeks in of words stayed red in the

face rather than being blanched by fear

and turned white as he was with him at

Beth's loss of power Lady Macbeth once

again has to take control

ordering the lords to leave at once and

it's interesting that when she does so

she says stand not upon the order of

your going but go at once it's

interesting structurally that the scene

began with Macbeth words saying you know

your own degrees sit down a recognition

that there would be a clear hierarchy

and people would sit according to that

hierarchy now Lady Macbeth doesn't give

a damn about the hierarchy stand not

upon the order of your going just get

out she's trying to engage in damage

limitation and there's a sense of

desperation here another intertextual

link can be seen in my best phrase it

will have blood they say blood will have

blood it seems to be reminiscent of my

best concerns in act 1 scene 7 we but

teach bloody instructions which being

taught return to plague the inventor in

other words what we do is going to come

back to haunt us and here that's

happening very literally in the return

of Bank row after Macbeth had him

murdered

Macbeth paranoia is evident in him

worrying that his secrets going to be

disclosed by aspects of nature the

Magpies rooks even the stones that have

been known to move and trees to speak

and once again this could be enough of

intertextual link because just before

Macbeth committed the murder he was

worried that the very stones prate of my

whereabouts

rather than being sought out by the

witches Macbeth now states that he's

going to seek them out this reversal

echo

as well the way in which all of the

concerns that Macbeth exhibited earlier

in the play all of the goodness seems to

have disappeared and now he's acting

purely on self interest for my own good

all causes shall give way

he also says I'm in blood stepped in so

far that should I wait no more returning

were as tedious as go over this metaphor

illustrating that there's no turning

back

he's gone so far he's killed so many his

instit in blood so deeply that it would

be as bad to go back as it is to go on

so he may as well go on he may as well

see this through in Act one Scene seven

but Beth really thought about what he

was intending to do there was an awful

lot of procrastination to the point

where he convinced himself of the error

of killing Duncan that's all again

disappeared he says here strange things

I have in head that will to hand which

must be acted ere they can be scanned

this seems to be a declaration of acting

without thinking this is as soon as he

thinks he's gonna do something is gonna

act impulsively there will be no checks

of conscience no checks of guilt there

will be no rationality applied to it

he's just gonna do whatever he wants to

do and the scene almost concludes with

reference to the motif of sleep we have

this ironic foreshadowing because we

know that sleeps going to become

significant in terms of Lady Macbeth you

lack the season of all nature's sleep

and at the end of the play she lacks

that as well as disturbed mind forces

her to sleepwalk

it's also worth recognizing that this

links back again to act 2 scene 2 sleep

was discussed by Macbeth as the balm of

hurt Minds great nature's second course

chief nourisher in life's feast and he's

denied this there's a sense of him being

driven to madness because of his lack of

sleep and that sleep is a result of the

guilt that's been produced by the

regicide and finally Macbeth says my

stranger themself abuses the inner ship

fear that once hard use this seems to be

a recognition on his part that the ghost

of Banquo was an illusion brought about

by his fear

something that the audience would likely

find difficult to accept given that

they'd also witnessed it but Beth seems

to be engaging in a capacity for

self-delusion it seems to support slayed

him at best claimed that it was just

like the air-drawn dagger that Mar Beth

previously considered to come from the

heat-oppressed brain okay tah