Macbeth ACT 3 SCENE SUMMARIES 3 1 Castle

Macbeth ACT 3 SCENE SUMMARIES

3: 1 – Castle at Forres �Characters: Banquo, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, two murderers �Action: Banquo suspects Macbeth of Duncan’s murder; Macbeth fears Banquo, turns to murderers to murder Banquo and Fleance �Staging: a room in the palace—no specific props �Problem or Solution: Problem—Macbeth begins to let his fears and ambition get the best of him, killing anyone in his way.

3: 2 – A Room in the Castle �Characters: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth �Action: Lady Macbeth is beginning to feel guilty, and she expresses this to Macbeth hints at Banquo’s murder, but won’t tell Lady Macbeth about his plans. �Staging: a room in the palace—no specific props �Problem or Solution: Problem—Lady Macbeth is beginning to feel overwhelmed with guilt

3: 3 – Outside the Castle �Characters: three murderers, Banquo, Fleance �Action: Murderers ambush Banquo and Fleance; Banquo is killed, but Fleance flees �Staging: outside; bushes and/or trees to hide the murderers �Problem or Solution: Problem—Fleance has escaped; Banquo is dead because of Macbeth, and Macbeth‘s power increases.

3: 4 – The Great Hall of the Castle �Characters: Macbeth, Murderer, Lady Macbeth �Action: Macbeth finds out that Banquo was murdered, but that Fleance escaped. Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the table—he becomes hysterical. Lady Macbeth tries to say it was from childhood seizures, but as Macbeth begins to say too much, Lady Macbeth tells everyone to go home. �Staging: great feast in the palace; Banquo’s ghost �Problem or Solution: Problem—Macbeth‘s conscience is getting to him; he may be losing his mind.

3: 5 – The Forest �Characters: three witches, Hecate �Action: Hecate is mad that she wasn’t able to show her abilities by helping with Macbeth. �Staging: forest or heath, witches cauldron �Problem or Solution: neither

3: 6 – The Castle at Forres �Characters: Lennox and another Lord �Action: Lennox and the other Lord give exposition about Banquo’s murder, Fleance’s escape, and Macduff‘s refusal to attend the feast, and Macduff joining Malcolm and Siward in England to ask for help getting rid of Macbeth. �Staging: nothing specific �Problem or Solution: Solution—finally someone will be rising up against Macbeth