Act III of Act III of MacbethMacbeth

By Shahdee, Willy, Nicole, and JustinBy Shahdee, Willy, Nicole, and Justin

AgendaAgenda

Take the quiz! Take the quiz! Go over the answers!Go over the answers! PresentationPresentation Answer several Answer several

important questions important questions presented in the play.presented in the play.

EnactmentEnactment

QuizQuiz

1.1. Who arranges the murder of Banquo?Who arranges the murder of Banquo?2.2. Who do the murderers kill and why does the Who do the murderers kill and why does the

outcome worry Macbeth?outcome worry Macbeth?3.3. Who goes to England to seek help in overthrowing Who goes to England to seek help in overthrowing

Macbeth?Macbeth?4.4. How does Lady Macbeth conceal Macbeth’s actions How does Lady Macbeth conceal Macbeth’s actions

at the banquet?at the banquet?5.5. How many murderers does Macbeth initially ask to How many murderers does Macbeth initially ask to

kill Banquo? How many does it take to commit the kill Banquo? How many does it take to commit the assassination?assassination?

Quiz AnswersQuiz Answers

1.1. MacbethMacbeth

2.2. The murderers kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. The murderers kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. This worries Macbeth because Fleance can still This worries Macbeth because Fleance can still become king; the “worm” has escaped.become king; the “worm” has escaped.

3.3. MacduffMacduff

4.4. She says that Macbeth usually eccentric and he is She says that Macbeth usually eccentric and he is just having one of his occasional fits.just having one of his occasional fits.

5.5. He originally asks two but it takes three to He originally asks two but it takes three to assassinate Banquo.assassinate Banquo.

Brief SummaryBrief Summary

Banquo starts to think that Banquo starts to think that Macbeth killed Duncan in Macbeth killed Duncan in order to become king. order to become king. Macbeth invites Banquo to Macbeth invites Banquo to a feast. Because Macbeth a feast. Because Macbeth doesn’t want the descen-doesn’t want the descen-dents of Banquo to be-dents of Banquo to be-come king, he plans on come king, he plans on killing Banquo and Fleance killing Banquo and Fleance when they are on the way when they are on the way to the feast.to the feast.

Summary ContinuedSummary Continued

Macbeth hires two murderers to do the job by convincing them Macbeth hires two murderers to do the job by convincing them that Banquo is their enemy. One more murderer later joins the that Banquo is their enemy. One more murderer later joins the assassination. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that something big assassination. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that something big will happen that night, but he doesn’t tell her exactly what will will happen that night, but he doesn’t tell her exactly what will happen. He just tells her to act normal during the feast.happen. He just tells her to act normal during the feast.

Brief Summary ContinuedBrief Summary Continued The murderers kill Banquo but Fleance gets away. The murderers kill Banquo but Fleance gets away.

One of the murderers tells Macbeth that they killed One of the murderers tells Macbeth that they killed Banquo but that Fleance escaped. Banquo but that Fleance escaped.

The serpent is killed but the worm escapes is the The serpent is killed but the worm escapes is the analogy Macbeth uses to describe the situation. analogy Macbeth uses to describe the situation.

When Macbeth goes back to the banquet, he is When Macbeth goes back to the banquet, he is confronted by Banquo’s ghost. confronted by Banquo’s ghost.

Macbeth is the only one that can see the ghost, and it Macbeth is the only one that can see the ghost, and it caused him to make a fool of himself in front of his caused him to make a fool of himself in front of his guests. Lady Macbeth tried to calm the guests, but guests. Lady Macbeth tried to calm the guests, but she was forced to send the guests away. she was forced to send the guests away.

Last Slide of Summary Last Slide of Summary Macbeth decides to go Macbeth decides to go

back to the witches. back to the witches. Lennox, one of the guests Lennox, one of the guests at the banquet, suspects at the banquet, suspects that Macbeth has been that Macbeth has been lying about the death of lying about the death of Duncan and Banquo. He Duncan and Banquo. He finds out that Macduff has finds out that Macduff has gone to England to seek gone to England to seek help from Malcolm to help from Malcolm to overthrow Macbeth.overthrow Macbeth.

Take a breath!Take a breath!

Major ThemesMajor Themes

-The association of evil -The association of evil with masculinity.with masculinity.

-The fall of man-The fall of man

-Fate vs. free will-Fate vs. free will

-The inevitability of -The inevitability of fatefate

-Nothing is what it -Nothing is what it seems!seems!

The Association of Evil with MasculinityThe Association of Evil with Masculinity

Throughout the text, Throughout the text, characters manipulate characters manipulate each other into each other into violence by violence by questioning manhood. questioning manhood. Lady Macbeth believes Lady Macbeth believes that she should have that she should have been born a man been born a man because she has such because she has such a great capacity for a great capacity for evil. Similarly, Macbeth evil. Similarly, Macbeth persuades the persuades the murderers into killing murderers into killing Banquo by questioning Banquo by questioning their manhood.their manhood.

““Come you spirits that Come you spirits that tend on mortal tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me thoughts, unsex me here” (1.5.76-78).here” (1.5.76-78).

The Fall of ManThe Fall of Man

Macbeth exhibits a major theme present in both Greek and Macbeth exhibits a major theme present in both Greek and Christian drama. He falls from worthy thane, a position of Christian drama. He falls from worthy thane, a position of superiority, to a position of humility on account of his superiority, to a position of humility on account of his ambitious pride. A characteristic flaw due to excessive pride ambitious pride. A characteristic flaw due to excessive pride and ambition is known as hubris. Not only is ambition a and ambition is known as hubris. Not only is ambition a man’s weakness, but the pressure of a female only man’s weakness, but the pressure of a female only worsens the situation.worsens the situation.

““But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail” (1.7.70-71). fail” (1.7.70-71).

Fate vs. Free WillFate vs. Free Will

The major debate in Macbeth is whether his actions The major debate in Macbeth is whether his actions were due to fate or free will. were due to fate or free will. Although the witches tell him that he is to become king, Although the witches tell him that he is to become king,

his emotions are self-driven. Yet, in the last battle scene his emotions are self-driven. Yet, in the last battle scene before he is killed, he realizes that there is no escaping before he is killed, he realizes that there is no escaping fate, since the witches’ prophecy is fulfilled. fate, since the witches’ prophecy is fulfilled.

““Accursed be that tongue that tell me so, for it hath Accursed be that tongue that tell me so, for it hath cowed my better part of man!” (Act 5.8 lines 21-22).cowed my better part of man!” (Act 5.8 lines 21-22).

The Inevitability of FateThe Inevitability of Fate The play portrays that it is The play portrays that it is

impossible to avoid fate. A impossible to avoid fate. A prophecy will always be fulfilled. prophecy will always be fulfilled.

Macbeth tried to avoid the Macbeth tried to avoid the situation the witches situation the witches prophesized but the coming of prophesized but the coming of the forest to Dunsinane and his the forest to Dunsinane and his killer who was not born from a killer who was not born from a woman was inevitable. It is only woman was inevitable. It is only a matter of time until fate a matter of time until fate catches up.catches up.

““And now a wood comes to And now a wood comes to Dunsinane-Arm, arm, and out!” Dunsinane-Arm, arm, and out!” (5.5.31-32).(5.5.31-32).

Nothing is What it Seems!Nothing is What it Seems!

The play portrays the idea that nothing is The play portrays the idea that nothing is what it seems. Macbeth was a brave, noble what it seems. Macbeth was a brave, noble thane yet he became the most-despised, thane yet he became the most-despised, violent tyrant. Even fairest nobleman can violent tyrant. Even fairest nobleman can have the foul stench of evil.have the foul stench of evil.

““Fair is foul and foul is fair” (1.1.12).Fair is foul and foul is fair” (1.1.12).

The Importance of the Ghost SceneThe Importance of the Ghost Scene

The scene in which Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo The scene in which Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo provides insight into the instability of Macbeth’s mind. He provides insight into the instability of Macbeth’s mind. He enters a state of withdrawal, paranoia, and guilt even though enters a state of withdrawal, paranoia, and guilt even though he has finally has the power he has been longing for. This is he has finally has the power he has been longing for. This is the climax of Macbeth’s mental instability. He pleas to the the climax of Macbeth’s mental instability. He pleas to the ghost that it wasn’t he who actually committed the murder.ghost that it wasn’t he who actually committed the murder.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions Do you think that it is fate Do you think that it is fate

that drove Macbeth to his that drove Macbeth to his actions or was it his free actions or was it his free will and ambition?will and ambition?

In many pieces of In many pieces of historical literature, women historical literature, women have been known to have been known to manipulate men, just as manipulate men, just as Lady Macbeth manipulated Lady Macbeth manipulated Macbeth. Why do you Macbeth. Why do you think women have this think women have this power?power?

Pop QuizPop QuizWe Hope You Paid Attention!We Hope You Paid Attention!

What do you remember?What do you remember?1.What does hubris mean?1.What does hubris mean?

2. What is revealed about Macbeth in the scene in 2. What is revealed about Macbeth in the scene in which he envisions the ghost?which he envisions the ghost?

3. Why does Macbeth kill Banquo?3. Why does Macbeth kill Banquo?

4. How is the theme that it is impossible to escape 4. How is the theme that it is impossible to escape fate portrayed in the play?fate portrayed in the play?

5. In Act III, who is regarded as the “serpent” and 5. In Act III, who is regarded as the “serpent” and who is regarded as the “worm”?who is regarded as the “worm”?

Pop Quiz Pop Quiz

1.1. A characteristic flaw due to excessive pride and ambition A characteristic flaw due to excessive pride and ambition is known as hubris. is known as hubris.

2.2. He feels guilty for the murder of Banquo.He feels guilty for the murder of Banquo.3.3. Macbeth kills Banquo because he perceives him as a Macbeth kills Banquo because he perceives him as a

threat to the throne.threat to the throne.4.4. The prophecy the witches describe comes true; he is The prophecy the witches describe comes true; he is

killed by a person not born from a woman. killed by a person not born from a woman. 5.5. Macbeth regards Banquo as the serpent and Fleance is Macbeth regards Banquo as the serpent and Fleance is

the worm. Fleance got away and is still a threat. the worm. Fleance got away and is still a threat.