Act 3, Macbeth, Questions

Macbeth : Questions on Act III

1. What threat does Banquo pose to Macbeth ? Why might Banquo have kept the information he learned from the witches to himself ?
2. Divide Macbeth’s soliloquy in Scene 1 into two parts and explain the division.
3. What can you infer from lines 75-84 that Macbeth told the murderers about Banquo ? Why might he have told them this ?
4. Why is Macbeth so successful at convincing the murderers of Banquo’s blame, despite his lack of evidence ?
5. Do you believe the reasons Macbeth gives for not killing Banquo himself ? What reasons might he really have for not wanting to kill Banquo himself ?
6. Interpret Lady Macbeth’s words in Scene 2, lines 4-7. What has she realized about her actions ?
7. In assuring Lady Macbeth that he will strike the proper mood at the party, what does Macbeth reveal about himself and his relationship with his wife ?
8. Why is Fleance’s escape important to the drama ?
9. How might you connect Macbeth’s agitation with his knowledge that Fleance has escaped ?
10.What does Macbeth’s discussion with Lady Macbeth in lines 76-84 of Scene 4 indicate about his view of murder ? Does hs seem concerned with the immorality of murder, or with someting else ?
11.What causes the ghost to reappear at the banquet ?
12.How might you react if your dinner host acted as Macbeth does at the feast ?
13.What might be the signifiance of the other guests’ ihnability to see the ghost ?
14.In Scene 6 what is Lennox really saying in lines 1-23 ?
15.How do you know that Lennox thinks that Macbeth is really a tyrant ?
16.Where and why has Macduff gone ?
17.Compare and contrast Macbeth’s feelings about murdering Duncan with his feelings about murdering Banquo.
18.How has the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth changed ?
19.Support the idea that Macbeth will not be satisfied with Banquo’s death, but will go further into evil.
20.By reading between the lines, figure out what the presence of the third murderer suggests about Macbeth.