1 Review and Anticipate In Act II, Lady Macbeth drugs 1 About the Selection Duncan’s guards, enabling Macbeth to kill the king. Macbeth then kills the guards, too, so that he can more easily blame them for the king’s murder. Act III marks a turning point in the Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee, afraid that they will be assas- action. Up until now, things have sinated by a kinsman eager to claim the throne. Because they run away, gone very much the way Macbeth some suspect them of killing their father. As the act closes, it seems that had planned. However, his sense of Macbeth will be named king. insecurity leads him to fear Banquo Act III begins with Macbeth on the throne—as the witches had predicted. and his offspring. When his plan to All seems to be going well for him, but he feels threatened by Banquo. murder Banquo and his son is only partially successful, a series of events is set in motion, leading to Macbeth’s 2 downfall. Critical Viewing Scene i. Forres. The palace. After wielding a dagger 2 like this against Duncan, Critical Viewing Enter BANQUO [ .] can Macbeth expect to Possible response: Macbeth has rule in peace? Explain. begun his reign in blood and vio- BANQUO. Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, [Predict] As the weird women promised, and I fear lence; he cannot expect to rule in Thou play’dst most foully for ’t. Yet it was said peace. It should not stand1 in thy posterity, 1. stand continue. 5 But that myself should be the root and father 3 Reading Strategy 3 Of many kings. If there come truth from them— Reading Between the Lines As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine— Why, by the verities on thee made good, • Direct students’ attention to May they not be my oracles as well lines 1–10. Ask them to consider 10 And set me up in hope? But hush, no more! Banquo’s speech and to discuss what threat Banquo poses to 2 [Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH as King, LADY MACBETH, 2. Sennet trumpet call. Macbeth. Why might Banquo have LENNOX, ROSS, LORDS, and ATTENDANTS.] kept the information about the MACBETH. Here’s our chief guest. witches to himself? Possible responses: Banquo LADY MACBETH. If he had been forgotten, poses a threat because if he tells It had been as a gap in our great feast, what he knows, he might cast sus- 3 And all-thing unbecoming. 3. all-thing altogether. picion on Macbeth. He may have MACBETH. Tonight we hold a solemn4 supper, sir, 4. solemn ceremonious. kept the information to himself to use to his advantage, or he may And I’ll request your presence. 5. grave and prosperous weighty and profitable. have been afraid that telling others 15 BANQUO. Let your Highness might implicate him in the murder. Command upon me, to the which my duties Vocabulary Builder After all, he was promised that his Are with a most indissoluble tie indissoluble (in« di säl« yØ descendants would be kings. For ever knit. bßl) adj. not able to be dissolved or undone • In the lines that follow, Macbeth MACBETH. Ride you this afternoon? is cordial and invites Banquo to a feast. Banquo, in turn, pledges loy- BANQUO. Ay, my good lord. 4 alty. Ask students if they think either is sincere. 20 MACBETH. We should have else desired your good advice What does Banquo (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous5) suspect about Macbeth? • In lines 18 and following, Macbeth questions Banquo about his after- Macbeth, Act III, Scene i ■ 343 noon ride, when and where he is going. Ask students why they think Macbeth might want to know this. Answer: Macbeth is worried about Banquo and wants to keep an eye on him. Some students may even suspect additional foul play. 4 Reading Check Answer: Banquo suspects that Macbeth was involved in foul play to bring about what the witches prophesied. 343 5 Critical Thinking Interpret In this day’s council; but we’ll take tomorrow. Is’t far you ride? • Have students look at lines 29–32. BANQUO. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time • Remind students that the term 25 ’Twixt this and supper. Go not my horse the better,6 6. Go not . better unless cousin in the Elizabethan period I must become a borrower of the night my horse goes faster than I meant kinsman, not necessarily an expect. For a dark hour or twain. actual cousin. MACBETH. Fail not our feast. • Then, ask them who are the “bloody cousins” referred to by BANQUO. My lord, I will not. Macbeth. What do we learn about MACBETH. We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed these “cousins”? 30 In England and in Ireland, not confessing 5 Answer: Duncan’s sons are the Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers “bloody cousins,” because they are With strange invention.7 But of that tomorrow, 7. invention lies. rumored to have plotted their When therewithal we shall have cause of state father’s murder. We learn that they Craving us jointly.8 Hie you to horse. Adieu, 8. cause... jointly matters have reached England and Ireland 35 Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? of state demanding our joint and are telling “lies”—which, com- attention. BANQUO. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon ’s. ing from the actual murderer, Macbeth, means they are probably MACBETH. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot, telling the truth. And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell. [Exit BANQUO.] 6 Critical Thinking 40 Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night. To make society Analyze The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself • Review what the witches promised Till suppertime alone. While9 then, God be with you! 9. While until. Macbeth and Banquo when they [Exit LORDS and all but MACBETH and a SERVANT.] visited them in Act I. 10 Answer: They promised that Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men 10. Sirrah common address to an inferior. Macbeth would be king, and 45 Our pleasure? that Banquo’s heirs will be kings. ATTENDANT. They are, my lord, without the palace gate. • Have students divide the soliloquy MACBETH. Bring them before us. [Exit SERVANT.] into two parts and describe the To be thus11 is nothing, but12 to be safely thus— 11. thus king. topics of each of the two parts. Our fears in Banquo stick deep, 12. but unless. Answer: The first part of the solilo- 50 And in his royalty of nature reigns that quy runs from lines 49 to 57. It Which would be feared. ’Tis much he dares; Vocabulary Builder 13 reveals that Macbeth fears Banquo. And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, dauntless (dônt« lis) adj. The second part runs from the He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor fearless; cannot be intimidated middle of line 57 through line 72. 6 To act in safety. There is none but he In this part, Macbeth reveals his 55 Whose being I do fear: and under him 14 resentment of the prophecy that My genius is rebuked, as it is said 13. to added to. 15 Banquo’s descendants, not his Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters, 14. genius is rebuked When first they put the name of King upon me, guardian spirit is cowed. own, will sit on the throne in the And bade them speak to him; then prophetlike future. 15. chid scolded. 60 They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my gripe,16 16. gripe grip. 344 ■ Celebrating Humanity (1485–1625) Plutarch Though he was also a mathematician, philoso- influenced the development of his concept of pher, world traveler, politician, educator, and the tragic hero. priest of the Delphic oracle, the reputation of While the mention of Mark Antony and the Greek essayist and biographer, Plutarch Caesar in Scene i, line 57, clearly connects with (A.D. 46–c. 119) rested on his writing. Of all his Plutarch’s reports of their lives, there are other works, the most important is Parallel Lives. This elements that Plutarch contributed to Macbeth. collection contains biographies of every impor- In his Life of Caesar, he reports of strange phe- tant soldier, leader, and orator of ancient Rome nomena at Caesar’s death (such as “noises and Greece. heard in the night”), prophecies and omens, Plutarch’s Lives was translated into English in and Caesar’s ghost appearing to his murderers the 16th century. It became the story source for (which also occurs in Shakespeare’s Julius Shakespeare’s Roman history plays but also Caesar). 344 7 Critical Thinking Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, Infer No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so, • Direct students’ attention to 17 65 For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; 17. filed defiled. Macbeth’s speech in lines 75–84. For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancors in the vessel of my peace • Ask students what they can infer Only for them, and mine eternal jewel18 18. eternal jewel soul. about what Macbeth has told these 19 men. Given to the common enemy of man, 19. common... man the 70 To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings! Devil. Answer: He appears to have told Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, them that whatever miseries they And champion me to th’ utterance!20 Who’s there? 20.