Macbeth Act 1, Scene 3 Summary (2023)

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Macbeth Act 1, Scene 3 Summary? ›

In this scene, we meet Macbeth for the first time. The witches gather on the moor and cast a spell as Macbeth and Banquo arrive. The witches hail Macbeth first by his title Thane of Glamis, then as Thane of Cawdor and finally as king. They then prophesy that Banquo's children will become kings.

Act III: Brutality and betrayal

Banquo suspects Macbeth of treachery and Macbeth orders his murder and the murder of Banquo's son, Fleance. Although Banquo is killed, Fleance escapes. Banquo's ghost appears at Macbeth's banquet and terrorises Macbeth, whose behaviour indicates his guilt to fellow guests.

Of significance here is Macbeth's reaction to the witches' words. When the witches announce he will be king he is intrigued, and immediately his desire to be king is revealed.

Shakespeare uses the stage direction “aside” to enable Macbeth to share his thoughts and feeling with the audience. “Two truths are told” (I. iii, line 130) Macbeth is recognising his belief in the supernatural, the prophecies have come to fruition and so Macbeth is now considering the murder of Duncan.

Act I: Prophecies and plots

Three witches prophesy that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Macbeth is officially informed that he has become Thane of Cawdor. He is amazed the witches' prophecy has come true and reveals his hopes for the crown of Scotland.

Macbeth speaks of his fear of Banquo especially. He refers to a dreadful deed that will happen that night but does not confide his plan for Banquo's murder to Lady Macbeth. Act 3, scene 3 A third man joins the two whom Macbeth has already sent to kill Banquo and Fleance. The three assassins manage to kill Banquo.

Act 3 Scene 1

Macbeth tells Banquo that he has heard that Malcolm and Donalbain are spreading terrible rumours. When Banquo goes, Macbeth delivers a soliloquy about his fears that Banquo's children will become future kings.

Act 1, Scene 3 of Macbeth sets in motion the events (and tragedy) to come in the play. After hearing the prophecy and having part of it immediately confirmed, Macbeth makes the rest of the prophecy true because of his actions. But in doing so, he also ensures his downfall.

Shakespeare's portrayal of the Witches in Act 1, Scene 3 draws directly on many of the beliefs about witchcraft that his audience would have held. They harm animals (as when the Second Witch reports, matter-of-factly, that she has been 'killing swine' (1.3. 2)).

Macbeth's own speech indicates that he is unsure of the truth in what he has been told, but is both intrigued and excited by the thought of becoming king, however, he is confused by his inner thoughts of murder and deceit. His speech in Act I Scene iii shows that he is still loyal to Banquo.

What do the witches tell Banquo in Act 1 Scene 3? ›

After the Witches prophesize that Macbeth will be king in Act 1 scene 3, Banquo asks what his future holds. The witches tell him he'll be less happy than Macbeth but far happier, and predict that Banquo will never be king, but his descendants will be.

Analysis: Act 3, scenes 1–3

Now that the first part of the witches' prophecy has come true, Macbeth feels that he must kill his friend Banquo and the young Fleance in order to prevent the second part from becoming realized. But, as Fleance's survival suggests, there can be no escape from the witches' prophecies.

Desdemona in some respects is presented as an atypical woman of the Jacobean era, for example how she rejoices and celebrates her defiance against her father 'my downright violence… may trumpet to the world'.

Macduff slays Macbeth and hails Malcolm as the new King of Scotland.

Macbeth's vision of the ghost reveals his guilt over ordering the murder of Banquo and his young son. His sense of guilt is so powerful that he loses his sense of reality and cannot be sure whether he is having a vision or not. He speaks these lines in order to try and reassure himself that Banquo is truly dead.

Macbeth finds out that Banquo has been murdered, but that his son has escaped. As Macbeth heads back to eat at his banquet table, he finds his seat has been taken by none other than the ghost of Banquo.

Banquo begins to suspect Macbeth as the murderer of the king encouraging Macbeth to order his killing. Banquo is killed by the murderers Macbeth hired but his son Fleance is able to escape. Macbeth holds a banquet with his noblemen friends but begins to see the ghost of Banquo at the table.

Macbeth worries that Banquo will plot against him in order to usurp the throne for his son since the prophecy about him tells that he will be a father of a line of kings. In the soliloquy, Macbeth plans to kill Banquo and his son to stop the prophecy from happening.

In Act 3 Scene 2, there is a change of roles from Act 1 Scene 5, as Macbeth controls the relationship, and Lady Macbeth feels remorse over the killing of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is disappointed with the life she now has as Queen, while Macbeth schemes the death of Banquo alone, fearing Banquo knows he killed Duncan.