Act 3 Scene 1:

Characters: Macbeth, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, Servant, Muderer 1 & 2
Location: The Palace in Forres

Summary: Macbeth entered with the new Queen Lady Macbeth and meet Banquo and invites him to a feast in their Palace. Banquo accepts but tells Macbeth he is going on a ride this afternoon with his son. Macbeth asks where and how long for. Macbeth now feels guilty about killing Duncan because it basically set up Banquo’s family to be King instead of his family. Macbeth hires 2 murderers and puts it into his head that Banquo is their enemy. Macbeth sets them up to kill both Banquo and Fleance.

Simple Summary: Macbeth hires 2 murders to kill Banquo and Fleance on their ride.

Quote: “With barefaced power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both mine and his
Whose love I may not drop, but wail his fall”
– Macbeth

Quote Explained: This is Macbeth saying that he would kill Banquo himself but he has certain friends that were both Banquos and his whose loyalty he needs.

Scene 3 Act 2:

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth and Servant

Summary: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are pretty unhappy about the situation they are in now because Lady Macbeth hasn’t stopped worrying even though she has gotten what she has wanted. Macbeth is scared of what Banquo knows. He tells his wife he is going to handle the situation but doesn’t tell her that he has already planned Banquo’s murder.

Quote: “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed.”
– Macbeth

Quote Explained: Macbeth is telling Lady Macbeth that she wont know about the deed until it happens but when she knows she will praise him and be proud.

Quote: “Duncan in his grave;
After life’s fitful fever fever he sleeps well;”
-Macbeth

Quote Explained: Macbeth is saying that Duncan is in his grave with all the up and down he is sleeping peacefully. Where he cant sleep. Even though he is murder he is safe and nothing can touch him.

Act 3 Scene 3:

Characters: 1, 2, and 3 Murderer, Banquo, Fleance
Location: Some way from the Palace.

Summary: The three murders that Macbeth has hired go kill Banquo and Fleance. They successfully kill by stabbing him 20 times in the head but Fleance escapes.

Quote: “O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou may ’st revenge —O slave!” – Banquo

Quote Explained: Banquo is telling his son to run and leave so he is safe. He also wasn’t his son to have a chance of revenge for his dad murderer. Treachery is betrayal between Banquo and Macbeth.

Act 3 Scene 4:

Characters: Macbeth, Lords, Lady Macbeth, First Murderer, Lennox and Ross
Location: Dinner Table at Macbeth’s feast

Summary: The first murder enters as everyone is sitting down and he tells Macbeth that he has killed Banquo but Fleance escaped. Banquo’s ghost shows up which only Macbeth can see and is sitting in his seat. Macbeth is in hysterics and Lady Macbeth tells the guests not to worry he’s always like that but not to give him attention. The guests are getting scared and are wanting to leave. He notices Macbeth isn’t at the party and he has some spys in his house.

Simple Summary: Macbeth is throwing a feast and in his seat there is a ghost of Banquo who was earlier killed by the murders.

Quote: “O proper stuff!This is the very painting of your fear.65This is the air-drawn dagger which you saidLed you to Duncan. Oh, these flaws and starts,” – Lady Macbeth

Quote Explained: Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth that he is being ridiculous and that he is having hallucinations he gets when he is afraid. It’s like the floating dagger he saw that lead him to killing Duncan. Keep in mind this was said in a table full of guests.

Act 3 Scene 5:

Characters: First Witch and Hecate.
Location: On a Heath

Summary: The Witches met Hecate (the boss of the witches and has the powers) and Hecate is mad because the witches have told Macbeth about his fate.

Quote: “And, which is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a wayward son,”

Quote Explained: Hecate is saying its even worse that they told Macbeth without him knowing because he is acting like a brat about it.