Macbeth Act 3 Study Guide

Banquo's Ghost

• Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth at a banquet, symbolizing his guilt and paranoia
• Macbeth is the only one who can see the ghost, highlighting his own mental state
• The ghost's presence serves as a reminder of Macbeth's role in Banquo's murder
• Macbeth's reaction to the ghost shows his growing instability and fear of being discovered

Prophecies And Omens

• The witches' prophecies continue to play a significant role in Macbeth's actions
• Macbeth becomes obsessed with the prophecy that Banquo's sons will become kings
• The witches' prophecies serve as a catalyst for Macbeth's descent into madness and tyranny
• Omens such as the ghost and the witches' prophecies foreshadow the tragic events that will unfold

Macbeth's Descent Into Madness

• Macbeth's descent into madness is a result of his own guilt, paranoia, and the witches' prophecies
• He becomes increasingly tyrannical and disconnected from reality
• Macbeth's actions become more erratic and violent, leading to the death of Macduff's family
• His madness is a manifestation of the consequences of his own actions

Lady Macbeth's Role

• Lady Macbeth plays a significant role in Macbeth's downfall, as she pushes him to commit the murder
• However, she also begins to show signs of guilt and paranoia, including sleepwalking and hallucinations
• Lady Macbeth's role in the play shifts from being a driving force behind Macbeth's actions to being a victim of her own guilt
• Her character serves as a foil to Macbeth's, highlighting the consequences of their actions

The Witches' Prophecies

• The witches' prophecies continue to drive the plot of the play
• Macbeth becomes obsessed with the prophecy that he will be king until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
• The witches' prophecies also foretell the death of Macduff's family and the rise of Malcolm to the throne
• The prophecies serve as a reminder of the supernatural forces that are at play in the play, and the consequences of Macbeth's actions

Banquo's Ghost

• Banquo's ghost haunts Macbeth, symbolizing his guilt and paranoia, highlighting the consequences of his murder.
• As the only one who can see the ghost, Macbeth's mental state is revealed, and his instability is exposed.
• The ghost serves as a reminder of Macbeth's role in Banquo's murder, emphasizing his culpability.

Prophecies And Omens

• The witches' prophecies continue to influence Macbeth's actions, driving the plot and foreshadowing events.
• Macbeth becomes obsessed with the prophecy that Banquo's sons will become kings, driving his descent into madness.
• The prophecies serve as a catalyst for Macbeth's tyranny, highlighting the supernatural forces at play.

Macbeth's Descent Into Madness

• Macbeth's madness is a result of his guilt, paranoia, and the witches' prophecies, leading to erratic and violent behavior.
• His actions become increasingly tyrannical, detached from reality, and culminate in the death of Macduff's family.
• Macbeth's madness is a manifestation of the consequences of his own actions, highlighting the tragic events unfolding.

Lady Macbeth's Role

• Lady Macbeth plays a significant role in driving Macbeth to commit the murder, but later shows signs of guilt and paranoia.
• Her character shifts from being a driving force behind Macbeth's actions to being a victim of her own guilt, highlighting the consequences of their actions.
• Lady Macbeth's character serves as a foil to Macbeth's, emphasizing the devastating effects of their actions.

The Witches' Prophecies And Omens

• The witches' prophecies continue to drive the plot, foretelling events, and shaping Macbeth's actions.
• Macbeth becomes obsessed with the prophecy that he will be king until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane, highlighting his descent into madness.
• The prophecies foretell the death of Macduff's family and the rise of Malcolm to the throne, emphasizing the supernatural forces at play.