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Act 3

Text of Book

Act 3, page 1

Act 3, page 2

Act 3, page 3

Act 3, page 4

Act 3, page 5

Act 3, page 6

Questions

1) What is the main idea of Act 3?

2) Banquo says:

"Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women Promised, and I fear
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings."
Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 3–6

What does the word "root" mean in this passage?

3) Macbeth says:

"Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren scepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding."
Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 64–67

What does "barren" mean in this passage?

4) Macbeth tells the murderers:

"Within this hour at most
I will advise you where to plant yourselves…"
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 141–142

What does "plant" mean in this sentence?

5) Macbeth says,

"Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly…"
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 17–18

What does "affliction" mean in this sentence?

6) Macbeth says:

"You know your own degrees, sit down: at first
And last the hearty welcome."
Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 1–2

What does "degrees" mean in this sentence?

7) Why does Macbeth hire murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance?

8) What does Macbeth tell the murderers to make them eager to kill Banquo?

9) What does Lady Macbeth mean in her quote below?

"Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy."
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 6–9

10) Which of the following statements describes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 3?

11) What does Lady Macbeth mean in this quote?

"O proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air–drawn dagger which you said,
Led you to Duncan."
Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 61–64

12) Macbeth acts strangely at the banquet.

How does Lady Macbeth explain his behavior to the banquet guests?

13) What does Macbeth reveal to Lady Macbeth in the quote below?

"There's not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee'd."
Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 131–132

14) What does Macbeth mean in his quote below?

"I am in blood
Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er:"
Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 136–138

15) Why does Macbeth want to go to see the witches?

16) Which word best describes the tone of Lennox's speech?

17) Where has Macduff gone at the end of Act 3?

18) Were there any events that weren't clear to you?

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Question #13

What does Malcolm mean in this quote?

"…but there's no bottom, none,
In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up
The cistern of my lust, and my desire
All continent impediments would o'erbear
That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth,
Than such an one to reign."
Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 61–66





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Question #3

The Doctor says:

"Foul whisp'rings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:"
Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 79–81

What does "discharge" mean in this passage?





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Act 2, page 1

Table of Contents

ACT 2, SCENE 1
Setting: Inverness. Court within the castle.

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE, bearing a torch before them.

BANQUO How goes the night, boy?
FLEANCE The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
BANQUO And she goes down at twelve.
FLEANCE I take't, 'tis later, sir.
BANQUO Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven;
Their candles are all out. Take thee that too.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers,
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose!
Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.
Give me my sword.
Who's there? 10
MACBETH A friend.
BANQUO What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a–bed:
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices.
This diamond he greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up
In measureless content.
MACBETH Being unprepared
Our will became the servant to defect
Which else should free have wrought.
BANQUO All's well.
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: 20
To you they have show'd some truth.
MACBETH I think not of them:
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.
BANQUO At your kind'st leisure.
MACBETH If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis,
It shall make honour for you.
BANQUO So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsell'd.
MACBETH Good repose the while!
BANQUO Thanks, sir: the like to you! 30
Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE.
MACBETH Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.
Exit Servant.
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat–oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable 40
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still,
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one halfworld
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse 50
The curtain'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace.
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm–set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: 60
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.
A bell rings.
I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.
Exit.

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Question #13

In Act 2, Scene 4 Ross and an old man discuss some of the bizarre happenings in nature that seem to suggest that something is wrong. Which three strange occurrences do they discuss?

There was a series of murders.

Duncan's horses went wild and ate each other.

A falcon was killed by a mouse–hunting owl.

A hawk attacked and killed one of Duncan's horses.

The moon never rose last night so it was pitch black.

Even though it is day time, the sky is a black as night.

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Question #5

Macbeth says,

"Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly…"
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 17–18

What does "affliction" mean in this sentence?





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Act 4, page 0

Table of Contents

ACT 4, SCENE 1
Setting: A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.

[Thunder. Enter the three Witches]

First Witch Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.
Second Witch Thrice and once the hedge–pig whined.
Third Witch Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time.
First Witch Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty–one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.
ALL Double, double toil and trouble; 10
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Second Witch Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind–worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell–broth boil and bubble.
ALL Double, double toil and trouble; 20
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Third Witch Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd salt–sea shark,
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Silver'd in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,
Finger of birth–strangled babe 30
Ditch–deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.
ALL Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Second Witch Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

[Enter HECATE to the other three Witches]

HECATE O well done! I commend your pains;
And every one shall share i' the gains; 40
And now about the cauldron sing,
Live elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.

[Music and a song: 'Black spirits,' &c]
[HECATE retires]

Second Witch By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks!
[Enter MACBETH]
MACBETH How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!
What is't you do?
ALL A deed without a name.
MACBETH I conjure you, by that which you profess, 50
Howe'er you come to know it, answer me:
Though you untie the winds and let them fight
Against the churches; though the yesty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up;
Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down;
Though castles topple on their warders' heads;
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
Of nature's germens tumble all together,
Even till destruction sicken; answer me 60
To what I ask you.
First Witch Speak.
Second Witch Demand.
Third Witch We'll answer.
First Witch Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths,
Or from our masters?
MACBETH Call 'em; let me see 'em.
First Witch Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet throw
Into the flame.
ALL Come, high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show!

[Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head]

MACBETH Tell me, thou unknown power,––
First Witch He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought. 70
First Apparition Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;
Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.
[Descends]
MACBETH Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;
Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one
word more,––
First Witch He will not be commanded: here's another,
More potent than the first.

[Thunder. Second Apparition: A bloody Child]

Second Apparition Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
MACBETH Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.
Second Apparition Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born 80
Shall harm Macbeth.
[Descends]
MACBETH Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance double sure,
And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live;
That I may tell pale–hearted fear it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.

[Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand ]

What is this
That rises like the issue of a king,
And wears upon his baby–brow the round
And top of sovereignty?
ALL Listen, but speak not to't.
Third Apparition Be lion–mettled, proud; and take no care 90
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.
[Descends]
MACBETH That will never be
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earth–bound root? Sweet bodements! good!
Rebellion's head, rise never till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high–placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart 100
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?
ALL Seek to know no more.
MACBETH I will be satisfied: deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know.
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?
[Hautboys]
First Witch Show!
Second Witch Show!
Third Witch Show!
ALL Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; 110
Come like shadows, so depart!

[A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; GHOST OF BANQUO following]

MACBETH Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye–balls. And thy hair,
Thou other gold–bound brow, is like the first.
A third is like the former. Filthy hags!
Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes!
What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more:
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass
Which shows me many more; and some I see 120
That two–fold balls and treble scepters carry:
Horrible sight! Now, I see, 'tis true;
For the blood–bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.
[Apparitions vanish]
What, is this so?
First Witch Ay, sir, all this is so: but why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,
And show the best of our delights:
I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antic round: 130
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay.

[Music. The witches dance and then vanish, with HECATE]

MACBETH Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour
Stand aye accursed in the calendar!
Come in, without there!
[Enter LENNOX]
LENNOX What's your grace's will?
MACBETH Saw you the weird sisters?
LENNOX No, my lord.
MACBETH Came they not by you?
LENNOX No, indeed, my lord.
MACBETH Infected be the air whereon they ride;
And damn'd all those that trust them! I did hear
The galloping of horse: who was't came by? 140
LENNOX Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England.
MACBETH Fled to England!
LENNOX Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits:
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook
Unless the deed go with it; from this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise; 150
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool.
But no more sights!––Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are.
[Exeunt]

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Question #14

What is Malcolm saying when tells Macduff the quote below?

"With this there grows
In my most ill–composed affection such
A stanchless avarice that, were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
Desire his jewels and this other's house,
And my more–having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more, that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,
Destroying them for wealth."
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 75–84





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Question #4

Malcolm says:

"Let every soldier hew him down a bough,
And bear't before him: thereby shall we shadow
The numbers of our host, and make discovery
Err in report of us."
Act 5, Scene 4, Lines 4–7

What does "hew" mean in this passage?





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Act 2, page 2

Table of Contents

ACT 2, SCENE 2
Setting: The same.

[Enter LADY MACBETH]

LADY MACBETH That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire.
Hark! Peace!
It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern'st good–night. He is about it: 5
The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd
their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die. 10
MACBETH [Within] Who's there? what, ho!
LADY MACBETH Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled 15
My father as he slept, I had done't.
[Enter MACBETH]
My husband!
MACBETH I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak? 20
MACBETH When?
LADY MACBETH Now.
MACBETH As I descended?
LADY MACBETH Ay.
MACBETH Hark! 25
Who lies i' the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH Donalbain.
MACBETH This is a sorry sight.
[Looking on his hands]
LADY MACBETH A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried 30
Murder!'
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH There are two lodged together. 35
MACBETH One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us!'
LADY MACBETH Consider it not so deeply. 40
MACBETH But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?
I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad. 45
MACBETH Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, 50
Chief nourisher in life's feast,––
LADY MACBETH What do you mean?
MACBETH Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house:
Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.' 55
LADY MACBETH Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place? 60
They must lie there: go carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
MACBETH I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on't again I dare not. 65
LADY MACBETH Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal; 70
For it must seem their guilt.
[Exit. Knocking within]
MACBETH Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood 75
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
[Re–enter LADY MACBETH]
LADY MACBETH My hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white. 80
[Knocking within]
I hear a knocking
At the south entry: retire we to our chamber;
A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it, then! Your constancy
Hath left you unattended. 85
[Knocking within]
Hark! more knocking.
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. 90
[Knocking within]
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
[Exeunt]