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Homework Help: English: Books, Novels & Plays: A&P
by Emily Hall
What can you say about Macbeth's State of Mind during these scenes?
During Act 3 Scene 1, Macbeth is thinking very clearly about killing Banquo. We know that he has been thinking about this and planning this for a while, because he says "was it not yesterday we spoke together." This tells us that he met the murderers yesterday. Macbeth then says "Well now have you considered of my speeches." So this tells us that he proposed his idea about killing Banquo yesterday. He then goes on to say that Banquo was the reason that their lives were so horrible. The murderers reply to this " You made it known to us." They not sound convinced so Macbeth begins to use his persuasive tactics on them. He continues to tell lies about Banquo and he blames him for their misfortune. He promises them rewards and he bribes them. He also bullies them about their manhood (he got this off his wife). He gets angry at them to remind them that he is boss. He also keeps using the royal "we" just to remind that he is king and that if he wanted he could have them killed at his command. He praises and compliments them. "It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it find heaven must find it tonight" By saying that it is shows that Macbeth is well aware that he is going to be killing an innocent man who's soul will go to heaven, in saying this he is also recognising the fact that he will probably go to hell.
In Act 3, scene 2, both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are depressed. They do not feel secure in their positions. They are scared of certain people e.g. Banquo and Macduff. They thought that being king and queen would be fun and relaxing. But it is not, because of the way that they got the throne. Both of them said that it would be better to be dead than to live the lives that they are living now. Because Lady Macbeth tells him that all of his fears and worries should have died with Duncan, Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth "We have scotch'd the snake not killed it." This means that they have only hurt his fears not killed them, and in time they will attack him again. Macbeth then talks about eating in fear, (fear of being poisoned) and about having nightmares every night. "Ere, we will eat our meals in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly." When Macbeth murdered Duncan, he heard a voice saying "Macbeth has murdered sleep, Macbeth shall sleep no more." That could have been a prediction that they will never sleep again, and at this moment in the story, it seems to have come true. Macbeth then says "Better be with the dead than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy." This shows us just how depressed Macbeth really is. He wants peace, so he is jealous of the dead because nothing can harm or disturb them. Macbeth does not tell Lady Macbeth about killing Banquo, but he keeps on giving her clues. I think he doesn't want to tell her because he doesn't trust anyone anymore and that he is fed up with her bossing him around, so he wants to do something by himself. Macbeth tells her that before dark something horrible shall happen. "Ere that bat hath flown his cloister'd flight. Ere to black Hecate's summons. The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy drums, hath rung night's peel. There shall be done a deed of dreadful note." But when Lady Macbeth asks what is going on, he tells her to be innocent. But that she will really like what he has done.
In acts 3, scene 4, Macbeth has to convince everyone that he is relaxed, even though he is so worried, that he wants to be dead. However his plan all begins to go wrong when the murder arrives and tells him that Fleance escaped and when Banquo's ghost appears. Macbeth shows that he is social, friendly and informal, by sitting and drinking amongst his guests. ("Ourself will mingle with Society and play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time we will require her welcome.") Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, stays in her seat at the high table, she keeps her distance. Because she is still tense and worried and she doesn't trust herself to speak. This is the opposite of what happened when they killed Duncan. ) Then she was the one who was relaxed and Macbeth was uptight and nervous.) Then the murder comes in with blood on his face and Macbeth learns of Fleance's escape and his mood changes completely. "Then comes my fit again" he says. The murder tells him that Banquo was killed and this makes Macbeth pleased until he thinks of Fleance again. Because Fleance could still create a whole line of ‘heirs to the throne' Macbeth is so wrapped up in his worries about Fleance that he forgets his guests. So Lady Macbeth has to come to his rescue and keep him in line. After getting back to the feast, Macbeth is invited to sit on a stool, but Banquo's ghost is sitting on it." Macbeth's first reaction is to blame someone else. Even though he knows that it was he who killed Banquo. Then he denies have anything to do with Banquo's death. "Thou canst not say I did it." Lady Macbeth, shocked, bewildered and embarrassed at his actions, uses her weapon to try and bring him to his senses. She questions his manhood and calls him a woman, (this usually makes him behave himself immediately) but now, he is so scared, it doesn't make the slightest difference. "Are you a man?" Then the ghost disappears and Macbeth returns to his senses. "I do forget - do not muse at me, my worthy friends. I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing to those that know me." Then he says "To our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss: would he be here! To all, and him, we thirst, and all to all." In other words he is saying "I miss Banquo, I wish that he was here." As if this was an invitation, the ghost of Banquo appears again and now Macbeth crumbles. At the end he is left with nothing but thoughts of blood and evil.
Homework Help: English: Books, Novels, and Plays
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