Macbeth act 3 summary act 3 scene 1. Macbeth has now been coronated King which Shakespeare does not stage and at Macbeth's Palace in Forest Banquo enters the stage he utters a soliloquy where he voices his suspicions that Macbeth is responsible for Duncan's murder his thoughts then turn to the witch's prophecy for him he comments that myself should be the root and father of Many Kings a sign that he himself is tempted by their words Macbeth then appears and after Banquo announces his plans to go riding with his son flions Macbeth urges him to return for a feast in the evening Banquo promises to attend Macbeth left alone then turns to his own thoughts of Banquo stating that he is the only man in Scotland whom he fears Macbeth's thoughts turn to anger as he remembers the witch's prophecies to Banquo and he rages at the thought that banquo's descendants might be Kings instead of his own he then summons two murderers and reminds them both of a prior conversation where he had spoken of how banquer had wronged them both in the past he asks them if they are manly enough to murder him to which they agree for this scene a key line in Macbeth Soliloquy is upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a Barren scepter in my grip Shakespeare uses symbolism and metaphor here to express Macbeth's frustration and incredulity that he might lose his position to banquoise Sons the crown and scepter are symbols of the Monarch's power and authority yet they are tainted as both Barren meaning lifeless or empty and fruitless meaning to not give any fruit it displays Macbeth's sense that his position is worthless if he cannot pass it down onto whom he chooses this links to the theme of ambition since Macbeth's hunger for power and control meaning is willing to even have his best friend murdered to secure his family's control over the throne act 3 scene 2. in the next scene we see Lady Macbeth out of sorts as she laments the fact that though she is now Queen she is unsatisfied by her position Macbeth enters and UPS the ante by expressing his own fears stating that his mind is full of scorpions Macbeth has become convinced that there are threats to their position and hints that he has organized the murder of Banquo and flariance without stating it explicitly this scene can be analyzed as a turning point in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship since Macbeth now seems to be taking control and taking decisions without lady Macbeth's approval for this scene it is important to note the shift in Macbeth language which now mirrors the imagery of hellish nature displayed by Lady Macbeth in act 1 and 13 5. Macbeth now calls upon Darkness to shroud the castle in the instruction comes ceiling Knight echoing lady Macbeth's instruction to come thick night in Act 1. furthermore his words are peppered with dark creatures scorpions a bat and a shard-born beetle which suggests he now has taken on the deathly ambition displayed by Lady Macbeth in Act 1. act 3 scene 3. the two murderers are now joined by a third and wait for Banquo and flariance in the woods as banquet and flariance arrive the murderers attack them Banco is killed whilst he cries for flariance to fly or run away and also to avenge his death with a cry to Revenge flounce escapes and the murderers depart to inform MacBeth what has happened act 3 scene 4. back at Macbeth's Castle the banquet is prepared and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter to entertain their Court Macbeth quickly steps aside to greet One of the murderers who tells him the news of vanquo's death and France's Escape Macbeth is furious that flounce has escaped but returns to the table to entertain the guests as he goes to take his seat a ghostly Apparition of Banquo has taken his place at the table Macbeth is horrified by the sight of The Ghost and wails at it in the company of the other guests who cannot see the vision Lady Macbeth attempts to calm Macbeth without success the ghost disappears and Macbeth attempts to explain his behavior as a strange illness which quickly passes but as he raises a toast banquo's ghost returns leading to more mad outbursts from Macbeth Lady Macbeth urges the guests to leave and the pair discussed mcduff's absence from the banquet Macbeth reveals he has spies reporting on mcduff's behavior and states he will return to the weird sisters to find out more of his future a key quote for this scene is Macbeth's Grim admission I am in blood stepped in so far that should I Wade no more returning were as tedious as to go over the metaphor expresses his awareness of the stains the murder have left on his soul but it also shows his resolve to press on regardless of the horrors he is responsible for Shakespeare explores the theme of violence as Macbeth's humanity is quickly diminished as he becomes more and more the Tyrant King act 3 scene 5. in a scene which is often said not to have been written by Shakespeare perhaps having been added after his death The Witches meet with heckit goddess of Witchcraft who is angry with them for meddling in Macbeth's business she tells them that she will now take the part in their dealings with Macbeth and instructs them to summon Visions for Macbeth to confuse and deceive him heckit then vanishes and the Witch's exit to prepare for the meeting act 3 scene 6. Lennox meets with another Lord to discuss the state of the Kingdom it is revealed that banquo's murder has been blamed on flions however both men are highly suspicious though Macbeth has played a part in the murder of both Duncan and Banquo the Lord states that macduff has left Scotland to join up with Malcolm in England both men exit in hope that peace May return to their country