[Music] in act 3 scene 4 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hosts a banquet for the Lords at court as the king and queen greet their guests one of the murderers arrives with blood on his face Macbeth talks to him and the murderer tells him that Banquo is dead but that Fleance escaped Macbeth decides he will pursue flee anza later and returns to his banquet during the banquet Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost enter and sits in his own place at the table the others do not see the ghost so they are confused when Macbeth asks which of you has done this the Lords think Macbeth is ill when he addresses the ghost directly Lady Macbeth tries to cover for him but scolds her husband for being unmanly and letting his fear and guilt get the better of him Macbeth speaks again to the ghost and the ghost leaves Macbeth then tries to cover up by proposing a toast to Banquo shortly after the ghost returns and Macbeth orders it to leave at this point his behavior has spoiled the banquet even though the ghost leaves and Lady Macbeth makes more excuses the party breaks up after the Lords leave Macbeth tells his wife he fears Banquo's revenge and asks why Macduff didn't attend the banquet both of these events the ghost and Macduff's absence make Macbeth nervous so he resolves to visit the three witches the following day Macbeth starts this scene full of confidence he is confident when he sends the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance and remains confident even after he learns that Fleance escaped he is pleased to know that Banquo is no longer a direct threat and resolves to go after Fleance later this confidence quickly evaporates however when he sees Banquo's ghost he is so undone he forgets his court is watching and talks to the ghost Lady Macbeth believes the vision is like the dagger Macbeth saw before he stabbed Duncan a product of his fear and doubt and scolds him for his lack of courage however like the dagger it is unclear whether this is a figment of Macbeth's imagination or a supernatural occurrence ironically Lady Macbeth was willing to believe in spirits and witches prophecies when it was convenient for her but now that they have become an inconvenience she prefers to think of them as a product of her husband's weakness his weakness forces her to take charge by making excuses for Macbeth's illness but even as she does she can tell their position is slipping you