Act 3, Scene 4 Summary

Location: A room of state in the palace.
Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lennox, 1 Murderer, Lords, and Attendants
Events: Macbeth welcomes everyone to the banquet he is holding. He pretends to be downhearted about Banquo’s absence when in reality he has just ordered him to be killed. Aside, the murderer informs Macbeth that Banquo has been killed but Fleance escaped. Assuming Macbeth is feeling very overwhelmed and guilty, this causes him to see Banquo’s ghost. He begins to act very strange and Lady Macbeth has to put on a false front so the thanes don’t suspect anything out of the ordinary. Macbeth apologises to the thanes and tries to regain his sanity but is still fazed from seeing Banquo’s ghost. After everyone leaves, Macbeth reflects on the unnatural ways murders are revealed and why Macduff has suspiciously declined to attend the feast. He decides to visit the Witches the next day to gain more insight on the consequences to come.
Quote: “There the grown serpent lies; the word
that’s fled
Hath nature that in tim will venom breed,
No teeth for th’ present.” -Macbeth