Act 3, Scene 1 — Macbeth — Study Shakespeare

The argument Banquo grows suspicious as the witches' prophecy for Macbeth has come true. Macbeth holds court, arranges Banquo's absence for the evening, then — alone — hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance tonight.

Enter Banquo.

BANQUO bitter accusation masked as soliloquy, suppressed dread

Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,

As the Weird Women promis’d; 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. If there come truth from them

(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine)

Why, by the verities on thee made good,

May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But hush; no more.

Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady Macbeth as Queen; Lennox,

Ross, Lords, and Attendants.

You have it now, King—Glamis, Cawdor, all—just as the Weird Women promised. And I'm afraid you played most foully for it. Yet they said it would not stand in your descendants; rather, that I myself would be the root and father of many kings. If there is truth from them (as their promises have shone on you, Macbeth), why, given that their words to you have proven true, may they not also be my oracles, and lift me up in hope? But hush; no more.

You got it all—king of all three titles, just like the witches said. But I think you got it through murder. They also said it wouldn't stay in your kids, but that I'd be the father of kings instead. If the witches told you the truth (and they clearly did about you), why can't they be right about me too? Why can't my family be kings as well? But that's enough. Don't think about it.

you have it all just as promised but you played foully if their words are true for you why not for me but hush no more

"played most foully" Banquo is accusing Macbeth of murder without saying the word. He has no proof — but he has seen enough to be certain. The fact that he says this only in soliloquy, to the audience alone, tells us how dangerous the court has become.

Why it matters Banquo's suspicion is confirmed here — but he does nothing with it. Why? Partly he has no proof. Partly the second half of his speech reveals his own ambition: the witches promised him royal descendants. He's waiting to see if that also comes true. His silence makes him morally complicit in a way he does not fully acknowledge.

MACBETH court courtesy, flattery

Here’s our chief guest.

Here's our most important guest.

Here comes our star guest.

here's our chief guest

LADY MACBETH ≋ verse performance, maintaining court grace

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast,

And all-thing unbecoming.

If he had been forgotten, it would have been like a gap in our great feast—completely inappropriate.

If we forgot him, the whole feast would fall apart. It would look terrible.

if forgotten gap in our great feast all-thing unbecoming

MACBETH ≋ verse formal invitation, killing with politeness

Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir,

And I’ll request your presence.

Tonight we hold a formal supper, sir, and I ask for your presence.

We're having a fancy dinner tonight, and we'd love for you to be there.

tonight solemn supper request your presence

BANQUO ≋ verse formal submission, trapped politeness

Let your Highness

Command upon me, to the which my duties

Are with a most indissoluble tie

For ever knit.

Your Majesty, command me—my duties to you are bound with a knot that can never be untied.

Whatever you say, sir. I'm yours forever.

command upon me my duties bound indissoluble tie forever knit

MACBETH casual question, probing schedule

Ride you this afternoon?

Do you ride this afternoon?

Are you riding out today?

ride you this afternoon

↩ Callback to 1-3 Macbeth recalls the witches' prophecy for Banquo's descendants — first heard in Act 1 scene 3. The vision of Banquo's royal line will return, literally, in 4-1 when Macbeth sees the procession of eight kings.

BANQUO straightforward agreement

Ay, my good lord.

Yes, my lord.

Yes, sir.

ay my good lord

MACBETH ≋ verse regret masking interrogation

We should have else desir’d your good advice

(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous)

In this day’s council; but we’ll take tomorrow.

Is’t far you ride?

We would have liked your good advice (which has always been both thoughtful and profitable) in today's council, but we'll take it tomorrow. Is it far you're riding?

I'd want your advice for today's meeting—you always give great counsel. But I guess we'll do it tomorrow. Are you going far?

we should have desired your good advice but we'll take tomorrow is't far you ride

BANQUO ≋ verse explaining his itinerary, creating his own window of vulnerability

As far, my lord, as will fill up the time

’Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,

I must become a borrower of the night,

For a dark hour or twain.

As far as I need to go to fill the time between now and supper. If my horse holds up, I should be back; if not, I'll have to borrow the darkness for an hour or two.

Far enough to use up the time till dinner. If my horse is fast enough, I'll make it back. Otherwise, I'll be borrowing some dark night time.

fill up the time from now till supper borrow the night for a dark hour

MACBETH warning dressed as request

Fail not our feast.

Don't miss our feast.

Don't be late for dinner.

fail not our feast

BANQUO reassurance, sealed fate

My lord, I will not.

I won't, my lord.

I won't, sir.

i will not

MACBETH ≋ verse redirecting attention, controlling narrative

We hear our bloody cousins are bestow’d

In England and in Ireland; not confessing

Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers

With strange invention. But of that tomorrow,

When therewithal we shall have cause of state

Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: adieu,

Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?

We hear our bloody cousins are lodged in England and Ireland, not confessing their cruel parricide but filling their listeners with strange lies. But we'll discuss that tomorrow, when we have time to deal with matters of state together. Go now, on your horses. Until you return tonight. Does Fleance go with you?

I heard Malcolm and Donalbain are in England and Ireland now, making excuses about killing their father and lying through their teeth. We can deal with that tomorrow. Go on your ride. Until tonight. Is Fleance with you?

bloody cousins in england and ireland filling with strange invention we'll talk tomorrow go to horse does fleance ride with you

Why it matters Macbeth's smooth dismissal of Duncan's sons — 'we'll deal with that tomorrow' — conceals his real interest: confirming that Fleance will be with Banquo tonight. The political gossip is cover for intelligence gathering.

BANQUO affirmative, unaware

Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon’s.

Yes, my lord. We must get going.

Yes, sir. We need to head out.

ay my good lord our time does call upon's

MACBETH ≋ verse warm farewell hiding cold intent

I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;

And so I do commend you to their backs.

Farewell.—

I wish your horses swift and sure-footed, and I commit you to their care. Farewell.

Safe travels. I wish you fast horses. Goodbye.

wish your horses swift and sure of foot commend you to their backs farewell

[_Exit Banquo._]

Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself

Till supper time alone: while then, God be with you.

[_Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, &c._]

Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men

Our pleasure?

SERVANT servant obedience

They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

They are, my lord, waiting outside the palace gate.

Yes, sir. They're out by the gate.

waiting outside the palace gate

MACBETH brisk command

Bring them before us.

Get them in here.

bring them before us

[_Exit Servant._]

To be thus is nothing,

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that which would be fear’d: ’tis much he dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour

To act in safety. There is none but he

Whose being I do fear: and under him

My genius is rebuk’d; as, it is said,

Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters

When first they put the name of king upon me,

And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,

They hail’d him father to a line of kings:

Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown,

And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,

Thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand,

No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so,

For Banquo’s issue have I fil’d my mind;

For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d;

Put rancours in the vessel of my peace

Only for them; and mine eternal jewel

Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,

And champion me to th’ utterance!—Who’s there?—

Enter Servant with two Murderers.

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.

[_Exit Servant._]

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

FIRST MURDERER formal submission

It was, so please your Highness.

It was, my liege, if it pleases you.

Yes, sir.

it was so please your highness

MACBETH ≋ verse laying out case methodically

Well then, now

Have you consider’d of my speeches? Know

That it was he, in the times past, which held you

So under fortune, which you thought had been

Our innocent self? This I made good to you

In our last conference, pass’d in probation with you

How you were borne in hand, how cross’d, the instruments,

Who wrought with them, and all things else that might

To half a soul and to a notion craz’d

Say, “Thus did Banquo.”

Well then, have you thought about what I said? You understand that Banquo held you down in fortune, which you believed was an accident—not my doing? I proved this to you in our last meeting, showed you how you were cheated, crossed at every turn, who was behind it, and everything else that might convince even a half-wit that this was Banquo's doing.

Okay, so have you been thinking about what we talked about? You know Banquo was the one keeping you down—and you thought it was just bad luck? Last time we met, I showed you how he worked against you, who he was working with, all of it. Even half an idiot would see it was Banquo.

have you consider'd of my speeches banquo held you down it was he in times past showed you the proof

FIRST MURDERER confirming understanding

You made it known to us.

You did, my liege.

Yeah, you did.

you made it known

MACBETH ≋ verse pushing toward commitment

I did so; and went further, which is now

Our point of second meeting. Do you find

Your patience so predominant in your nature,

That you can let this go? Are you so gospell’d,

To pray for this good man and for his issue,

Whose heavy hand hath bow’d you to the grave,

And beggar’d yours forever?

I did, and I went further—which is why we're meeting again. Now tell me: can you just accept this and move on? Are you so religious that you'd pray for this good man and his children, even though his heavy hand has beaten you into the grave and destroyed your family forever?

Yeah, and now I'm saying: are you really gonna just take it? Are you so churchy that you'd forgive Banquo and his kids, even though he's been crushing you and destroying your family?

went further our point of second meeting can you let this go are you so gospell'd to pray for him

FIRST MURDERER asserting manhood

We are men, my liege.

We're not gonna take it, sir.

we are men my liege

MACBETH ≋ verse brutal classification, pushing toward action

Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;

As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept

All by the name of dogs: the valu’d file

Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,

The housekeeper, the hunter, every one

According to the gift which bounteous nature

Hath in him clos’d; whereby he does receive

Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.

Now, if you have a station in the file,

Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say’t;

And I will put that business in your bosoms,

Whose execution takes your enemy off,

Grapples you to the heart and love of us,

Who wear our health but sickly in his life,

Which in his death were perfect.

Yes, you're catalogued as men, but men come in varieties—just as hounds, greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, and curs, fierce shoughs, water-dogs, and half-wolves are all just called 'dogs,' but the list distinguishes the swift from the slow, the clever from the dull, the housekeeping from the hunting dog, each with its own gifts from nature. So it is with men. If you believe you rank somewhere in the hierarchy of manhood—not at the bottom—then tell me, and I'll put a task before you whose doing will remove your enemy, bind you to my heart and to my love. Right now I'm sick as long as he's alive, and would be perfectly well when he's dead.

Sure, you're 'men' on the list, but men aren't all the same, just like dogs come in all types—greyhounds, mutts, water dogs, half-wolves—they're all just 'dogs,' but everyone knows they're different. Fast, slow, smart, dumb, different jobs, different abilities. Same with men. If you think you're above the bottom of the manhood pile, tell me. I'll give you a job: kill my enemy, and you'll have my heart. Right now I'm sick while he lives. When he dies, I'll be perfect again.

catalogue ye go for men like hounds greyhounds curs shoughs water-rugs all by name of dogs but distinguish'd if you have station not worst rank i'll put business in your bosoms

"in the catalogue ye go for men" Macbeth is categorizing humans the way a naturalist classifies animals — coldly, systematically. The speech is designed to provoke the murderers into proving they are exceptional men. It works.

SECOND MURDERER ≋ verse raw desperation, hunger for violence

I am one, my liege,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world

Hath so incens’d that I am reckless what

I do to spite the world.

I'm one, my liege, whom the world's cruel blows and beatings have so enraged that I don't care what I do to spite it.

I'm the guy who's been beaten down so much by life that I'll do anything to hurt back.

vile blows and buffets incens'd that i am reckless what i do to spite the world

FIRST MURDERER ≋ verse exhaustion made operational

And I another,

So weary with disasters, tugg’d with fortune,

That I would set my life on any chance,

To mend it or be rid on’t.

And I'm another, so worn out by bad fortune, so worn down by life, that I'd bet my life on any chance to change it or be rid of it.

And I'm the other. Life's beaten me so much that I'd risk everything for a change.

weary with disasters tugg'd with fortune would set my life on any chance mend it or be rid on't

MACBETH ≋ verse establishing shared enemy

Both of you

Know Banquo was your enemy.

Both of you know Banquo was your enemy.

You both know Banquo's hurt you.

know banquo was your enemy

BOTH MURDERERS agreement

True, my lord.

That's true, my lord.

Yeah, it's true.

true my lord

MACBETH ≋ verse explaining political necessity

So is he mine; and in such bloody distance,

That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near’st of life; and though I could

With barefac’d power sweep him from my sight,

And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,

For certain friends that are both his and mine,

Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall

Who I myself struck down: and thence it is

That I to your assistance do make love,

Masking the business from the common eye

For sundry weighty reasons.

He is to me as well, and we are in such bitter conflict that every moment of his existence is a threat to my life. Although I could openly strike him down and justify it openly, I cannot, because certain friends belong to both him and me, and I cannot lose their affection. So I must seem to mourn his death publicly, even though I myself struck him down. That's why I'm asking for your help—I'm hiding this business from the public eye for several serious reasons.

He is to me too, and being around him is like a knife to my chest every second. I could just kill him openly and get away with it, but I can't—we have mutual friends who'd lose respect for me if I just took him out directly. So I need to hide this from people. I need your help to do it secretly for good reasons.

so is he mine bloody distance every minute thrusts against my near'st of life yet i must not for certain friends mask the business

SECOND MURDERER ≋ verse assurance of compliance

We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us.

We will perform whatever you command, my lord.

We'll do it, sir.

perform what you command us

FIRST MURDERER interjection

Though our lives—

Even if it costs—

though our lives

MACBETH ≋ verse precise operational instruction

Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves,

Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ th’ time,

The moment on’t; for’t must be done tonight

And something from the palace; always thought

That I require a clearness. And with him

(To leave no rubs nor botches in the work)

Fleance his son, that keeps him company,

Whose absence is no less material to me

Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate

Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart.

I’ll come to you anon.

Your courage shines through. Within an hour, I'll tell you exactly where to station yourselves, give you the exact timing, the precise moment—it must be done tonight, away from the palace. But I need to be seen clear of suspicion. And him too—to leave no loose ends in the work—his son Fleance, who goes with him: his absence is as important to me as his father's. Both must embrace the fate of that dark hour. Go now and make up your minds. I'll find you soon.

You've got the guts for this. In an hour, I'll tell you exactly where to be, exactly when—it happens tonight, away from here. I need a clear alibi. And make sure Fleance dies too—Banquo's son. His death is just as important as his father's. You both die tonight. Go think it through. I'll catch up with you.

within this hour will advise where to plant acquaint with the moment must be done tonight something from palace i require clearness fleance his son must embrace the fate

Why it matters The inclusion of Fleance — a boy — marks a definitive moral line crossed. Duncan was a king who trusted him. Banquo was a rival who might expose him. Fleance is just a child whose only crime is being Banquo's son.

BOTH MURDERERS final agreement

We are resolv’d, my lord.

We're resolved, my lord.

We're ready, sir.

resolv'd my lord

MACBETH dismissal

I’ll call upon you straight: abide within.

I'll call on you shortly. Stay inside.

I'll call you back in a bit. Wait here.

i'll call upon you abide within

[_Exeunt Murderers._]

It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight,

If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.

[_Exit._]

The Reckoning

This is where Macbeth crosses the second threshold. Killing Duncan was an act of ambition carried out in horror. Killing Banquo is something colder: calculation. Macbeth reasons his way to murder with terrifying clarity: 'To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.' He has the crown; that means nothing if the witches' promise that Banquo's descendants will be kings also comes true. So the man who helped him get here must die. The scene begins with Banquo's silent suspicion — he says it aloud only in soliloquy — and ends with Macbeth methodically briefing hired killers. The court scene in between is pure performance: Macbeth warmly pressing Banquo to come to the feast, all false warmth over planning murder. Lady Macbeth is nearly silent here, which registers: the partnership is already fraying.

If this happened today…

A CEO who got the top job through a hostile takeover discovers the former CFO — who knows everything — was promised the next CEO slot by the board. The new CEO can't fire him outright without scandal. So he has the CFO scheduled for a late-night drive, then meets with two freelancers in a side office. He's very calm. He's done the math.

Continue to 3.2 →