Act III. sc. I
Setting: Forres castle

Summary:

• Banquo reflects on the fact that Macbeth has received all the titles the witches promised him.
• Banquo suspects Macbeth of foul play in order to receive the crown.
• Banquo reflects about the witches prophecy about his own descendants but does not give any indication of taking steps to make his descendants become kings.
• Banquo becomes quiet when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter with their attendants.
• Macbeth refers to Banquo as his “chief guest” and Lady Macbeth tells Banquo that without him there would be a “gap” at their feast.
• Macbeth invites Banquo to dinner and Banquo accepts.
• During the conversation Macbeth finds out that Banquo and his son Fleance will be out horseback riding and will not be back until dinner.
• Macbeth tells Banquo that Malcolm and Donalbain are in England and Ireland respectively, and will not admit to murdering their father.
• Macbeth tells everyone that he will alone until supper time.
• In a soliloquy Macbeth says he is afraid of Banquo because he has a king's character.
• During the soliloquy Macbeth remembers that the witches promised Banquo that he would be father of line of kings, while to Macbeth they only promised that he himself would be king.
• Macbeth realizes that he has given his soul to the devil only to make Banquo’s lineage kings.
• Macbeth challenges Fate in order to prevent anyone from taking his crown, which he received in exchange for his soul.
• Macbeth then meets with two murderers and convinces them that Banquo has wronged them, with false promises.
• Macbeth tells the murderers that if they are men they should not let Banquo get away with wrongdoing.
• The murderers declare they are willing to do whatever it takes to get revenge from Banquo.
• Macbeth then tell them that Banquo is also his enemy and, though he could kill him himself, he will not do that because he and Banquo have common friends, and he will not like to lose those friends.
• Macbeth tell the murderers they must kill Banquo and Fleance in such a way that Macbeth escapes the blame; the murderers agree.
• Finally Macbeth tell the murderers he will tell them where to perform the murder within an hour.

Act III. sc. II
Setting: Inside Inverness

Summary:

• Lady Macbeth asks the servant if Banquo has gone away from Inverness and the servants answers by saying that he will be back in the evening.
• Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to forget about Duncan’s murder because his worrying will not bring Duncan to life. She says that “what's done is done”.
• Macbeth hints that his idea to kill Banquo bears the same malice that he felt before killing Duncan.
• The structure of things comes apart both heaven and earth perish.
• Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to be happy and not show grief or guilt at the feast; appearance v. reality.
• Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth to honor Banquo by look and speech; also he says they should show faces that cover the grief and guilt of their hearts.
• Macbeth says that his mind is troubled by Banquo and Fleance’s existence; he points to their death but does not tell Lady Macbeth he intends to kill them.
• Macbeth calls for the night to be very dark, like the one of Duncan’s death (so that the murderers can kill Banquo and Fleance).

Act III. sc. III
Setting: Outside on the way back to Inverness, almost a mile from the castle gate.

Summary:

• A third murderer joins the two murderers Macbeth has already sent to kill Banquo and Fleance; they await for Banquo to appear.
• Banquo says that it will rain that night.
• The three murderers attack Banquo but Fleance escapes.
• The first murderer resolves for them three to report to Macbeth that only Banquo has been killed.

Act III. sc. IV
Setting: Forres castle, banquet hall.

Summary:

• Macbeth welcome lords to his feast.
• The first murderer of Banquo comes to the door of the banquet hall and tells Macbeth that Banquo is dead, with twenty gashes in his head, but that his son, Fleance, escaped.
• Macbeth compares Fleance to a baby serpent which in time will grow teeth and seethe with venom, presenting a threat to his crown.
• Macbeth returns cheerfully to the table and laments Banquo’s absence, almost blaming Banquo of unkindness for not being there.
• Lennox asks Macbeth to take a sit but Macbeth says the table is full, but then suddenly stops because he sees Banquo’s ghost sitting on Macbeth’s chair; (Macbeth is the only one that sees the ghost).
• An expression of horror appears on Macbeth’s face and he talks to the ghost.
• Lady Macbeth excuses Macbeth’s actions by telling the lord that from his youth he has momentary delusions and asks them to please ignore this lapse.
• Lady Macbeth pulls Macbeth aside and asks him if he is a man, chiding him that what he sees is only a product of his fear.
• Macbeth addresses the ghost, asking it what it has to say, and it exits; Macbeth remark that it used to be that when a man died he did not return.
• Macbeth returns to the table and sits down; he and the lords make a toast to Banquo; Banquo’s ghost reenters.
• Macbeth looses control and yells to the ghost to leave him alone; he says he wouldn't be scared if it was in the form of anything but Banquo’s ghost; the ghost exits.
• Again Lady Macbeth tells the lord to ignore his behavior; and to Macbeth she tells him that he has displaced the joy with much confusion.
• Macbeth responds by asking her how she can remain so ruddy when he himself is pale by what he sees.
• Ross asks Macbeth to tell him what he sees but Lady Macbeth interrupts by telling him not to ask any questions because that enrages him in this state.
• She says they better leave and bids the lords goodnight; the lords exit.
• Macbeth babbles on about strange happening, and then, changing the conversation asks Lady Macbeth if Macduff refused to assist the feast.
• Lady Macbeth asks him if he sent for Macduff; Macbeth responds that he will send for him and that he has a man spying in Macduff’s house.
• Macbeth adds that he will visit the Weird Sisters, even if it is to know the worst.
• Lady Macbeth says that he is not in his five senses and they exit to go to sleep.

Act III. sc. V
Setting: A Heath

Summary:

• The three witches meet with Hecate.
• Hecate asks the witches why they didn't include her in their meddling with Macbeth.
• Hecate tells the witches to go to the pit of Acheron where they will meet with Macbeth.
• Macbeth will want to know about what the future holds for him.
• The witches will cast a spell and tell him what lies his future.
• Hecate will leave the witches and come back after Macbeth is dead.
• Macbeth, after hearing what the witches say to him, will be more confused and crazy than before, he will go mad, and eventually he will fulfill the prophesy.
• Hecate casts a spell before she leave with the "Come Away" song in the background.
• The witches decide to go and do what Hecate said before she comes back again.

Act III. sc. VI
Setting: The Palace

Summary:

• Lennox is talking to another lord about his doubts about Macbeth.
• He finds it unusual that Duncan, the king that Macbeth supposedly "loved" so much, wound up dead in his castle.
• And Banquo, Macbeth’s closest ally also wound up dead, and his son Fleance is missing..
• Lennox also doesn't believe that Donalbain and Malcolm could have killed their father.
• Lennox also asks why Macbeth came to power so fast and why he didn't share the same remorse over the death of Duncan that everybody else had.
• Lennox also questions the motives behind Macbeth killing the guards,
• Lennox asks the other lord why, and where Macduff is hiding.
• The Lord says that Macduff has gone to England to meet with Malcolm, King Edward of England, the Thane of Northumberland, and the Thane of Siward to raise an army to overthrow Macbeth.
• Lennox asks if the Lord is going to see Macduff and said that he was,
• Lennox tells the Lord to tell Macduff to be careful in England and to tell him that he hopes that they will come back to end the suffering of their kingdom.