Macbeth Act III Quotes

Thou hast it now—King, Cawdor, Glamis, allAs the Weird Women promised, and I fearThou played’st most foully for’t. Banquo to himselfBanquo relays his fears that Macbeth may have played a part in Duncan’s murder.
We hear our bloody cousins are bestowedIn England and in Ireland, not confessingTheir cruel parricide, filling their hearersWith strange invention. Macbeth to BanquoMacbeth is trying to convince Banquo that he is innocent, that Malcolm and Donalbain are the ones who killed Duncan, and they fled to England and Ireland respectively, and are now lying to their subjects about their innocence.
To be thus is nothing,But to be safely thus. Our fears in BanquoStick deep, and in his royalty of natureReigns that which would be feared. Macbeth to himselfHe is thinking that, even though he is king, he is not safe if Banquo doubts him. Banquo is too honest, and if he thinks to do something, he will not stop.
(To leave no rubs or botches in the work)Fleance, his son, that keeps him company,Whose absence is no less material to meThan is his father’s, must embrace the fateOf that dark hour. Macbeth to the murderersAlthough we know that Fleance is his true target, Macbeth must convince the murderers that Banquo is most important, and Fleance is only a loose end to tie up.
Better be with the dead,Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,Than on the torture of the mind to lieIn restless ecstasy. Macbeth to Lady MacbethMacbeth is relaying his fears, his guilt to Lady Macbeth. He believes it would be better to be dead than to live on in fear and guilt.
Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect,Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,As broad and general as the casing air.But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound inTo saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo’s safe? Macbeth to himself and to the murderersThe murderers alerted him that Fleance escaped, and, as he was destined to take the throne, it leaves Macbeth worrisome that he will be overthrown.
O, proper stuff!This is the very painting of your fear.This is the air-drawn dagger which you saidLed you to Duncan. Lady Macbeth to MacbethShe is telling Macbeth that he is just hallucinating about seeing Banquo in his chair. It is just like the time he thought he saw a floating dagger after killing Duncan.
The time has beenThat, when the brains were out, the man would die,And there an end. But now they rise againWith twenty mortal murders on their crownsAnd push us from our stools. Macbeth to Lady MacbethAfter seeing Banquo’s ghost in his seat at the table, Macbeth laments to Lady Macbeth about the event.
I am in bloodStepped in so far that, should I wade no more,Returning were as tedious as go o’er. Macbeth to Lady MacbethIt is here (after killing Banquo) that Macbeth realizes he cannot go back. He also points out to the audience that the climax has occured.
August 20, 2019