Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1

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Macbeth, Act 3, Scenes 1

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Summarize Act 3, Scenes 1–2 accurately.

• Analyze how Macbeth’s character changes after becoming king.

• Identify key vocabulary and explain its meaning in context.

• Explain how Shakespeare develops the themes of power, paranoia, and isolation

Macbeth is king. Should he feel secure now?

1

Yes, of course

2

No, there are problems

3

Only if no one finds out

4

I’m unsure

Why might power create fear instead of peace?

Fill in the blanks

In Act 3, Scene 1, Banquo begins to seriously question how Macbeth became king. He remembers the witches’ prophecy and suspects that Macbeth may have committed “foul play” to gain the crown. However, Banquo keeps his suspicions to himself.

Meanwhile, Macbeth is deeply troubled. Although he is now king, he feels insecure and threatened by the prophecy that Banquo’s sons will rule Scotland. He realizes that he has risked his soul and committed murder not for his own legacy, but possibly for Banquo’s descendants. He calls his crown “fruitless” and his scepter “barren,” meaning he has no heirs to continue his line.

Determined to protect his power, Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Instead of killing them himself, he manipulates the murderers by convincing them that Banquo is responsible for their suffering. By the end of the scene, Macbeth has fully stepped into the role of a calculating tyrant, choosing violence again to control his fate.

king

foul play

troubled

sons

fruitless

power

Fleance

responsible

tyrant

fate

👑 What does Macbeth HAVE now?

🧠 What does Macbeth FEEL now?

Macbeth’s Mind: Crown vs Fear

In one sentence, explain how Macbeth has changed from Act 1–2 to Act 3.