The entry of Macduff allows Shakespeare to consolidate the first half of the play and to confirm that Macbeth has been named king and has already gone to Scone, the traditional place of coronation for Scottish kings, to be crowned. The imagery of this scene acts partly as a bridge between the first half of the play and the second. The subplot of this second murder forms the basis of the whole of the next act. Previous Scene 3. Sign in Sign in Register. Sign in with: Clever Google.
Search Close Menu. Scene Summary. Enter Ross and an old Man]. Threescore and ten I can remember well,. Within the volume of which time I have seen.
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night. Hath trifled former knowings. Ah, good father,. Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man's act,. Threaten his bloody stage. By the clock 'tis day,. And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. It is the noblemen Macduff and Lenox who have arrived to call upon the King. Macduff goes to wake Duncan and re-enters horrified, raising the alarm for his murder. The household gather and Macbeth announces that he has slain the two guards, considering them primary suspects.
It is announced that the title of King will fall upon Macbeth. Macbeth, now King, invites Banquo to a feast that evening, and Banquo grows suspicious of his friend. To rid himself of these concerns, he instructs two murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth reveals to his wife that he is working on securing their position by removing all potential risks that stand in the way, but refuses to elaborate further.
The murderers ambush Banquo and Fleance on their way to the castle. They kill Banquo, but his son manages to run away. She demands that the group meet again in the morning, predicting Macbeth will come looking for them then. The Lord notes that Macduff has joined Malcolm at court in England, and the pair is gathering troops to attack Macbeth. Macbeth visits the witches and demands they answer his questions.
The witches conjure apparitions to do so. The first, an armed head, tells him to beware Macduff. The second, a bloody child, tells him no-one born of a woman can harm him. Lady Macbeth suddenly faints, and both Macduff and Banquo call for someone to attend to her. Malcolm and Donalbain whisper to each other that they are not safe, since whoever killed their father will probably try to kill them next.
Lady Macbeth is taken away, while Banquo and Macbeth rally the lords to meet and discuss the murder. Malcolm declares that he will go south to England, and Donalbain will hasten to Ireland. Ross, a thane, walks outside the castle with an old man.
Macduff emerges from the castle and tells Ross that Macbeth has been made king by the other lords, and that he now rides to Scone to be crowned. Macduff adds that the chamberlains seem the most likely murderers, and that they may have been paid off by someone to kill Duncan.
Suspicion has now fallen on the two princes, Malcolm and Donalbain, because they have fled the scene. His good-natured joking with Macduff breaks up the mounting tension of the play and also comments obliquely on its themes. Unlike all the characters of noble birth, who speak in iambic verse, the porter speaks in prose. His relaxed language seems to signal that his words and his role are less important than those of the other characters, but in his merry banter, the porter hits on many truths.
He springs into action with a clear eye toward his purpose, seizing control of the nobles and becoming King of Scotland.
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