3.2 (part 2)-Macbeth puts Lady Macbeth back in her place and flips their power dynamic
Again we did not go over this scene in detail but here is what we talked about:
  • All Lady Macbeth wants to do is enjoy the position and power they have attained for themselves and put their murderous past behind them but their guilt has not allowed them a moment of happiness and peace (remember “Macbeth does murder sleep”).
  • Macbeth’s treason has caused him to lose his own sense of security and has made him paranoid.
  • Macbeth decides now that he no longer needs his wife’s counsel and influence and takes away her new found power and agency back and puts her back in her “rightful” place as arm candy.
    • This can be seen in the line “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”.
      • Chuck = chick= a tiny little bird who is vulnerable and powerless against the cruelty of nature and man.
      • Macbeth infantilizes-that is he treats her like a little child instead of the strong woman she is- Lady Macbeth and flips their power dynamic (remember until now she has been the dominant powerful one in their relationship) and places her back in her submissive gender role as wife.
3.3-Banquo is murdered.
We didn’t read this scene but I summarized it for everyone. This is what happens:
  • Banquo is murdered by three murderers in the woods
    • What is interesting to note here is that in the 3.2 Macbeth only hires 2 murderers but in this scene there are three.
      • Do you think this is a mistake on Shakespeare’s part and he just forgot he only had 2 murderers? or is this intentional and did, perhaps, Macbeth secretly hire a third murderer to murder the others if something happened, is he that paranoid?
  • They try to kill Fleance (Banquo’s son) but he escapes and the murderers fail.
3.4-The Haunted Dinner Scene
So in this scene Macbeth’s guilt manifests itself in the shape of his dead best friend whom he had murdered.
  • When the ghost of Banquo appears only Macbeth can see him and the ghost sits in Macbeth’s place which suggests / emphasizes that he MCB is not deserving of his crown.
  • In this scene MCB loses it and Lady Macbeth tries so hard to keep him from confessing their treason.
  • Macbeth is terrified of the ghost who does not listen to his commands to leave him alone.
    • his terror and fear-expressions of his guilt- turns him from a brave warrior who could cut a man from navel to chin without blinking, to a coward who is so afraid to face the manifestation of his guilt that he hides behind his wife in terror.