Macbeth Act III Scene 1 Summary

Plot Summary / Story-line

Macbeth, now king, sits alone in Forres palace following his coronation. Banquo enters, contemplating the witches' prophecies. Macbeth invites Banquo to an evening feast and mentions concerns about Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan's sons who have fled Scotland.

After Banquo departs, Macbeth reveals his deep anxiety in a soliloquy. Though he has achieved the crown, the first part of the witches' prophecy troubles him—if Banquo's descendants are destined to be kings, his own children will not inherit the throne, making his crown "fruitless."

Macbeth fears Banquo above all men and decides to act. He summons two murderers he has previously hired, reminding them of past grievances Banquo caused them. He questions their manhood and enlists them to kill both Banquo and his son Fleance. Macbeth instructs them to wait within the castle for his command and to murder his victims before nightfall.

Commentary on Act III, Scene i

This scene marks a crucial turning point where Macbeth transitions from reluctant murderer to calculated tyrant. His opening soliloquy reveals the profound psychological cost of his ambition—despite achieving power, he remains enslaved by fear.

The irony is striking: he murdered to secure the crown, yet the crown brings no security. Macbeth's logic mirrors Lady Macbeth's earlier rhetoric; he manipulates the murderers by questioning their manhood, employing the same psychological tactics used against him in Act 1. This role reversal demonstrates his complete embrace of ruthlessness.

Furthermore, Macbeth's inability to recognize that the witches' prophecies cannot be escaped foreshadows his eventual downfall. His belief that he can circumvent fate through murder reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the supernatural forces at work. The phrase "full of scorpions is my mind" encapsulates his internal torment—each action taken to secure his position only deepens his guilt and paranoia.