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Act 3, Scene 4, ‘Macbeth’: Macbeth’s fears, and Lady Macbeth’s diminishing power

I can explore Act 3, Scene 4 of ‘Macbeth’, with a focus on Macbeth’s fears and Lady Macbeth’s diminishing power.

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Year 10
Eduqas

Act 3, Scene 4, ‘Macbeth’: Macbeth’s fears, and Lady Macbeth’s diminishing power

I can explore Act 3, Scene 4 of ‘Macbeth’, with a focus on Macbeth’s fears and Lady Macbeth’s diminishing power.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Act 3, Scene 4 sees the Macbeths hold an important feast
  2. Macbeth sees Banquo's Ghost
  3. As in earlier scenes, Lady Macbeth could be interpreted as trying to emasculate her husband
  4. However, Macbeth appears less susceptible to her emasculation
  5. Lady Macbeth appears to lose control over her husband

Keywords

  • Appearance versus reality - Appearance versus reality is an important theme in literature. If how things appear is different to reality, there is disorder.

  • Emasculate - If you emasculate someone, you deprive them of their masculine role or identity.

  • Legitimate - If your power is legitimate, it is legal and valid.

  • Diminishes - If something diminishes, it reduces in importance.

  • Blunt - If your speech is blunt, it is direct.

Common misconception

Banquo's ghost is definitely a figment of Macbeth's imagination.

It's up to directors whether Banquo's ghost should appear on stage; an actor could play this part, or Macbeth could be scared of nothing.

Consider watching this scene so students can explore how having Banquo's ghost appear, or not appear, effects the characterisation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Macbeth', why does Macbeth want to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance?
Banquo openly doesn't support Macbeth's reign.
The witches' prophesy that Banquo will be king.
The witches tell Macbeth, 'Beware Banquo'.
Correct answer: The witches' prophesy that Banquo's children will be kings.
Lady Macbeth goads him into it.
Q2.
In 'Macbeth', Duncan and Macbeth are very different types of monarchs. Match Macbeth's qualities as King, and Duncan's qualities as King.
Correct Answer:Macbeth,An illegitimate monarch - his authority is not valid.

An illegitimate monarch - his authority is not valid.

Correct Answer:Macbeth,A monarch who kills his subjects.

A monarch who kills his subjects.

Correct Answer:Macbeth,A monarch who is fearful and paranoid.

A monarch who is fearful and paranoid.

Correct Answer:Duncan,A monarch who promotes his subjects when deserved.

A monarch who promotes his subjects when deserved.

Correct Answer:Duncan,A meek and virtuous monarch.

A meek and virtuous monarch.

Correct Answer:Duncan,A legitimate monarch - his authority over Scotland is valid.

A legitimate monarch - his authority over Scotland is valid.

Q3.
In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth is praised and promoted. Why?
He asks for a promotion and it is granted because of his abilities in battle.
He steals the Thane of Cawdor's title.
Correct answer: He is promoted by Duncan following his prowess on the battlefield.
The Scottish Thanes consider him as a good contender for the throne.
Lady Macbeth manipulates Duncan into promoting her husband.
Q4.
In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', which quotation best shows how Lady Macbeth emasculates her husband?
'I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me'
'look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't'
'Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it'
'yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness'
Correct answer: 'When you durst do it, then you were a man'
Q5.
Which quotations from Act 1 of 'Macbeth' best shows the close relationship the Macbeths have?
'of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen'
Correct answer: 'dearest partner of greatness'
Correct answer: 'my dearest love'
'be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed'
Correct answer: 'Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it'
Q6.
In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth has a long soliloquy in which he contemplates regicide. Why is he hesitant about committing this act?
He is worried he will go to hell.
Correct answer: He is worried everyone will find out it was him.
Correct answer: He knows there is no reason to commit the regicide apart from his ambition.
Correct answer: He realises there will be consequences to his actions.
Correct answer: He values Duncan as a good monarch.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', who can see Banquo's Ghost?
everyone at the feast
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
Correct answer: Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth and the murderers
Q2.
Starting with the first plot point, order the events of Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth'.
1 - Macbeth welcomes his subjects for a feast.
2 - Macbeth has a private conversation with murderers about Banquo and Fleance.
3 - The murderers reveal that Fleance escaped. He is distressed.
4 - Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost as the feast begins. He is distressed.
5 - Lady Macbeth emasculates Macbeth to make him stop shouting and trembling.
6 - Lady Macbeth sends everyone away from the feast because she can't calm Macbeth.
7 - Macbeth resolves to go and see the witches.
Q3.
In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth resolves to go and see the witches. Why could this decision be seen as a turning point for Macbeth's grip on power?
Correct answer: It reveals Macbeth's complete isolation - he trusts no-one but the witches.
Lady Macbeth suggests he should go, showing she is powerful, not him.
Correct answer: The witches are evil and untrustworthy, not people a monarch should trust.
The witches are going to reveal he will lose his power.
He says he sees them when his guests are there, revealing his illegitimacy.
Q4.
In 3.4 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth emasculates Macbeth when he is visibly distressed seeing Banquo's ghost. She exclaims, ' itself!' at his behaviour.
Correct Answer: shame, 'shame', Shame, 'Shame', shame
Q5.
Which adjectives best describe Lady Macbeth's language in Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth'?
effective
diminishing
legitimate
Correct answer: emasculating
Correct answer: blunt
Q6.
In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', how do we know that Lady Macbeth's emasculating language is ineffective in modifying Macbeth's behaviour?
He has to send their guests away from the feast.
Correct answer: She has to send their guests away from the feast.
She isn't able to convince him to kill Banquo's ghost.
Correct answer: He continues to fear Banquo's ghost until he disappears.
Correct answer: She doesn't help him come to any decisions; instead he seeks the witches.