ISC Macbeth Workbook Answers : Act 3 Scene 4

This is the banquet scene marking the coronation of Macbeth. The new king, queen and the guests have taken their seats. Only Banquo and Fleance have not yet arrived. One of the murderers arrives at the hall. He tells Macbeth that Banquo is dead, but Fleance has escaped only half of what he had ordered was carried out. Macbeth is deeply worried, remembering the witches’ prediction regarding Banquo’s progeny. If Fleance also had been murdered, Macbeth would have felt perfectly secure as King. Macbeth asks the murderer to go away, but to meet him again on the following day.

Banquo’s Ghost : Macbeth returns to the banquet hall. He, in an external show, wishes that Banquo were there. His wish is fulfilled by the appearance of the Ghost of Banquo, who sits on the seat that was left vacant for Macbeth. Macbeth is shattered. Addressing the ghost he says : Thou canst not say, I did it; never shake/ Thy gory locks at me. The guests are surprised to see Macbeth addressing the empty chair, because the ghost is not seen by any one else. Lady Macbeth comes forward to act using her presence of mind. She assures the guests that Macbeth often has been overcome by a fit and the fit will last for a few minutes. During this time, they must not talk to him or take note of him, for this will make his condition worse. She encourages Macbeth to be himself. Macbeth comes to his normal self and the Ghost disappears.

Macbeth’s Apology : When Macbeth regains his self-control, he expresses his surprise that a dead man should have come to life to embarrass him. Lady Macbeth tries to explain the situation so that the guests would not suspect his hand in the crime. Macbeth then apologises to the guests saying that he suffers from a certain infirmity which is known only to a few who are close to him. Macbeth then calls for some wine and says that he would drink to everyone’s health.

Reappearance of Ghost: Macbeth again wishes hypocritically that Banquo were there in the hall. Ironically, his wish is fulfilled by the appearance of the ghost again. Macbeth asks the ghost to vanish and not to bother him. He challenges the’ghost to fight with him as a man or as a beast, but not in its strange unearthly form. The Ghost disappears and Macbeth again regains his self-control. Macbeth is sorry that his courage should have failed him on seeing the sight of the ghost. Lady Macbeth comes to Macbeth’s rescue because she would not like her husband to be questioned. Therefore, she bids a hasty farewell to the guests.

Macduff, Next Victim: After the departure of the guests, Macbeth tells his wife that the ghost had come to take revenge. Furthermore, he says that no murder can ever remain a mystery:

Stones have been known to move and trees to speak.
Augures, and understood relations, have
By maggot-pies, and choughs and rooks brought forth
The secret’st man of blood.

Macbeth talks about the next danger which he faces. He tells Lady Macbeth that Macduff is hostile to him and that something has to be done about it. He says that he will go the following day to the Weird Sisters in order to find out more about his future. Macbeth has now become bold and resolute. He says:

I am in blood
Stepp’d in so far that should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
Strange things I have in head that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scann’d.

The audience feels that Macbeth has become accustomed to murders because now he cannot retrace his steps.