Macbeth Act 3 Scene 3 | Grade 12 English FAL

The Ambush of Banquo and Fleance00:00:00

Two murderers, joined by a third mysterious man, ambush Banquo and Fleance at night. Banquo is killed, but he manages to warn his son Fleance to flee. Fleance escapes, fulfilling his father's dying wish.

Macbeth's Half-Successful Plan00:00:13

Macbeth's plan is only partially successful because while Banquo is killed, Fleance escapes. This means that only 50% of his target has been eliminated.

The Intensification of Macbeth's Fear00:00:21

Fleance's escape keeps the witches' prophecy alive, which intensifies Macbeth's fear. He deeply believes in the prophecy, which predicted that Banquo's descendants would become kings. This pivotal scene shows that Macbeth's efforts to secure his power are flawed, and fate is beginning to work against him.

Macbeth's Predicament and Future Actions00:00:46

Things are not going Macbeth's way, and he realizes he needs to change his approach. He believes he needs to kill them because of the witch's prophecy which he is convinced will come true, especially since the witches predicted his own ascent to power.