Famous lines from Act 3 of Macbeth
MURDERER:
A light, a light!
ANOTHER MURDERER:
‘Tis he.
3RD MUDERER:
Stand to’t.
BANQUO:
It will be rain tonight
MURDERER:
Let it come down.
Analysis of "A light, a light!":
The word "light" is said often in the play, and the idea
of light is conveyed even more often, such as in the
famous command "Out, out, brief candle!" and
celebrated phrase "all our yesterdays have lighted
fools."
Banquo is associated with a literal light here,
probably a torch, but that light is also symbolic--
he is good, honorable, honest.
The three assassins are in the dark literally and
symbolically. Banquo's light gives away his
presence, so his light here leads to his undoing.
Let's hear a
different rendition.
Two opposing
characters share
one line of poetry
(3.3.16):
"It will be rain
tonight." "Let it
come down."
"It will be rain tonight." "Let it come down." (3.3.16)
That's one line of poetry, two speakers involved. Banquo shares
the line with his murderer. Two opposing characters share one line,
each man needed for a major event to take place. Great drama!
Banquo being oblivious to danger is established by his observation
that rain is coming. It's an everyday, boring statement--in no sense
does he fear what is to happen. He refers to the weather in a
literal way, but expect some symbolism in literature if a character
says clouds are forming. Banquo's future is cloudy as he speaks!
Without knowing it, Banquo foreshadows his death. In the line's
second half, a murderer confirms Banquo's premonition.
Instead of feeling rain falling, Banquo feels the blows of assassins.
At the end of Act
II, an old man says
he never before
witnessed nature
acting in such an
unnatural way--not
in the 70 years he
can recall.
Ross adds to this,
stressing that it is dark
during an hour when
light would be normal.
OLD MAN
Threescore and ten I can remember well,
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
ROSS
Good father,
Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,
Threatens his bloody stage. By th' clock ’tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.
Did you catch that word "stage"? Earth is
the stage on which we perform our lines!
Early in Act III, Macbeth rails
against Banquo's good
qualities ("his royalty of
nature").
This is textual evidence if you
write an essay on the play's
most admirable characters.
MACBETH
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My Genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Caesar.
In Act III, Lady Macbeth says, "Forget the past!" Macbeth
replies that they still owe for what
MURDERER:
A light, a light!
ANOTHER MURDERER:
‘Tis he.
3RD MUDERER:
Stand to’t.
BANQUO:
It will be rain tonight
MURDERER:
Let it come down.
Analysis of "A light, a light!":
The word "light" is said often in the play, and the idea
of light is conveyed even more often, such as in the
famous command "Out, out, brief candle!" and
celebrated phrase "all our yesterdays have lighted
fools."
Banquo is associated with a literal light here,
probably a torch, but that light is also symbolic--
he is good, honorable, honest.
The three assassins are in the dark literally and
symbolically. Banquo's light gives away his
presence, so his light here leads to his undoing.
Let's hear a
different rendition.
Two opposing
characters share
one line of poetry
(3.3.16):
"It will be rain
tonight." "Let it
come down."
"It will be rain tonight." "Let it come down." (3.3.16)
That's one line of poetry, two speakers involved. Banquo shares
the line with his murderer. Two opposing characters share one line,
each man needed for a major event to take place. Great drama!
Banquo being oblivious to danger is established by his observation
that rain is coming. It's an everyday, boring statement--in no sense
does he fear what is to happen. He refers to the weather in a
literal way, but expect some symbolism in literature if a character
says clouds are forming. Banquo's future is cloudy as he speaks!
Without knowing it, Banquo foreshadows his death. In the line's
second half, a murderer confirms Banquo's premonition.
Instead of feeling rain falling, Banquo feels the blows of assassins.
At the end of Act
II, an old man says
he never before
witnessed nature
acting in such an
unnatural way--not
in the 70 years he
can recall.
Ross adds to this,
stressing that it is dark
during an hour when
light would be normal.
OLD MAN
Threescore and ten I can remember well,
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
ROSS
Good father,
Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,
Threatens his bloody stage. By th' clock ’tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.
Did you catch that word "stage"? Earth is
the stage on which we perform our lines!
Early in Act III, Macbeth rails
against Banquo's good
qualities ("his royalty of
nature").
This is textual evidence if you
write an essay on the play's
most admirable characters.
MACBETH
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My Genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Caesar.
In Act III, Lady Macbeth says, "Forget the past!" Macbeth
replies that they still owe for what
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