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Act 3, scene 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Macbeth, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ambition
Fate
Violence
Nature and the Unnatural
Manhood
Summary
Analysis
After sending a servant to fetch Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, waits, and muses that she has what she desires but isn't happy.
Macbeth enters. She asks why he spends so much time alone. Macbeth responds: "We have scorched the snake, not killed it" (3.2.15). He fears someone might try to kill him as he killed Duncan, and seems envious of Duncan's "sleep" (3.2.25).
In order to keep power built by violence, more violence is always needed. Macbeth knew this would happen; he's caught in the vicious cycle of violence...
Themes
Literary Devices
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Lady Macbeth reminds him to be "bright and jovial" at the feast. Macbeth tells her to act the same. But then Macbeth moans, "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!" (3.2.37) because Banquo and Fleance are still alive.
...and that vicious cycle begins to take a psychological toll on Macbeth.
Themes
Literary Devices
Quiz
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Macbeth says that before the night is through there shall be a "deed of dreadful note" (3.2.45), but adds that she's better off being innocent until she can applaud what has happened.
Macbeth tries to protect Lady Macbeth: traditional male-female roles.
Themes
Literary Devices
Quiz
Test Yourself
Get the entire Macbeth LitChart as a printable PDF.
