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Act 3, scene 5
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
Lennox and another lord talk sarcastically about Macbeth and the too great similarities between the murders of Duncan and Banquo, with Donalbain and Malcolm accused of the first and Fleance blamed for the second.
Macbeth's murder of Banquo, committed to control his fate, has had the opposite effects. Now the thanes see Macbeth for what he is: a tyrant.
Themes
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Macduff, the lord says, has gone to England to meet with Malcolm and try to get the English King Edward and his lords to gather an army to help them defeat Macbeth. The rumor is that Macbeth sent a messenger to Macduff. Macduff rebuffed the messenger, who turned his back as if to say that Macduff would pay for that decision.
Compare Macduff and Macbeth: Macbeth will do anything for personal power; Macduff will do anything to save his country.
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Both men hope Macduff remains safe and soon returns with the armies of Malcolm and England to free Scotland from Macbeth.
Ambition has made Macbeth a violent tyrant who holds the throne only through fear.
Themes
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