What happens in Act 3 of Macbeth?

Fearing the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne, Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes. That night, Banquo's ghost — visible only to Macbeth — appears at the royal banquet, and Macbeth's public breakdown forces Lady Macbeth to end the feast. Meanwhile Macduff refuses Macbeth's summons and travels to England, where Malcolm is gathering an army with English support.

Who is the Third Murderer in Macbeth?

Shakespeare never says. The Third Murderer arrives unannounced in Act 3 Scene 3, claiming Macbeth sent him. Theories over the centuries have proposed he is an agent sent by a paranoid Macbeth to supervise the first two killers, or even Macbeth himself in disguise; the play deliberately leaves it unresolved, reinforcing the atmosphere of surveillance and distrust in Macbeth's Scotland.

What does 'I am in blood stepp'd in so far' mean?

Macbeth pictures himself wading through a river of blood, so far from the bank that turning back would be as exhausting as crossing to the far side. The line marks his moral point of no return: he decides that since he cannot undo his crimes, he will commit to more of them.

Shakespeare in Plain English

Macbeth · Tragedy · c. 1606

Act Three

Macbeth has the crown — now he has to keep it. A best friend becomes a target, a dinner party becomes a haunting, and Scotland starts talking behind the new king's back. All six scenes, every line, original beside plain modern English.

Macbeth

The Original · First Folio

Plain Modern English

Hover or tap any line — its translation glows across the gutter.