Script

Act 3, Scene 4
Setting: The dining hall at Macbeth's castle.
Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords, First Murderer,
Narrator 1 (Tashvi), Narrator 2 (Agni) and The Ghost of Banquo. (N1)

Act 3, Scene 4 of Macbeth (Introduction)

Act 3, Scene 4 of Macbeth takes place in the dining hall of Macbeth's castle, where he
hosts a banquet for Scottish nobles. Following his recent rise to power and the murder of
King Duncan, Macbeth is increasingly paranoid. The scene begins with Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth trying to maintain a facade of hospitality. However, the atmosphere shifts
dramatically when Macbeth learns that Banquo has been killed, but his son, Fleance, has
[Link] Macbeth sits down to feast, he is confronted by the ghost of Banquo, which
only he can see. This apparition symbolizes his overwhelming guilt and the psychological
consequences of his ambition. Lady Macbeth struggles to control the situation,
highlighting her own inner turmoil. This scene marks a critical turning point, as Macbeth's
mental state deteriorates, foreshadowing the chaos and violence that will follow in the
wake of his tyranny. (N2)

Macbeth:
"Welcome, everyone. Sit down and enjoy the feast."
Lords:
"Thanks, Your Majesty."
Macbeth:
"I’ll mingle with you as your host. Our hostess will join us soon. A night of revelry awaits!"
Lady Macbeth:
"Please, pronounce our welcome to our friends. Let them feel the warmth of our hospitality and
the joy of our victory."
First Murderer (entering with a grim expression):
"My lord, there's blood on your face."
Macbeth:
(startled)
"That's Banquo’s blood. Is he dead?"
First Murderer:
"Yes, my lord, his throat is cut. The deed is done, and there’s no turning back."
Macbeth:
(a mix of relief and concern)
"Good. But what about Fleance? Did he meet the same fate? Speak swiftly!"
First Murderer:
"Fleance has escaped, my lord. He ed into the darkened woods, unseen."
Macbeth:
(his brow furrowing with worry)
"Then I’m not at peace. I was perfect before, but now I’m trapped by doubts, like a bird caught in
a snare."
Narrator 1- The ghost of Banquo enters and sits in Macbeth's place, an eerie silence falling
over the room.
Macbeth:
(looking around, feigning calm)
"Where is Banquo? We’d honor him if he were here. Is he delayed by some misfortune? I would
see him seated among us.”
fl
 Ross:
"His absence blames him for not coming. A true friend should be here at a feast such as this."
Macbeth:
(noticing the ghost)
"The table is full, yet something is amiss. Where is my friend? What trickery is this?"
Lennox:
(trying to ease the tension)
"There’s a place for you here, my lord. Do join us."
Macbeth (seeing the ghost, his demeanor shifts dramatically):
"Who has done this? You can’t blame me! This is madness, an illusion of the mind!"
Ross:
(concerned, to the others)
"His highness is not well. Please, sit down. He is troubled by visions of the night."
Lady Macbeth:
"Stay seated, friends. My lord often has these ts. Don’t pay attention to him. He is merely weary
from the crown he wears."
Narrator 2- Macbeth speaks to the ghost, his voice trembling.
Macbeth:
"What do I care if you nod at me? If the dead come back, our graves will be no refuge from their
vengeance. Why do you haunt me so?"
Narrator 1- The ghost disappears for a moment, and a heavy silence envelops the room.
Lady Macbeth:
(leaning closer, her voice urgent)
"Why are you acting like this? What troubles you so? You must be strong; our fate depends on it."
Macbeth:
"I saw him! He sat here—his ghost, mocking me, taunting me with my own guilt!"
Lady Macbeth:
(trying to calm him)
"Please, don’t shame yourself. You’re imagining things, my dear. Focus on our guests, for their
eyes are upon us."
Macbeth:
(growing agitated)
"Blood has been shed before, and people used to die and stay dead. Now they rise again, like
ghosts from the depths! I cannot escape this horror!"
Lady Macbeth:
(forcing a smile)
"Your noble friends miss you. They deserve your attention. Let us not spoil the evening with such
dark thoughts."
Macbeth:
(momentarily composed)
"Yes, I forget. I have a strange illness, nothing serious. Come, let’s drink and celebrate Banquo—
our dear friend who has fallen."
Narrator 2- The ghost of Banquo reappears, this time more ominous, casting a shadow over
the gathering.
Macbeth:
(voice rising)
"Leave my sight! You have no place here! I command you, spirit of the fallen!"
Lady Macbeth:
(hastily, to the guests)
"Think of this as just a custom; do not spoil the evening with his strange behavior. He is not
himself tonight."
Macbeth:
(de antly)
"What man dares what I dare? Come to me, you horrible shadow! I fear you not! Show your face!"
Narrator 1- The ghost disappears again, leaving Macbeth shaken, his hands trembling.
Macbeth:
(struggling to regain his composure)
fi
fi
"Now I feel like a man again. Please, sit down. I am in control of my fate, or so I wish to believe."

Lady Macbeth:
(whispering urgently)
"You’ve ruined the celebration with your strange behavior. This is not how a king should act. You
must regain your poise."
Macbeth:
(frustrated)
"Can such things happen without us wondering? You seem calm, while I am terri ed. What do
these sights mean? What am I to do?"
Ross:
(anxious)
"What sights do you mean, my lord? Speak plainly, for your words confuse us. Is there something
we should fear?"
Lady Macbeth:
(interrupting)
"Don’t ask him; it only makes it worse. Let’s go home, my lords. There is little comfort in this place
now."
Lennox:
(bowing slightly)
"Good night, Your Majesty. We shall hope for better tidings at another time."
Lady Macbeth:
(forcing a smile)
"Good night to all. We appreciate your presence and your loyalty."
Narrator 2- Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The atmosphere is thick with
unease, and the tension is palpable.
Macbeth:
(musing to himself, voice low)
"Blood will have blood. Strange things have been known to happen. What have I wrought? My
heart is heavy with the weight of my choices."
Lady Macbeth:
(softening, sensing his turmoil)
"It’s almost morning. We must gather ourselves and put on a brave face for the world."
Macbeth:
(suddenly intense)
"Did you send for Macdu ? I need him close, yet I fear what he may reveal. His loyalty is a
double-edged sword."
Lady Macbeth:
(her brow furrowing)
"Did you send for him, sir? Is it wise to do so at this hour? What news could he bring?"
Macbeth:
(determined, a steely resolve forming)
"I’ll send for him. I’m too deep in blood now to turn back. There is no safety in retreat. The throne
is mine by right, and I will not yield."
Lady Macbeth:
(concerned for his well-being)
"You need sleep. Rest your mind, if only for a moment. The day will bring its own trials."
Macbeth:
(with a dark gleam in his eyes)
"Come, let’s go to sleep. I’m just getting started. There are more deeds to be done, more blood to
shed before this night is through."
ff
fi
 Act 3, Scene 4 of Macbeth (Outro)

Act 3, Scene 4 concludes with Macbeth’s psychological unraveling at the banquet,

underscoring the consequences of his ambition and moral corruption. The ghost of
Banquo serves as a haunting reminder of his guilt, pushing Macbeth further into paranoia
and madness. Lady Macbeth's attempts to maintain composure and control reveal her
own struggles with guilt, foreshadowing the inevitable collapse of their shared ambition.
As the scene closes, Macbeth's declaration that he is "in blood" and his resolve to seek
out the witches again signal a dark commitment to further violence. This moment marks a
signi cant turning point in the play, as Macbeth’s tyranny grows, setting the stage for the
chaos that follows. The atmosphere of dread and instability deepens, leaving the audience
to ponder the destructive power of unchecked ambition and the haunting grip of guilt.

After this the narrators move to the back and the characters join them. Then Macbeth
goes to the front and says

The die is cast, the crown is mine by blood

No turning back, nor tide to cleanse the ood.
What’s done is done, and what is yet to come
Shall see me forge my fate till all’s undone,
This cursed path I tread , I tread alone
To meet my doom, and claim a shattered throne

After this everyone bows and exits

fi
fl