You know your own degrees, sit down. At first
And last the hearty welcome.
You know your own degrees, sit down. At first And last the hearty welcome.
you know your own degrees, sit down. at first and last the hearty welcome.
you know your own degrees, sit down. at first and last the h
Thanks to your Majesty.
Thanks to your Majesty.
thanks to your majesty.
thanks to your majesty.
Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time,
We will require her welcome.
Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, We will require her welcome.
ourself will mingle with society, and play the humble host. our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, we will require her welcome.
ourself will mingle with society, and play the humble host.
Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;
For my heart speaks they are welcome.
Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks they are welcome.
pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; for my heart speaks they are welcome.
pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; for my heart s
See, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks.
Both sides are even: here I’ll sit i’ th’ midst.
Be large in mirth; anon we’ll drink a measure
The table round. There’s blood upon thy face.
See, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks. Both sides are even: here I’ll sit i’ th’ midst. Be large in mirth; anon we’ll drink a measure The table round. There’s blood upon thy face.
see, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks. both sides are even: here i’ll sit i’ th’ midst. be large in mirth; anon we’ll drink a measure the table round. there’s blood upon thy face.
see, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks. both sid
’Tis Banquo’s then.
’Tis Banquo’s then.
’tis banquo’s then.
’tis banquo’s then.
’Tis better thee without than he within.
Is he dispatch’d?
’Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatch’d?
’tis better thee without than he within. is he dispatch’d?
’tis better thee without than he within. is he dispatch’d?
My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him.
My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him.
my lord, his throat is cut. that i did for him.
my lord, his throat is cut. that i did for him.
Thou art the best o’ th’ cut-throats;
Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance:
If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.
Thou art the best o’ th’ cut-throats; Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance: If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.
thou art the best o’ th’ cut-throats; yet he’s good that did the like for fleance: if thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.
thou art the best o’ th’ cut-throats; yet he’s good that did
Most royal sir,
Fleance is ’scap’d.
Most royal sir, Fleance is ’scap’d.
most royal sir, fleance is ’scap’d.
most royal sir, fleance is ’scap’d.
Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect;
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:
But now I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo’s safe?
Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air: But now I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo’s safe?
then comes my fit again: i had else been perfect; whole as the marble, founded as the rock, as broad and general as the casing air: but now i am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in to saucy doubts and fears. but banquo’s safe?
then comes my fit again: i had else been perfect; whole as t
Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.
Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head; The least a death to nature.
ay, my good lord. safe in a ditch he bides, with twenty trenched gashes on his head; the least a death to nature.
ay, my good lord. safe in a ditch he bides, with twenty tren
Whether Banquo's ghost is 'real' — genuinely supernatural — or a hallucination produced by Macbeth's guilt is a question Shakespeare deliberately leaves open, and it matters for interpretation. In the Ghost of Hamlet's father, there is no ambiguity: the ghost is real, seen by multiple people, speaks, and carries verifiable information. Banquo's ghost is visible only to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth, who stands next to him, sees nothing. The lords see nothing. This could mean it is Macbeth's guilty imagination — a parallel to the floating dagger of 2-1. Or it could mean the ghost selectively reveals itself only to the man who killed him. Both readings work. In performance, directors have tried it both ways: some use an actor for the ghost, some have Macbeth addressing empty space. The production choice changes the meaning: with an actor, the audience shares Macbeth's vision and the supernatural is confirmed; without, we are watching a man in private psychological crisis before a public that cannot see what he sees.
Thanks for that.
There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for th’ present.—Get thee gone; tomorrow
We’ll hear, ourselves, again.
Thanks for that. There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for th’ present.—Get thee gone; tomorrow We’ll hear, ourselves, again.
thanks for that. there the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled hath nature that in time will venom breed, no teeth for th’ present.—get thee gone; tomorrow we’ll hear, ourselves, again.
thanks for that. there the grown serpent lies; the worm that
My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold
That is not often vouch’d, while ’tis a-making,
’Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home;
From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.
The Ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth’s place.
My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold That is not often vouch’d, while ’tis a-making, ’Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home; From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it. The Ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth’s place.
my royal lord, you do not give the cheer: the feast is sold that is not often vouch’d, while ’tis a-making, ’tis given with welcome. to feed were best at home; from thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; meeting were bare without it. the ghost of banquo rises, and sits in macbeth’s place.
my royal lord, you do not give the cheer: the feast is sold
Sweet remembrancer!—
Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both!
Sweet remembrancer!— Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both!
sweet remembrancer!— now, good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both!
sweet remembrancer!— now, good digestion wait on appetite, a
May’t please your Highness sit.
May’t please your Highness sit.
may’t please your highness sit.
may’t please your highness sit.
Here had we now our country’s honour roof’d,
Were the grac’d person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance!
Here had we now our country’s honour roof’d, Were the grac’d person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance!
here had we now our country’s honour roof’d, were the grac’d person of our banquo present; who may i rather challenge for unkindness than pity for mischance!
here had we now our country’s honour roof’d, were the grac’d
His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please’t your Highness
To grace us with your royal company?
His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please’t your Highness To grace us with your royal company?
his absence, sir, lays blame upon his promise. please’t your highness to grace us with your royal company?
his absence, sir, lays blame upon his promise. please’t your
The table’s full.
The table’s full.
the table’s full.
the table’s full.
Here is a place reserv’d, sir.
Here is a place reserv’d, sir.
here is a place reserv’d, sir.
here is a place reserv’d, sir.
Where?
Where?
where?
where?
Here, my good lord. What is’t that moves your Highness?
Here, my good lord. What is’t that moves your Highness?
here, my good lord. what is’t that moves your highness?
here, my good lord. what is’t that moves your highness?
Which of you have done this?
Which of you have done this?
which of you have done this?
which of you have done this?
What, my good lord?
What, my good lord?
what, my good lord?
what, my good lord?
Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake
Thy gory locks at me.
Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me.
thou canst not say i did it. never shake thy gory locks at me.
thou canst not say i did it. never shake thy gory locks at m
Gentlemen, rise; his Highness is not well.
Gentlemen, rise; his Highness is not well.
gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.
gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.
The banquet is a political as well as psychological event. In the early modern period, the royal feast was one of the central rituals of legitimate kingship — a demonstration of the king's abundance, hospitality, and command. To host a feast was to perform sovereignty. Macbeth's collapse at the table is therefore not merely personal but political: it is the visible failure of the performance of kingship. The lords witness something they cannot explain; Lady Macbeth cannot fully suppress it; the feast is cut short. In 3-6 we learn that Lennox and others are already drawing conclusions. The banquet scene is where Macbeth's private guilt first becomes publicly legible, even if the lords cannot name exactly what they are seeing.
Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
The fit is momentary; upon a thought
He will again be well. If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and extend his passion.
Feed, and regard him not.—Are you a man?
Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him, You shall offend him, and extend his passion. Feed, and regard him not.—Are you a man?
sit, worthy friends. my lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; the fit is momentary; upon a thought he will again be well. if much you note him, you shall offend him, and extend his passion. feed, and regard him not.—are you a man?
sit, worthy friends. my lord is often thus, and hath been fr
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil.
ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that which might appal the devil.
ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that which might appal
O proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn dagger which you said,
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws, and starts
(Impostors to true fear), would well become
A woman’s story at a winter’s fire,
Authoris’d by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all’s done,
You look but on a stool.
O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger which you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws, and starts (Impostors to true fear), would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authoris’d by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, You look but on a stool.
o proper stuff! this is the very painting of your fear: this is the air-drawn dagger which you said, led you to duncan. o, these flaws, and starts (impostors to true fear), would well become a woman’s story at a winter’s fire, authoris’d by her grandam. shame itself! why do you make such faces? when all’s done, you look but on a stool.
o proper stuff! this is the very painting of your fear: this
Pr’ythee, see there!
Behold! look! lo! how say you?
Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.—
If charnel houses and our graves must send
Those that we bury back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites.
Pr’ythee, see there! Behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.— If charnel houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites.
pr’ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? why, what care i? if thou canst nod, speak too.— if charnel houses and our graves must send those that we bury back, our monuments shall be the maws of kites.
pr’ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? why, wha
What, quite unmann’d in folly?
What, quite unmann’d in folly?
what, quite unmann’d in folly?
what, quite unmann’d in folly?
If I stand here, I saw him.
If I stand here, I saw him.
if i stand here, i saw him.
if i stand here, i saw him.
Fie, for shame!
Fie, for shame!
fie, for shame!
fie, for shame!
Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time,
Ere humane statute purg’d the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform’d
Too terrible for the ear: the time has been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end; but now they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools. This is more strange
Than such a murder is.
Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time, Ere humane statute purg’d the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform’d Too terrible for the ear: the time has been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end; but now they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools. This is more strange Than such a murder is.
blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time, ere humane statute purg’d the gentle weal; ay, and since too, murders have been perform’d too terrible for the ear: the time has been, that, when the brains were out, the man would die, and there an end; but now they rise again, with twenty mortal murders on their crowns, and push us from our stools. this is more strange than such a murder is.
blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time, ere humane
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you.
my worthy lord, your noble friends do lack you.
my worthy lord, your noble friends do lack you.
I do forget.—
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends.
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, love and health to all;
Then I’ll sit down.—Give me some wine, fill full.—
I drink to the general joy o’ th’ whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss:
Would he were here.
Ghost rises again.
To all, and him, we thirst,
And all to all.
I do forget.— Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; Then I’ll sit down.—Give me some wine, fill full.— I drink to the general joy o’ th’ whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss: Would he were here. Ghost rises again. To all, and him, we thirst, And all to all.
i do forget.— do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. i have a strange infirmity, which is nothing to those that know me. come, love and health to all; then i’ll sit down.—give me some wine, fill full.— i drink to the general joy o’ th’ whole table, and to our dear friend banquo, whom we miss: would he were here. ghost rises again. to all, and him, we thirst, and all to all.
i do forget.— do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. i h
Our duties, and the pledge.
Our duties, and the pledge.
our duties, and the pledge.
our duties, and the pledge.
Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with!
Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with!
avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; thou hast no speculation in those eyes which thou dost glare with!
avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! thy bone
Think of this, good peers,
But as a thing of custom: ’tis no other,
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: ’tis no other, Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
think of this, good peers, but as a thing of custom: ’tis no other, only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
think of this, good peers, but as a thing of custom: ’tis no
What man dare, I dare:
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The arm’d rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble: or be alive again,
And dare me to the desert with thy sword;
If trembling I inhabit then, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow!
Unreal mock’ry, hence!
What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm’d rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: or be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mock’ry, hence!
what man dare, i dare: approach thou like the rugged russian bear, the arm’d rhinoceros, or th’ hyrcan tiger; take any shape but that, and my firm nerves shall never tremble: or be alive again, and dare me to the desert with thy sword; if trembling i inhabit then, protest me the baby of a girl. hence, horrible shadow! unreal mock’ry, hence!
what man dare, i dare: approach thou like the rugged russian
Lady Macbeth spends the banquet scene performing an extraordinary feat of emotional labor: managing Macbeth's breakdown, explaining it to the lords, maintaining social order, and trying to recall Macbeth to himself in urgent whispered asides — all simultaneously. She succeeds in getting the guests out. But she cannot undo what they have seen. The scene also reveals the limits of her power over Macbeth. In Acts 1-2 she could direct him; she could manipulate his ambition, correct his hesitation, organize the aftermath. Now, when she whispers 'You have displaced the mirth,' he barely hears her. The ghost is more present to him than she is. Her management fails not because it is bad management, but because the thing she is trying to manage — Macbeth's guilt made visible — is beyond anyone's control.
You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting
With most admir’d disorder.
You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting With most admir’d disorder.
you have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting with most admir’d disorder.
you have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting with mo
Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer’s cloud,
Without our special wonder? You make me strange
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,
When mine are blanch’d with fear.
Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer’s cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanch’d with fear.
can such things be, and overcome us like a summer’s cloud, without our special wonder? you make me strange even to the disposition that i owe, when now i think you can behold such sights, and keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, when mine are blanch’d with fear.
can such things be, and overcome us like a summer’s cloud, w
What sights, my lord?
What sights, my lord?
what sights, my lord?
what sights, my lord?
I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;
Question enrages him. At once, good night:—
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.
I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him. At once, good night:— Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once.
i pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; question enrages him. at once, good night:— stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once.
i pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; question en
Good night; and better health
Attend his Majesty!
Good night; and better health Attend his Majesty!
good night; and better health attend his majesty!
good night; and better health attend his majesty!
A kind good night to all!
A kind good night to all!
a kind good night to all!
a kind good night to all!
It will have blood, they say, blood will have blood.
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak;
Augurs, and understood relations, have
By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth
The secret’st man of blood.—What is the night?
It will have blood, they say, blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret’st man of blood.—What is the night?
it will have blood, they say, blood will have blood. stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; augurs, and understood relations, have by magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth the secret’st man of blood.—what is the night?
it will have blood, they say, blood will have blood. stones
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
almost at odds with morning, which is which.
almost at odds with morning, which is which.
How say’st thou, that Macduff denies his person
At our great bidding?
How say’st thou, that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding?
how say’st thou, that macduff denies his person at our great bidding?
how say’st thou, that macduff denies his person at our great
Did you send to him, sir?
Did you send to him, sir?
did you send to him, sir?
did you send to him, sir?
I hear it by the way; but I will send.
There’s not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow
(And betimes I will) to the Weird Sisters:
More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good,
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scann’d.
I hear it by the way; but I will send. There’s not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow (And betimes I will) to the Weird Sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good, All causes shall give way: I am in blood Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in head, that will to hand, Which must be acted ere they may be scann’d.
i hear it by the way; but i will send. there’s not a one of them but in his house i keep a servant fee’d. i will tomorrow (and betimes i will) to the weird sisters: more shall they speak; for now i am bent to know, by the worst means, the worst. for mine own good, all causes shall give way: i am in blood stepp’d in so far that, should i wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er. strange things i have in head, that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be scann’d.
i hear it by the way; but i will send. there’s not a one of
You lack the season of all natures, sleep.
You lack the season of all natures, sleep.
you lack the season of all natures, sleep.
you lack the season of all natures, sleep.
Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.
We are yet but young in deed.
Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. We are yet but young in deed.
come, we’ll to sleep. my strange and self-abuse is the initiate fear that wants hard use. we are yet but young in deed.
come, we’ll to sleep. my strange and self-abuse is the initi
The Reckoning
The banquet scene is the play's social catastrophe — the moment the public performance of kingship collapses. Macbeth has been managing two registers: king in public, murderer in private. Here the private erupts into the public in a way that cannot be explained away. The ghost of Banquo is visible only to Macbeth — the assembled lords see only their king losing his mind, raving at an empty chair. Lady Macbeth spends the whole scene performing competent damage control: 'He has a disorder — do not pay attention — please, go — good night.' It is her last great moment of management, and it fails. When the guests are gone and the two of them are alone, Macbeth says the play's most important line about himself: 'I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er.' He is no longer trying to stop. He has made peace with the direction he is going.
If this happened today…
A CEO's gala dinner for the board. He's just heard from his security chief that the rival is dead but the key witness escaped. Then he starts seeing the rival's face everywhere — staring at him from his own seat at the head of the table. His wife smoothly invents a medical excuse, whispers urgently, covers. The board looks at each other. Everyone drives home knowing something is very wrong at the top.