Question

Closely reread Act III, Scene iii, and answer these questions.

Answer 1

There are three murderers in the scene. The action occurs at dusk (The First Murderer: "The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.") The scene happens near the palace, in a park. Banquo and Fleance bring a torch to the scene. The First Murderer manages to put out the light, while all three of them attack and kill Banquo. The scene lasts a couple of minutes only, and the action unfolds very quickly. The dialogue is quick, with short, interrupted lines, which is logical considering the fact that this is a murder scene. At first, while they are waiting for Banquo and Fleance to show up, their language is wordier. But then, right before and after the murder, it is swift and abbreviated, telling us that the murderers are members of a lower social class (The Second Murderer: "Then ’tis he: the rest / That are within the note of expectation / Already are i' th' court.") Banquo's last words are that he is betrayed; also, the warning to Fleance to run away to safety. Banquo realizes in an instant that this is a political murder, and that his son is the next potential victim. So, he wants to protect him. We don't see from the text how Fleance escapes.