Famous lines from Act 3 of Macbeth<br /><br />MURDERER: <br />A light, a light!<br /><br />ANOTHER MURDERER:<br />‘Tis he.<br /><br />3RD MUDERER:<br />Stand to’t.<br /><br />BANQUO:<br />It will be rain tonight<br /><br />MURDERER: <br />Let it come down.<br /><br />Analysis of "A light, a light!":<br /><br />The word "light" is said often in the play, and the idea <br />of light is conveyed even more often, such as in the <br />famous command "Out, out, brief candle!" and <br />celebrated phrase "all our yesterdays have lighted <br />fools."<br /><br />Banquo is associated with a literal light here, <br />probably a torch, but that light is also symbolic--<br />he is good, honorable, honest.<br /><br />The three assassins are in the dark literally and <br />symbolically. Banquo's light gives away his <br />presence, so his light here leads to his undoing. <br /><br />Let's hear a <br />different rendition.<br /><br />Two opposing <br />characters share <br />one line of poetry <br />(3.3.16):<br /><br />"It will be rain <br />tonight." "Let it <br />come down." <br /><br />"It will be rain tonight." "Let it come down." (3.3.16)<br /><br />That's one line of poetry, two speakers involved. Banquo shares <br />the line with his murderer. Two opposing characters share one line, <br />each man needed for a major event to take place. Great drama!<br /><br />Banquo being oblivious to danger is established by his observation <br />that rain is coming. It's an everyday, boring statement--in no sense <br />does he fear what is to happen. He refers to the weather in a <br />literal way, but expect some symbolism in literature if a character <br />says clouds are forming. Banquo's future is cloudy as he speaks!<br /><br />Without knowing it, Banquo foreshadows his death. In the line's <br />second half, a murderer confirms Banquo's premonition. <br /><br />Instead of feeling rain falling, Banquo feels the blows of assassins.<br /><br />At the end of Act <br />II, an old man says <br />he never before <br />witnessed nature <br />acting in such an <br />unnatural way--not <br />in the 70 years he <br />can recall.<br /><br />Ross adds to this, <br />stressing that it is dark <br />during an hour when <br />light would be normal.<br /><br />OLD MAN<br />Threescore and ten I can remember well,<br />Within the volume of which time I have seen<br />Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night<br />Hath trifled former knowings.<br /><br />ROSS<br />Good father,<br />Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,<br />Threatens his bloody stage. By th' clock ’tis day,<br />And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.<br /><br />Did you catch that word "stage"? Earth is <br />the stage on which we perform our lines!<br /><br />Early in Act III, Macbeth rails <br />against Banquo's good <br />qualities ("his royalty of <br />nature").<br /><br />This is textual evidence if you <br />write an essay on the play's <br />most admirable characters.<br /><br />MACBETH<br /><br />But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo<br />Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature<br />Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;<br />And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,<br />He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour<br />To act in safety. There is none but he <br />Whose being I do fear: and, under him,<br />My Genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,<br />Mark Antony's was by Caesar. <br /><br />In Act III, Lady Macbeth says, "Forget the past!" Macbeth <br />replies that they still owe for what
