# Scene IV explained — Macbeth

> Chapter companion for Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

At a royal banquet, Macbeth learns that Banquo is dead but Fleance has escaped. Haunted by Banquo's ghost, Macbeth behaves erratically, alarming his guests. Lady Macbeth tries to dismiss his behavior as a recurring fit. After the guests leave, Macbeth resolves to visit the witches again and expresses his deepening commitment to violence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Conscience

Macbeth's guilt over Banquo's murder manifests as a terrifying vision of the ghost, disrupting the banquet and revealing his inner torment.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The festive banquet masks Macbeth's inner turmoil and the bloody deeds behind his kingship, while Lady Macbeth pretends his behavior is normal.

## Character check-ins

### Macbeth

Hosts the banquet, reacts with terror to Banquo's ghost, and resolves to seek the witches for more prophecies.

### Lady Macbeth

Attempts to cover for Macbeth's strange behavior and urges him to act like a man.

### Banquo

Appears as a ghost, sitting in Macbeth's place and silently accusing him.

### Ross

Attends the banquet and observes Macbeth's disturbance.

### Lennox

Attends the banquet and notices Macbeth's agitation.

## Key lines

> There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present.

Banquo is dead like a full-grown snake, but Fleance, who escaped, is like a young worm that will grow into a poisonous threat later, though harmless now.

_Macbeth acknowledges the immediate safety from Banquo but fears future revenge from Fleance._

> I am in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er.

I have committed so much murder that stopping now would be as hard as continuing; there is no turning back.

_Macbeth expresses his fatalistic commitment to violence, seeing no way to undo his crimes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters