In Act III of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Banquo is killed on his best friend’s orders by two murderers along with a mysterious third tag-along who claims to also be sent by Macbeth. The third murderer had no direct effect on Banquo as his death blow was administered by the first murderer. Who could the third addition to the murder party be? How could they have known Macbeth’s orders that were told to only the first and second murderer?
I believe the third murderer is Lady Macbeth. Her decision to join the murderers sprouted from Macbeth’s choice to leave her out of the loop.
Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth has proven herself to be controlling, conniving, and ambitious. She has in a way reversed the traditional role of husband and wife by being the dominant partner of their relationship. She always takes control of situations and makes sure she has a strong influence on everything. Additionally, she rarely accepts “no” for an answer. When Macbeth mentions a dreadful deed that has been planned, his wife says, “What’s to be done?” (III.ii.49). Macbeth flat-out refuses to tell her about his scheme to kill Banquo. He says “Be innocent of the knowledge” (III.ii.50). Lady Macbeth (unexpectedly) just accepted Macbeth’s cut-off answer, which she has never done before in the play.
This is the moment when Lady Macbeth found the motivation to become the third murderer.
Maybe she figured that if her own husband was going to leave her out of his plans, she would find a way to intervene and get involved.
Why would she do that?
Out of love.
- She wants to support her husband in his decision, regardless of whether it is the right or wrong one. Due to his mental instability, Lady Macbeth wants to control his plan make sure it is executed smoothly.
- Banquo is a threat to Macbeth’s life and throne, and she wants to preserve both for as long as possible.
Another reason Lady Macbeth joined the murderers was because she knew she was capable of killing Banquo.
But how is she capable if women didn’t fight?
- She is the wife of the greatest warrior in Scotland.
- Perhaps an exception of the times was made and she learned some fighting skills/tactics from Macbeth.
2. Lady Macbeth might possess masculine qualities that have made her more of a warrior.
- When plotting to murder Duncan (at the beginning of the play), she prepared herself by asking the spirits to make her more cruel and deadly.
“unsex me here, / And fill me … Of direst cruelty! … Come to my woman’s breasts, / And take my milk for gall, … That my keen knife see not the wound it makes” (I.v.44-55). - She asks for her feminine qualities to be taken away so she may become more murderous.
Her converted qualities could have been utilized in her ambition to help kill Banquo. Her soliloquy could have also been foreshadowing her decision to aid in his murder.
Lady Macbeth must have eavesdropped on Macbeth’s conversation with the murderers so she could know the orders. However, the conversation took place before her encounter with Macbeth, meaning that if she did indeed eavesdrop, she must have had the idea to do so before Macbeth had ever withheld the information. Lady Macbeth accepting Macbeth’s answer when he dismissed her question hints at how she was already aware of the murder plan. Normally, she would have continued to seek out her answer, but it was as if she already had one! I believe she knew his plan, but wasn’t planning to act on it up until she had been spurred on by his abruptness.
I agree with Mélanie’s blog post because I too believe Lady Macbeth is the third murderer. She brought up a clever point by asking why Lady Macbeth would have any cause to question Banquo’s whereabouts. “Is Banquo gone from court?” (III.ii.1). This line shows how Lady Macbeth was conscious of Banquo’s location, most likely because she had just overheard Macbeth telling the guards where they will ambush Banquo, and was confirming Macbeth’s accuracy.
