LRJ #3

In act three the attributes of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin to change dramatically, both in opposite directions. "They hailed him [Banquo] to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren scepter in my grip, thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, no son of mine succeeding. (Shakespeare 3.1 61 – 65) This shows what Macbeth is becoming, very cold blooded. Even though he is to become king he is already jealous of Banquo’s children, the predecessors to the throne. The newfound evil in him is already plotting the murder. This is the main change in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth on the other hand is changing in a completely different way.
“tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy" (Shakespeare 3.2 8 – 9) This shows that Lady Macbeth is starting to doubt herself and also is feeling some remorse. She no longer leads Macbeth around, telling him what to do. Macbeth does that by himself now.
An image pattern that can be seen in act three is the use of blood. “We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed in England and in Ireland, not confessing their cruel parricide, filling their hearers with strange invention.” (Shakespeare 3.1 32 – 34) The blood seems to represent guilt. If that is the case then Macbeth is blaming Duncan’s death on Malcolm and Donlebain. "I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er" (Shakespeare 3.4 168 - 170) A second appearance of the blood. Here Macbeth is saying that he is so guilt and has committed so many murders that trying to go back to a regular way of life would be futile.
Themes that are seen in act three are those of paranoia and jealousy. In act three Macbeth become jealous of Banquo, which leads to the murder. "We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed in England and in Ireland, not confessing their cruel parricide" (Shakespeare 3.1 32 – 34) Macbeth becomes so paranoid about his killings that he feels the need to blame the murders on Malcolm and Donlebain.