At the end of act 2, scene 4, Ross and Macduff discuss who is responsible for murdering King Duncan. While Macduff comments that Malcolm and Donalbain are the prime suspects, he tells Ross that he will not go to Macbeth's coronation, which indicates that he is suspicious of Macbeth. In act 3, scene 6, Lennox speaks to a Scottish Lord regarding King Duncan's and Banquo's deaths and implies that Macbeth is responsible for murdering them. Lennox clearly does not believe in the general consensus that Fleance, Malcolm, and Donalbain killed their fathers, and Lennox suspects that Macbeth has stolen Malcolm's birthright. At the end of the scene, both Lennox and the Lord hope that Macduff and Malcolm will successfully restore peace to Scotland. Overall, Macbeth is in a similar situation at the end of both act 2 and act 3. At the end of both acts, prominent Scottish noblemen suspect that Macbeth murdered King Duncan. However, one can argue that Macbeth is in a worse situation at the end of act 3 because Macduff and Malcolm are successfully building an army in England to defeat him.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.