Who Is Banquo's Fatal Flaw In Macbeth

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A Foul Blessing: Macbeth William Shakespeare’s Macbeth begins with the sinister meeting of three witches in thunder and lightning. They plan to meet again “when the battle’s lost and won” (I, i, 4). Before they depart, the witches declare that “foul is fair, and fair is foul” (I, i, 10). Everything has a deceptive appearance. Circumstances oppose each other. In the duration of Act I, these interpretations of the witches’ declaration prove to be frequent in the dialogue of the characters, and in the situations of the plot. The main character of the play, Macbeth, is stunned by the prophecies of the three witches. He is unsure of how to take the prophecies of becoming the Thane of Cawdor and then king. Stunned when the second prophecy comes …show more content…

They appear to be women, but have beards. They seem to contradict themselves. Although sceptical of the auguries, Banquo finds that they are “things that do sound so fair” (I, iii, 52). In reply, the witches tell Banquo that he will be “lesser than Macbeth, and greater”, “not so happy, but much happier”, and that he “shalt get kings, though [he] be none” (I, iii, 66-67). Regardless of the positive outlook of the prophecies, Banquo remains dubious, as shown when he speaks aside to Macbeth. He tells him that such promises of the future often end in …show more content…

He is easily taken in by people, proven by the fact that the former Thane of Cawdor was a traitor. Duncan is quick to put his trust in Macbeth after being betrayed. Ironically, he describes how difficult it is “to find the mind’s construction in the face”. His statement is true, as Macbeth has been thinking about removing Duncan from the throne. Things get more contrasting later on, especially when he is outside Macbeth’s castle, Inverness. He comments on the pleasant, outward appearance of the castle, when in reality, Lady Macbeth sees as her “battlements” (I, v, 41). Inverness is a reflection of Macbeth’s treason against Duncan, and how he hides his true intentions behind a false exterior. When Macbeth is hesitant to take his role in the assassination of the king, Lady Macbeth attempts to persuade him to carry out the plan by questioning his masculinity. She helps him regain his resolution by telling him to “look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (I, v, 66-67). On the night the murder is to take place, Macbeth comes to the conclusion that the “false face must hide what the false heart doth know”, echoing his wife’s words (I, vii, 82). Once again, the witches’ chant appears in the words and actions of Lady Macbeth, and

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