Banquo's Loss Of Control In Macbeth

In this part, Macbeth has just seen Banquo’s ghost appear and loses his composure. Lady Macbeth attempts to assure him that Banquo is not present, and the guests look on with confusion. This moment represents the manifestation of Macbeth’s guilt, as well as his increasing level of paranoia and fear. As the play progresses, Macbeth transitions from being able to tell right from wrong to not having a conscience--he has lost ownership of his own mental state. At the beginning, he feels guilty towards his actions but his mental state gets progressively weaker until he is no longer able to feel shame. Lady Macbeth attempts to enforces order by shaking Macbeth out of his trance This scene is full of tension and emotion; the insane, fearful, and paranoid nature of Macbeth should complement Lady Macbeth’s distress and confusion. The overall theme here is the loss of control. This takes place inside Macbeth’s dining room inside his castle in Scotland. Macbeth should be sitting at the head of the table in a fancy elevated armchair, similar to a throne. He is at the

She steps in front of Macbeth and puts on a fake, nervous smile. She attempts to divert the attention from Macbeth’s previous outburst by displaying confidence and speaking with an authoritative tone. Lady Macbeth emphasizes the words “Feed, and regard him not” (3.4.59) with a steely tone, almost daring the guests to defy her. She commands them to continue on with the dinner. Meanwhile, Macbeth stares forward with a scared expression and remains silent. At the line, “Are you a man?” (3.4.59), Lady Macbeth turns around and whispers angrily to Macbeth. She attempts to make this move stealthy to not draw attention. She forces him to turn around to look at her and furiously shakes his shoulder. He widens his eyes and whimpers, “Ay, and a bold one…” (3.4.60-61). He is paralyzed, still mesmerized by Banquo’s