“The night is the time of day when evil and the dark desires of man are unleashed.” The common understanding of the word night is understood in many different ways. Depending on the age or beliefs of the person, the night isn’t the casual time of day when everyone goes to sleep. For a child the night might be the time of day when monsters come out to scare. For an adult the night might be the sacred time of day to go to sleep. For the characters in Macbeth, their understanding of the night simulates the thinking of a child. We can first see the introduction of a “spooky” night in the first act, when King Duncan was still alive, and Lady Macbeth was still planning the murder. On 1.5.47-50 Lady Macbeth says “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal …show more content…
What he desired was the death of his best friend Banquo. On 3.1. 162-163 MacBeth says “It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” In this quote Macbeth already destinies the death of Banquo, he sets the murder to be at night. He feared Banquo’s existence would jeopardize the Kingship of Scotland for his descendents. Although, Macbeth didn’t really explain in gory details what he wanted to do to Banquo, his desire to kill his friend is enough to say that there is a shift in personality in him. Before Banquo's departure with his son Macbeth was kindly wishing him good luck and wanted him to come back for dinner. He goes from loyal friend to a backstabber and greedy cold blooded king, immediately after Banquo leaves. In a way his murder can be understood as Macbeth taking care of his family, by eliminating all who threatened it. However, at the cost of killing his best friend, his partner battle. Captain on 1.2.41-42 describes their relationship in battle “As cannons overcharged with double cracks, so they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe. Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds or memorize another Golgotha,...” They both fought mercilessly alongside each other, they had the same desires during combat, and were friends along the road. During the day they were best friends, but at night things changed. It's like the night had demonized Macbeth, making him feel the dark desires of killing his friend. Changing him into a person that would betray his friend in order to keep the king lineage for his family. Macbeth and his wife both show dark desires in the night, the dark desires make them look like villains to the people, which they are. The unleashed the true selves of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, during the day they live a
Here, Macbeth realizes that if something is not done to Banquo, his sons will become Kings. Macbeth can not have this. He had already worried that his soul will go to hell for what he had done. His fear become evident in this scene also, "But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo Stick deep;" [Act III, S I, L 53-54] Macbeth has Banquo murdered,
As a result of Malcolm and Donalbain's suspicions resulting in their departure to England and Ireland Macbeth became king: this was the ultimate power that he and Lady Macbeth had as their goal (well, actually it was more of Lady Macbeth's goal), and now he eventually had received it. Nothing was going to take away this ultimate power from Macbeth, and he would do anything to keep it. Macbeth's ruthlessness results in him ordering three murderers to murder his best friend, Banquo. The power of being king has taken over Macbeth's life, and he is a victim of his own greed for power. He is a tyrant. Not only does Macbeth murder Banquo (not directly, of course), he also murders (actually he has people murder) Macbuffs family.
Macbeth’s ambition is to remain king for as long as possible and he will kill anybody who stops this from happening. Macbeth feels as if he was given a childless rule, and that his legacy will not continue on in fears his rule will be taken away by someone outside his family. Macbeth states, “For Banquo’s issue, I have filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder 'd, put rancors in the vessel of my peace only for them, and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man. to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings”(Shakspeare 3.1.64-69). Macbeth had committed murder, poisoned his own mind, and destroyed his soul only to end up benefiting Banquo’s heirs. Macbeth, being the paranoid character that he is, feels threatened by this and orders both Banquo and Fleance to be killed. In Act 3, Macbeth says that, “and mine eternal jewel, given to the common enemy of man, to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!” (Shakspeare 3.1.67-9). Seeing this choice of act, leads Macbeth’s blind ambition doing all he can, in order to remain where he is, even if he is ‘blind’ to what it going on and fails to truly understand the concept of his choices in killing Banquo, which only further deteriorates his mind because of his thirst for power, causing
The question of Banquo towards Macbeth is whether he was loyal or disloyal. It is what events allowed a change in their relationship. In the start, he was loyal indeed to Macbeth. Suspecting Macbeth of murdering Duncan, he became weary. Banquo's trust towards him was tested many times. Banquo remembers what the “weird sisters” said. Confronting Macbeth of the uncertainties on his mind.
In the play Macbeth, Macbeth and Banquo are good friends, and even after hearing the prophecy told by the Three Witches, they only laugh and joke about their individual prophecies. It is only after Macbeth kills Duncan that the thought of having to kill Banquo in order to secure his place and his bloodline on the throne ever crosses his mind. After killing Duncan, Macbeth was initially struck by grief and remorse, but when it came to killing Banquo, Macbeth had shown no real signs of guilt for it (there is even speculation that the third, secret hitman was actually Macbeth himself!). After killing Banquo, Macbeth had visions of Banquo as a ghost, but no real signs of grief as he had with Duncan. He seems more troubled over the fact that the murderers he had hired hadn’t been able to kill Banquo’s son, Fleance.
Even Banquo’s “revenge” isn’t very subversive. Macbeth’s paranoia makes him believe that he must kill Banquo in order to stay king. He even convinces the murderers that Banquo is at fault for evil things. Before Macbeth has the murderers kill Banquo, Macbeth says, “We have scorched the snake, not killed it,/ She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice/ Remains in danger of her former tooth” (III. II. 93). Macbeth compares Banquo to a snake that must be killed so that Macbeth can stay safe. Comparing Banquo to a snake is another way of comparing him with nature. Macbeth must keep killing people because he has used free will to mess with fate, and he must continue killing to avoid facing the consequence of taking fate into his own hands. After Banquo is killed, Banquo’s ghost comes back to Macbeth. This makes Macbeth seem crazy in front of the Scottish lords. Perhaps, it was Banquo’s way to get a small revenge. As Macbeth betrays loyalty throughout these events, Banquo’s calm and rational actions are juxtaposed to Macbeth’s rash and aggressive ones. This helps to emphasize how free will can have consequences that fate and nature don’t
Banquo was a threat to him because he was witness when the witches told them the prophecy. Macbeth said, “He's also clever enough to act when the time’s right. He’s the only one I’m afraid of ”(p.51). In the beginning he was hesitant and didn’t want to kill, but now it seemed natural to him. Overtime, Macbeth’s personality slowly changed and is willing to dispose those who pose a threat to him. Macbeth said to his wife, “My dear wife, My mind’s full of scorpions! You know that Banquo and his son Fleance are alive.” Macbeth destroyed himself by his wicked and selfish ambitions. He let his greed lead him to
Both Banquo and Macbeth are introduced as loyal captains in the king`s army, but as the play progresses, Macbeth is overcome with the desire of power due to his reception of the prophecies. Upon hearing, Banquo does not become greedy for power, but, alternatively, he is suspect and cautious begins wondering if “we [Macbeth and Banquo] eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?” (1.3). Realizing the witches were simply trying to make him ambitious, Banquo remains loyal to his king and his country, despite knowing that he will have a dynasty to rule Scotland. Despite having the motivation, Banquo does not commit treason against his king but rather wants to “keep my [his] bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear” (2.1), meaning that he has no desire to betray the king for personal gain. Conversely, upon hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth becomes ambitious for power and follows them blindly. He is curious about the witches’ prophecies and demands they “stay… [and] tell me [him] more” (1.3). When he hears that the prophecy that his heirs will rule Scotland he will be king, Macbeth`s ambition is born and his thoughts instantly turn to murder, even though the witches had not mentioned murdering King Duncan which shows that Macbeth has previously thought about murdering his king. As a result, Macbeth has no loyalty to neither his king nor his country and commits treason. While both Banquo and Macbeth hear the witches` prophecies that promised power, only Macbeth conceded to their prophecy and became overcame with ambition. Macbeth is a direct antithesis to the honorable, dependent Banquo. He transforms into a greedy man who is obsessed with his
In order for Macbeth to be safe, it is to kill Banquo. Banquo may assume what had happened and tell the people of Scotland. "For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancors in the vessel of my peace only for them, and mine eternal jewel".
Macbeth makes a request for a bounty hunter to, “Know Banquo was your enemy...Perform what you command us.(3.2.115-125). He explains to two bounty hunters: the time, the place, and the plan on how to brutal murder Banquo without raising any suspicions to why he does not show up to tonight’s banquet. Because Banquo begins to conclude that Macbeth has a part in King Duncan’s death, it causes Macbeth to plan Banquo's death as well, because he fears that if people find out what he did to king Duncan then it will restrain him from his crown. So he takes extensive measures to do whatever it takes to make sure no one ever hears a word about it, even if it means killing how best friend.
Later in the play Banquo starts to have a bad feeling about Macbeth. "Thou hast it now: King, Cowdor, Glamis, all,/ as the weird women promised, and I fear/ thou play'dst most foully for `t." III i 1-3, this is a quote from Banquo explaining how he feels about Macbeth's predictions coming true. Macbeth realizes this about Banquo and he starts to have feelings about killing Banquo. This isn't the only reason he feels this way, the witches had also made predictions for Banquo. "Thou shall get kings, though thou be none." I iii 67, Macbeth doesn't want any of Banquo's family to rule Scotland; he wants his own family to continue to rule. Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his on Fleance. The murderers end up killing Banquo, but Fleance gets away.
Macbeth knows from even before he kills Duncan that Banquo’s loyalty lies with Duncan (2.1.26-28). Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan. (3. 1.1-4). Banquo suspicions of Macbeth seem to show later in the scene in lines 15-18. He says he is bound to serve the king, but this line in much colder than the interactions between Macbeth and Banquo in Acts One and Two. This possibly tipped Macbeth off to the fact that Banquo was doubting his loyalties. Also, Macbeth knows of the witches’ prophecy to Banquo that his descendants will be kings. (1.3.65-68). Macbeth fears that everything he has done will go to Banquo’s heirs even due to the fact Macbeth does not have children and the possibility of what the witches said coming true (3.1.63-64). Macbeth fears for his throne due to this prophecy and Banquo’s questionable loyalties. He decides he needs kill Banquo to ensure that he has absolute security in his throne and not allow Banquo’s heirs to inherit the throne without any
After murdering Duncan, Macbeth feels that he needs to kill Banquo. He is afraid that Banquo is going to be a problem for him. He is suspicious that Banquo believes Macbeth had something to do with Duncan's murder, "Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be feared" (3.1.47-49). He plans to kill him, though Banquo has made no direct threat against Macbeth. He speaks of feeling inferior to Banquo, even though he is king. "There is none but he/ Whose being I do fear; and under him/ My genius is rebuked" (3.1.53-55). Banquo is Macbeth's closest friend, he is starting to lose trust in everyone around him.
When Macbeth seizes power, he disposes of Banquo to solidify his throne. Before his search for power, Macbeth and Banquo, the two valiant soldiers, were always at each other’s side. But then Macbeth offers Banquo an opportunity to raise his status by helping to commit regicide. Banquo refuses to help and Macbeth realizes he then must kill his best friend to preserve his power. Banquo suggests he won’t harm Duncan when he reveals, “So I lose none/ In seeking to augment it, but still keep/ My bosom franc...
After the death of Duncan, Macbeth begins to distance himself from Lady Macbeth, and he becomes ambitious. Despite being a king, Macbeth is worried about Banquo: