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To what extent is lady macbeth responsible for duncan’s murder
Fear in tragedy of macbeth
Critical essay on the role of banquo in macbeth
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Having murdered Duncan, Macbeth fears that Banquo will undermine his ill-gotten authority and destroy his lineage of sons in line to be king. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who were both afraid, suspected that Banquo will undermine their authority; and thus their “fears in Banquo stick deep.” This demonstrates why Macbeth is as alarmed about Banquo as “Mark Antony was by Cæsar,” Macbeth compares himself to Mark Antony, and Banquo to Cæsar because Cæsar had beat Mark Antony in battle. Macbeth's words show that he is greatly dismayed and (according to the witches,) his “Barren scepter” will be “wrenched” from his “unlineal hand.” Macbeth believes that Banquo’s sons will be the heirs to the throne, and “wrench” the throne away from Macbeth’s descendents,
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,
Macbeth can never be secure without heirs of his own because of the other plans that have been stated due to the death of Duncan. Macbeth will constantly be worried of someone taking his throne. Both Macbeth and Banquo know that Macbeth will become king, but Banquo will beget future kings. Fate has a kingly plan for Banquo’s children. This frightens Macbeth into thinking that Banquo already has a plan to hasten the day of his heirs. This amount of fear drives Macbeth into contemplating on committing another murder to crush Fate’s kingly plans for Banquo’s children.
If the witches have spoken as truly to Banquo as to him, Macbeth sees that he wears a "fruitless crown" and carries a "barren sceptre" in his hand; he has indeed given peace and immortality to make the race of Banquo kings. And he proceeds to his interview with the murderers, plotting what he dare not do openly, for the fear that comes when we are rivals for a thing and cannot both have it makes it seem to Macbeth:
In the tragic play “Macbeth”, written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth and Banquo’s first encounter with the witches is used as a means to give the reader a look into the personalities of both men. Macbeth’s reaction to the witches is one of appropriate shock and surprise until later on in the play where we see him consumed by the words of these supernatural beings. Where as Banquo is merely curious. Shakespeare conveys this in a manner in which his audience not only understands but feels both the surprise of Macbeth and burning curiosity of his counterpart, Banquo.
In the beginning of the play Macbeth and Banquo seemed to have a very close relationship as friends. They are even described as one in the act, and if you are relating these characters as one they must have a good relationship. The play also describes the characters in being so close in relation to being as one character. They also put the witches names together when they say "All Hail Macbeth and Banquo." Banquo does not ever doubt Macbeth's loyalty and seem to be together on everything. However, they began to grow apart very quickly.
And as Lady Macbeth is helped from the room, we see fear working in the others. Banquo admits that fears and scruples shake them all, even while he proclaims his enmity to treason. But Banquo fears rightly the anger or hatred of the Macbeth who has power to do him harm. (222)
In this soliloquy, Macbeth mentions how becoming the king is pointless if he cannot pass down the crown to his son (Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 1, 65-67). The weird witches foretold that Macbeth would become King, which he now believes, but they also told them how Banquo descendents will become Kings as well. This stirs anger in his heart because he killed Duncan to become king, and if his descendents will not become kings there is no reason to take the helm (Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 1, 68). Now Macbeth feels horrible, and his animosity towards Banquo worsens. Macbeth mentions how this, “put rancours in the vessel of my peace”, and immediate distress on the killing of his dear friend Duncan for the future descendents of Banquo (Shakespeare,
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:
In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Banquo acts as a foil to Macbeth, and accentuates his counterpart’s ambitions. This contrast is first evident when the three witches appear to Banquo and Macbeth. After telling Macbeth that he will be king, they tell Banquo, “Lesser than Macbeth and greater” (1.3.68). This shows how Banquo parallels Macbeth. Even though he will not be king, Banquo is still great. He is happier, and a better person because he does not worry about power. Unlike Banquo, Macbeth does worry about being powerful and this makes him a lesser person than Banquo, even though he seems to be greater. Another instance of the difference between Banquo and Macbeth is how they react to the prophecy. After the
“[O]ftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray us,” (Shakespeare 1.3.134–136). William Shakespeare’s Macbeth produces some of the most wicked creatures known in all his plays, but many of his most minor creations are easily bypassed in the play. In Macbeth, his instruments of darkness: the three witches; the ghost of Banquo; and the Apparitions, create some of the most dramatically important sections in the play.
In scene 3 Banquo is skeptical of the 3 witches’ prophecies. Banquo never really believed in prophecies of this kind. He asks the witches if they are actually who they say they are. Banquo wonders if the witches can actually tell him what his future consists of. He also explains that he doesn’t want any favors from them and that he isn’t afraid of their hatred. Following the prophecy, Banquo is not happy that the witches told him that he will never be king, but his descendents will.
After receiving personalized prophecies from the three witches, Macbeth and Banquo seem as if they are polar opposites. Banquo takes the prophecies as warnings for the both of them, “And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betrays us in deepest consequence”. Simply stated, Banquo fears as if the witches
...le Macbeth tells them that ‘every man be master of his time’ so that he can ‘keep alone’. By choosing to isolate himself and not inform Lady Macbeth of his plans to murder Banquo we see how Macbeth feels as if he can’t even trust his closest companions. After turning his back on Lady Macbeth, Macbeth becomes fixated not only on the prophecies of the witches but when he hints to Lady Macbeth that ‘a deed of dreadful note’ will fall upon Banquo and his son he talks like the witches. This shows how Macbeth has turned his back on seeking council from his lords and advisors and begins to act as a king who instead of rationally thinking things out, he chooses to justify his reasons on prophetic predictions from a world of sorcery.
After they hear the prophecies told to them by the evil sisters, Banquo starts to worry about Macbeth and his ambitions to become king. Macbeth is thinking that he may become king without doing anything else, and Banquo thinks Macbeth does not deserve to be thane of Cawdor. At this point, the two friends start growing farther from each other because they do not trust one another. Banquo starts to fear Macbeth because he knows if his prophecy is true than he is a threat to Macbeth's throne. Macbeth realizes he must get rid of Banquo to secure his spot on the throne and make sure his sons will not take his place.
However, this experience is not one that gives him courage or ambition but one that gives him fear, enough to make a man go mad. At the party, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost which he describes as “a bold one that dare look on that which might appall the devil” (III.vi.63). He begins to act like a madman in front of all those loyal to him and reveals that Banquo is dead. Despite Lady Macbeth’s attempt to cover up his act by blaming it on a childhood illness, Macbeth’s followers begin to lose question their king, lose trust in him, and even wonder if he is the one who murdered Duncan. After the banquet, Macbeth seeks the witches out of their cave so that he can learn more about his future and silence those who are plotting against him despite what the consequences may be. This reveals that Macbeth has completely fallen for the witches prophecy. There, he sees a line of eight kings followed by Banquo’s ghost. The last king holds a mirror to reflect a never-ending line of kings descended from Banquo. When he sees this, he exclaims“ thou art look like the spirits of Banquo: down!” (IV.i.123). This vision confirms that Banquo’s descendants inherit the throne and contributes to Macbeth’s anxiety, fear and to his further loss of control. He becomes even more insecure about his position as king and can no longer make his decisions