Banquo’s knowledge of the witches’ prophecy makes him both a potential ally and a potential threat to Macbeth’s plotting. For now, Macbeth seems distrustful of Banquo and pretends to have hardly thought of the witches, but Macbeth’s desire to discuss the prophecies at some future time suggests that he may have some sort of conspiratorial plans in mind. The appearance of Fleance, Banquo’s son, serves as a reminder of the witches’ prediction that Banquo’s children will sit on the throne of Scotland. We realize that if Macbeth succeeds in the murder of Duncan, he will be driven to still more violence before his crown is secure, and Fleance will be in immediate and mortal danger
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
“To be thus is nothing, but to be safety thus – our fears in Banquo stick deep.” Macbeth does not say in his soliloquy why he fears Banquo; because Banquo heard the witches’ prophecy and probably suspected Macbeth of the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth feels that Banquo is naturally superior to him, and being near Banquo makes him feel ashamed. Immediately after the murder of King Duncan and his ascent to the throne, Macbeth arranges for the murder of Banquo. He would rather see “the frame of things disjoin, both the worlds suffer,” than continue to “eat our meal in fear and sleep in affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly.” Also, Macbeth has reason to fear Banquo as according to the witches’ prophecy, Banquo would not be king, but his children and their children would be kings, and he does not want a meaningless crown on his head that Banquo’s children would just steal off him.…
- 629 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
While Macbeth is awaiting the signal that King Duncan is sleeping, which will summon him to commit the murder, Macbeth is struck by a vision of a dagger. This “dagger of the mind” symbolizes Macbeth’s last minute doubt and the choice of committing the murder that he is still facing (2.1.38). Even within his vision, Macbeth does not have hold of the transient knife; he has not reconciled himself to the inevitability of his treachery even at this late point. The illusionary dagger is in stark contrast to the physical dagger Macbeth pulls from his side.…
- 143 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Shakespeare creates a scene in Macbeth in which his conscious comes into play to mess with his head and to show the audience the insanity that is ever present in the man. After killing the king and becoming the king Macbeth realizes that the witches prophecy came true, the prophecy that was stated in Act 1 Scene 3, where Macbeth and Banquo are told that they will become leaders. Macbeth is told he shall be king and yet Banquo is told that his children shall be the kings after Macbeth. After claiming his kingdom Macbeth fears the witch’s prophecy and fears that his dear friend Banquo will either kill him as he did to the previous king or will kill his kids. In order to stop this Macbeth has Banquo murdered. This scene takes place after Banquo’s murder.…
- 974 Words
- 3 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Macbeth and Banquo together encounter the witches on the heath where Macbeth hears their prophecy for the first time. Banquo reacts as a friend would at the sound of Macbeth's good fortune, and then seeks to know his own future. Shortly after, Banquo warns Macbeth of danger, explaining that the witches may not be trustworthy:…
- 955 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Macbeth, after hearing the prophecies the three witches gave him, becomes conflicted within himself, ‘If chance shall have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir’. Ultimately, Macbeth chooses ambition over morality, but not without pressure from his wife ‘Are you a man?’ and severe inner turmoil ‘My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical’. To contrast the devious character of Macbeth, Shakespeare included Banquo, a fellow noblemen and Macbeth’s closest friend, to act as Macbeths foil. He immediately chooses morality over ambition without question and forewarns Macbeth of the Weird Sisters and their ability to twist the truth: ‘instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence’. Banquo’s undying allegiance to King Duncan demonstrations the difference between Macbeth and Banquo, and how the upkeep of morals keep us in check. After choosing power, Macbeth’s suspicion of Banquo and his role in the prophecy leads to Banquo’s murder. After killing his friend, Macbeth is plagued with guilt, and hallucinations become recurrent for both Macbeth; ‘our graves must send those we bury back’ and his wife; ‘will these hands ne’er be clean?’ This shows that ambition can lead to immoral acts when overcome by desire.…
- 615 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In the beginning of this play Macbeth and his good friend Banquo come into contact with three witches. These witches tell the two of them there future. For Macbeth it was you're going to be a king and the king of all kings. As for Banquo it was as good for him but for his children it is very promising. He will be the father to a great line of kings. When Macbeth heard of this at first he wasn't going to do anything to force this fate he was just going to let it happen. Then he…
- 608 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In the beginning Banquo is thinking well if the first thing the witches came true and made Macbeth king why can't his kids become king later. Then macbeth enters in the kings attire. Macbeth discusses his fear of the kids that left. Macbeth invites Banquo to the feast that night, and Banquo accepts his invitation. Banquo says he will make it, but he is going on a horse ride for the afternoon. Macbeth now is contemplating killing his best friend Banquo. The reason he worries is he doesn't want him or his family taking his power. He decides to hire the best assassins he knows to go kill Banquo will he is far away from the castle. They take off to get Banquo. They end up killing Banquo, then come back to the castle in the beginning of the dinner party. It is odd because Macbeth wants no one to know he was apart of the killing, but they pull him aside in the dinner party to talk about the killing. When he comes back to the dinner party he says where am I supposed to sit. They tell him right there there is a empty seat, and Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost. They start thinking he is crazy. He then says it is weird Banquo is not here I invited him. Lady macbeth interrupts saying he has seen things he was a little kid, and not to ask questions that…
- 396 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
2) Banquo is noble, honorable and loyal to Macbeth. However, Macbeth wants to kill him and his son Fleance in order to become king. This is because this it the prophecy of the Weird SIsters that Banquo’s sons would become king. “Given to the common enemy of men, to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo’s kings” “Rather than so, come for into the list and champion me in the utterance” p 85…
- 635 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
It begins when Macbeth sees a dagger appear right before his eyes with its handle pointing towards his hand. He struggles to decide whether the dagger is real or just a figment of his imagination as he says “Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight, or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" (Act II, Scene I, Lines 33-39) This indicates that Macbeth is beginning to become mad as he fails to distinguish reality over fantasy. Subsequent to killing Duncan, Macbeth’s insanity pushes him to make further unwise decisions, which eventually leads to his best friend, Banquo’s, death. Macbeth plans to murder his best and most loyal friend because he fears that he poses a threat and will get in the way of his journey to deem power. Macbeth says “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature, reigns that which would be feared.” (Act III, Scene I, Lines 52-55) This shows that Macbeth’s insanity has reached such a…
- 519 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Macbeth is paranoid of losing his position, he wants to keep it to himself as well as to his descendants. As the three witches described Banquo: “Lesser than Macbeth and greater, not so happy yet much happier, thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.”, implying that Banquo is the root of many kings, Banquo and his son is a threat to Macbeth’s crown(1.3.68-70). Macbeth plans an assassination of Banquo and Fleance while they are on a ride before the dinner at Macbeth’s castle(3.1.129-144). Banquo is murdered and Fleance flees(3.3.29-30). Banquo’s ghost shows up at the dinner and scares Macbeth. Even though Macbeth doesn’t regret killing Banquo, he is still conscious of his terrible actions and the guilt of bringing Banquo to the end of his life. Macbeth at this point has become ruthless enough to murder his close…
- 717 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Macbeth feels the dear so deeply that he hires three murderers and convinces them to end Banquo and Fleance’s lives. Later on, during the Banquet scene, Macbeth hallucinates an image of Banquo’s ghost. This occurrence shows Macbeth how far south his mind has gone, as well as demonstrating for all of his guests that he is truly unfit to rule over Scotland. “ If thou canst nod, speak too. / If charnel-houses and our graves must send / Those that we bury back, our monuments / Shall be the maws of kites,” (Shakespeare 3.IV.84-87) Banquo’s murder is yet another event in which Macbeth experiences the disintegration of his mind, and is one of the major stepping stones that leads to his total and complete loss of…
- 403 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,/the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee./ I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.”(Act 2.1) The dagger isn’t really there and it seemingly guides him to Duncan’s bedside where he promptly stabs him, From then on out Macbeth falls more and more into paranoia thinking everybody is out to get him, this paranoia leads him to distrust his right hand man and through fear has him killed, while Fleance had escaped unintendedly. After killing Banquo his delusions get worse to the point where he sees and yells at his ghost at dinner and his wife plays it off as him being sick. “Here had we now our country’s honour roof’d,/Were the graced person of…
- 871 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Banquo is killed strictly for the reason that he has a suspicion that Macbeth killed Duncan. He could get Macbeth into trouble and ruin his future. The witches’ prophecies describe how Banquo will be a father to a future line of kings. Macbeth hearing this, believes it is a threat at him and uses his urge for power to set out for the killing of Fleance. Macbeth says, “To leave no rubs nor botches in the work—Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father’s” (Shakespeare). This quote is describing how Fleance’s life is just as equal as Banquo’s. He believes in killing Fleance because he is a threat to him. Macbeth wants no chances for another person to come into power. Therefore, Macbeth wants to be safe and chooses to kill more people. The ambition Macbeth has becomes clear during this chain of events because he is paranoid at losing the power he urgently wants. Cassandra Nelson says, “Once he hears the weird sisters' prophecy Macbeth becomes so consumed by his desire for power that he becomes a tyrannical and violent monster who ultimately destroys himself” (Nelson). She is referencing Macbeth listening to the prophecies given to him. As soon as he hears what the witches have to say, he acts immediately in any way possible to keep his power. Nelson is also hints to the fact that ambition is Macbeth’s tragic flaw and leads to his demise. Macbeth is so power hungry that he is willing to do anything possible to stay on the throne. Ambition is shown when he kills Banquo and attempts to kill Fleance because they threaten his…
- 988 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,/ the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.” (2.1.33-34). He realizes that the dagger is just an image in his mind, but decides that it is a result of his fear and continues with the task. This is the first point where Macbeth shows a sign of a mental breakdown, although he is still able to think somewhat rationally. This ultimately evolves into a hardened Macbeth and causes him to continue with his horrific actions until he is out of control. The murder of King Duncan is followed by the murders of many others, including his closest friend Banquo. The build-up of guilt begins the affect Macbeth’s mental state more and more until he can no longer think straight. He begins to hallucinate and on occasion has visions of the ghost of Banquo. The ghost first appears at the banquet, where Macbeth sees the bloody image of Banquo sitting at the dinner table. His horrific reaction alone shows the guilt he has for the murder, and the fact that no other guests at the banquet are aware of the ghost confirms that the ghost has been made up in Macbeth’s head. This is the point at which the…
- 1215 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
In this third stage, Macbeth is driven by power and getting more nervous by the second, and vows to kill as much as necessary to keep the throne saftly. After Banquo's kill, Lady Macbeth starts having second thoughts and begins to RECEDE from center stage and Macbeth takes her place as the most COMPELLING character in the play. Macbeth's newly confident ambition and lack of sympathy is shown in his conversation with Lennox about the troublesome night of Banquo's murder. In this conversation, Lennox is upset and talks about Banquo's death and the BAD weather of the previous night, to which Macbeth can say nothing but, yes, " Twas a rough night" (act 2. Sc. 3. Ln. 57) . Because of Macbeths newfound confidence, he fails to notice right away that MacDuff is casting suspician on him. Then later, at the banquet, which ends up being the beginning of his DOWNFALL- Macbeth finds that Banquo has been killed, he sees his ghost sitting at the table, showing that his paranoia has been taken to a new level; hallucinations. At this point, he starts to backtrack and get nervous, admitting that he may have to kill more to keep the throne.Macbeth realizes that he can no longer go back, knowing that he is "in blood, stepped in so far that, (he) should wade no more" (Act 3. Sc. 4 Ln 135-136). Macbeths confidence is boosted once again when the witches tell him that no man born of a woman can harm him.…
- 1795 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays