6. Compare Macbeth’s character with Banquo’s as revealed in their reaction to the witches. Macbeth seems a bit fearful of the prophecy at first. Banquo notices and asks him why he fears “Things that sound so fair” (1.3.55). After the initial reaction, Macbeth is very curious and wants the witches to tell him more. However, the witches vanish and Macbeth is left wishing they had stayed to explain more. This shows his greed for power. On the other hand, Banquo, although also excited, is a bit…
Like most brave and generous-minded people, Banquo has an honest and trusting nature. He seems to have little suspicion of the dangers hovering around him as he rides out to Macbeth's castle A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,/ And yet I would not sleep; ...'. Later when he suspects that Macbeth killed the King, Banquo does not seem to consider himself, is in any danger, nor does he test Macbeth in any way to find out the truth. He is loyal, honourable and brave but not particularly intelligent; he dies innocent; in spite of his remaining believes for the witches prophecies, a victim of Macbeth's blind ambition.…
Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared” (Shakespeare 3:1:50-53), which shows Macbeth’s fear towards Banquo and the paranoia that he will be overthrown, which drives him to order the death of Banquo. Finally, near the end of the story, Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk, “As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from her rest” (Shakespeare 5:3:40-41) during which she says things such as, “What, will these hands ne'er be clean?” (Shakespeare 5:1:31), implying that her late-night actions are triggered by the fear and guilt she has over the murders of the other characters. Overall, the play Macbeth contains multiple characters who, throughout the story, make decisions that are ultimately driven by paranoia and…
“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.…
Though ambition is highly sought after, it has a dark side. The ambitious sometimes do things that are misguided and uncaring in order to move up in life. Ambition can be a bad thing because it can lead to greed and cause chaos in the search for power.…
It is a common occurrence in the modern day for humans in the spotlight to fall from the top, but climbs right back up knowing the eyes of many are watching. What happens when they don’t realize they need to climb back up? That individual becomes Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth from the 15th century, although stars like Lindsay Lohan who has been an actor and model since the age of three takes the big step forward and let the world see her build strong walls through the media. This idea is illustrated through William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the life of Lindsay Lohan. Lohan grew up in the spotlight ever since the age of three, having a successful career in acting she earned much more than the average adult. With the wealth and freedom that she had she made allies with Britney spears, her so called best friend. Macbeth being a noble thane in Scotland is told a prophecy that he will become king. Both Macbeth and…
* “Dead butcher” (Act V, Scene 9) - Metaphor of the butcher, Macbeth killing so many people, brutally…
By the end of Act I, Banquo still relates to Macbeth as his friend. Banquo has noticed strangeness in Macbeth's behavior, but assumes it is merely a reaction to the new honor (Thane of Cawdor) he has suddenly received. Macbeth and Banquo maintain their friendship into Act II, when Banquo mentions the witches. Macbeth lies, saying he never thinks of them, but tells Banquo that he would like to discuss them further. Macbeth then seeks…
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.…
In Act 3, Macbeth’s ambition is portrayed apparently by his decision to kill Banquo. Lady Macbeth has brought that ambition to Macbeth strongly before in Act 2. In Act 2, Lady Macbeth shows her control over every decision Macbeth makes. However, in Act 3, the audience can see the change in action between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth seems to be more actively gives every decision in his scheme to make his ambition come true, and Lady Macbeth does not control Macbeth’s decision anymore.…
Prior to the ghost’s entrance, Macbeth is engaging in a feast with his thanes which marks the height of his reign as king. Banquo’s ghost is only visible to Macbeth and provokes very strange behavior out of Macbeth from the perspective of the thanes. Banquo’s ghost comes when Macbeth is tense and leaves when he calms down again showing that the ghost is truly a figment of Macbeth’s imagination. After seeing the ghost, Macbeth said this of his current state, “I will tomorrow (and betimes I will) to the Weïrd Sisters”. Seeing Banquo’s ghost set Macbeth into a frenzy with him wanting to go back to the witches for more prophesies and initiating his demise. With Macbeth deciding to go back to the witches, this shows that Macbeth is not happy where he is currently and still doesn’t feel safe. The witches trick Macbeth into being overly self assured which in the end leads to Macbeth’s downfall with Macduff. Banquo’s ghost inserted the fear that his thanes were betraying him which leads them to turn on him later on. Banquo’s ghost appearing proves that over Macbeth’s murderous ways, he has lost his way to a successful reign and this will be his pivotal downfall.…
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…
human traits that are found in all people, traits that we all at one time or another have…
The witches meet with Macbeth they say, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (I.iii.50). They are telling Macbeth that he is going to be the future king some day and then that leads to Macbeth making some poor decisions. When the witches told Macbeth the prophecy that sparked many ideas in his head. The witches might be powerful in some ways, but greed has the most impact on people’s actions. When Banquo and Macbeth meet the three witches, the witches tell Banquo that one of his children will be king someday, and Macbeth did not like the sound of that so Macbeth decides to act on it. Macbeth says to himself, “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown / And put a barren scepter in my grip” (III.i.60-61). Macbeth is saying that he killed king Duncan just so Banquo’s children would be king. He is thinking that he killed Duncan for no reason. After a while, Macbeth orders assassins to kill Banquo and his son, but his son escapes.…
Macbeth should be afraid of Banquo, but also constantly looking back to the guests, as he is worried they are catching on. The guests, however, should be worried but not…