Argumentative Essay On Macbeth

Macbeth Argumentative Essay

Ghosts are illusions that can be deceiving while reading in books; in movies, they can be portrayed as floating, transparent people. On the other hand, in plays, it is quite different. Some plays may have actual people play ghosts or sometimes they may not have anyone play the ghost. In stage productions of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, directors should have an actor portray Banquo’s Ghost because it would help the audience better understand what is happening, the audience is able to see exactly what Macbeth is seeing and it draws the audience’s attention more.

An actor would help the audience comprehend the happenings that occur at the dinner party with Banquo’s Ghost and Macbeth. When Banquo’s Ghost

appears at the table, Macbeth goes a little crazy. “Prithee, see there! Behold! Look! Lo! How say you? Why, what care I? 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 3.4.71). In this scene, Macbeth talks to Banquo’s Ghost multiple times, making the noblemen think he has gone mad because, in their eyes, he is talking to no one. For another instance, when the Ghost leaves the party, Macbeth acts normal while he is gone but when he comes back, Macbeth returns to acting insane. If the play would not have an actor as the Ghost, then the audience would have no idea as to who Macbeth is talking to and why his is acting so strange.
Ghosts also can haunt certain people which is what Banquo’s was doing to Macbeth and Macbeth only, so no one else could see what he was seeing. If an actor were to be the Ghost in a play, the audience would be able to experience what Macbeth is seeing and how he is feeling. “‘The table’s full,’ ‘Here is a place reserved, sir,’ ‘Where?’ ‘Here, my good lord. What is’t that moves your highness?’” (Shakespeare 3.4.46). This occurs when Banquo’s Ghost is sitting in Macbeth’s seat at the dinner table at the party. The noblemen see that there is an open seat at the table saved for Macbeth but Macbeth does not see the open place because he sees that the Ghost is sitting in that spot. If there weren’t an actor in the seat in a play production, the audience would not know why Macbeth isn’t sitting down because it is never mentioned that there is specifically a ghost there.
Lastly, the actor playing Banquo’s Ghost would have the audience giving their full attention to the play and what is happening.

“‘Give me some wine, fill full.’ (enter Ghost) ‘I drink to th’ general joy o’ th’ whole table, and to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; would he were here!’” (Shakespeare 3.4.85). When the Ghost enters the room while Macbeth is giving the speech, it is ironic how he talks about missing Banquo when his ghost is standing right in front of him and none of the other people in the room know it. In the play, if there was no actor, the narrator have to state when the ghost is entering and when it is leaving, or else the audience would not know. If there was an actor, the play would seem more realistic and would keep the audience would on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what Macbeth would do next when the ghost is in the room because they would be able to see when Macbeth is going to act up, keeping the play so intriguing.

Having the actor would make the audience realize how important this scene is and what role it plays in the development of Macbeth’s character. The audience would be able to better interpret the scene, visualize what Macbeth is seeing, and would be more interested in what is taking place during this specific scene in the play. Therefore, all play productions should have an actor play Banquo’s Ghost in The Tragedy of

Macbeth.