Compare And Contrast The Plan For Duncan's Murder

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the plan for Duncan’s murder is constructed and carried out with more success than the plan for Banquo’s murder. Firstly, the plan for Duncan’s murder is more likely to succeed because it is formulated with wise decisions. During the planning of Duncan’s murder, Macbeth and his wife decide that Macbeth should personally kill Duncan while is he is sleeping. In contrast, the plan for Banquo’s murder includes Macbeth sending murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance while they are travelling. During Macbeth’s conversation with the murders, he gives them instructions for when and where they should attack Banquo and Fleance:

Within this hour at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves,

Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’th’time,

The moment on’t, for’t must be done tonight,

(III.i.130-133)

Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan himself assures that the murder will be completed according to plan unlike the dangerous decision to trust someone else to carry out the murder of Banquo and his son.

Macbeth’s other decision to kill Duncan while he is sleeping is also wise as Duncan will be unable to defend himself. This contrasts Macbeth’s decision to have Banquo and Fleance killed while they are awake and able to fight back. These wise decisions produce a better plan for Duncan’s murder, causing it to be more successful. Secondly, the plan for Duncan’s murder includes who will be framed for the deed while the plan for Banquo's murder misses this important detail. Before Duncan is killed, Macbeth has an idea to frame the chamberlains by using their daggers and spreading Duncan’s blood on their faces. As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan their strategy to murder Duncan, Macbeth schemingly

says,
Will it not be receiv’d,
When we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two
Of his own chamber, and us’d their very daggers,
That they have done’t?
(I.vii.74-77)
Conversely, Macbeth does not include a plan to frame someone for Banquo’s murder. After the two murders are completed, Macbeth can trust that the chamberlains will be blamed for Duncan’s murder, however Macbeth will likely be under suspicion for the murder of Banquo because he does not plan to frame anyone for it. The inclusion of who will be framed for the murder plays an important role in the likelihood of overall success. Therefore, Duncan's murder will likely be more successful than Banquo’s murder. Finally, after Duncan and Banquo are killed, it is clear that the plan for Duncan’s murder is completed with more success than Banquo’s. As expected, Duncan is killed, and the chamberlains are blamed for the murder. Contrarily, Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes ruining Macbeth’s plan. When Macbeth originally talks with the murderers, he explains the importances of killing both Banquo and Fleance:
And with him,
I 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, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour.
(III.i.135-140)
Then, during Macbeth’s dinner party on the night of Banquo’s murder, one of the murderers requests to speak with Macbeth and reports that “Fleance is scap’d” (III.iv.20). The strong plan for Duncan’s murder results in an overall success because the goal to eliminate Duncan is achieved. On the other hand, the weak plan for Banquo’s murder results in only a partial success because while the goal to remove Banquo is achieved, Fleance still manages to escape. In closing, the plan for Duncan’s murder is created and executed more successfully than the plan for Banquo’s murder.