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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,
After murdering Duncan, Macbeth feels that he needs to kill Banquo. He is afraid that Banquo is going to be a problem for him. He is suspicious that Banquo believes Macbeth had something to do with Duncan's murder, "Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be feared" (3.1.47-49). He plans to kill him, though Banquo has made no direct threat against Macbeth. He speaks of feeling inferior to Banquo, even though he is king. "There is none but he/ Whose being I do fear; and under him/ My genius is rebuked" (3.1.53-55). Banquo is Macbeth's closest friend, he is starting to lose trust in everyone around him.
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.
Macbeth says, “Avaunt! And quit my sights! Let the Earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold” (Shakespeare 3.4). This quote shows that Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost. The appearance of Banquo’s ghost is Macbeth insanity in his imagination. This is because Macbeth’s conscience is getting to him; he may be losing his mind because of his guilt. Macbeth says, “Our fears In Banquo/ Stick deep; and his royalty of nature/ Reigns that would be fear’d: tis/ much he dares;/ And to that dauntness…….. Mark Anthony’s was by Caesar” (Shakespeare 3.1). In this quote, Macbeth is referring to Marc Anthony and Caesar when he talks about fearing Banquo. Also, it is a simile, while Macbeth compares himself and Banquo to Anthony and Caesar. He is afraid of Banquo because seems that Banquo’s might outsmart him and end up beating him to death. Macbeth says, “No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, for Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind” (Shakespeare). The significance of this quote shows that Macbeth is talking to himself, saying if he has no child to be his descendants after he dies. He says “Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind”, he means that why on Earth should he bother Banquo’s life since he already has a son. Concluding this paragraph as Macbeth yet to continue is the action of morality. Then in topic sentence # 3, Macbeth
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)
Later in the play Banquo starts to have a bad feeling about Macbeth. "Thou hast it now: King, Cowdor, Glamis, all,/ as the weird women promised, and I fear/ thou play'dst most foully for `t." III i 1-3, this is a quote from Banquo explaining how he feels about Macbeth's predictions coming true. Macbeth realizes this about Banquo and he starts to have feelings about killing Banquo. This isn't the only reason he feels this way, the witches had also made predictions for Banquo. "Thou shall get kings, though thou be none." I iii 67, Macbeth doesn't want any of Banquo's family to rule Scotland; he wants his own family to continue to rule. Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his on Fleance. The murderers end up killing Banquo, but Fleance gets away.
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,
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 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.
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
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