In Macbeth, there are many different ways the play has been acted out. One of the most differing elements between the plays is the scene where Banquo's ghost makes an appearance. Is some versions, Banquo’s ghost is left out so the Macbeth is the only one who is aware of it’s presence. In others, the ghost makes an appearance on stage so the audience knows that it does exist. Both methods have their positives and negatives. In the tragedy Macbeth, including the ghost on stage is more efficient than leaving it out because it makes the scene more clear for the audience, adds intensity to the scene, and provides a better relation to what Macbeth is experiencing.
The first reason it is beneficial to have the ghost on stage is for the audience's
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understanding of the play. Macbeth’s reactions to certain events throughout the play can often be difficult to understand without visual aid. Right after Banquo was murdered, his ghost enters the room and sits in Macbeth’s seat. Because the ghost is only seen by Macbeth, he starts making a scene of himself by rambling off many irrational comments such as “Which of you have done this? (3.4.53) and, “Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me [Banquo’s murder].(3.4.55-57)” With these statements, Macbeth is vigorously reacting to Banquo’s ghost in front of a group of people who aren’t even aware of Banquo’s death. Essentially, to the audience, Macbeth is standing there ranting to no one and the audience doesn’t know what is going on. This could prove to be very confusing not only to this certain scene, but the rest of the play. It is like a math class, everything builds on top of stuff you have previously learned. If you miss a certain part or in this case a scene, it can throw off your understanding of the play as a whole. Including the ghost on stage would avoid the possibility of confusing the audience as a whole. The second reason why including the ghost on stage would be beneficial is because it adds more intensity to the scene.
Many times during this scene Macbeth is yelling about the ghost, and trying to prove himself innocent. “Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with.(3.4.97-101)” The ghost has just reappeared and if the audience has visual confirmation that the ghost is present, it adds intensity and suspense to the scene. If the ghost were not present on stage during this scene, the dark and intense element would not be present which would therefore lose the attention of the audience. Ultimately, the success of a play relies on the audience's attention to detail. Including the ghost on stage makes it easier to get engaged and react to the play.
The third and final reason why the ghost being present on stage is beneficial is because it helps the audience better relate to and understand what Macbeth is going through. As Macbeth is on stage going on about the ghost, the audience would have trouble seeing from his point of view if the ghost were not present. A good example of a confusable part of the scene is when Macbeth begins to insult the
ghost: What man dare, I dare. Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The armed rhinoceros, or th' Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble. Or be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword. If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence! (3.4.99-107) Macbeth is essentially telling the ghost to approach him in any other way such as a Russian bear or an armed rhinoceros and he will not show fear. He also states that he wants the ghost to come alive again and challenge him to a duel. If the ghost were not present on stage, it would be difficult to comprehend what Macbeth is saying because he is using simile to forecast his feelings. However, with the ghost on stage, the audience can see that Macbeth has fear towards the ghost and wants him to appear in another form. Also, the presence of the ghost also helps the audience to understand other character’s attitudes such as Lady Macbeth or Ross. Many people claim that including the ghost on stage is a waste of time or it has no relevance to the play. This claim is false because the ghost adds diversity and intensity to the play. The ghost is what causes the scene to erupt in the first place. Taking the ghost out of the play would be like taking an important character out of a movie. Also, why would shakespeare include him in the original play if he wasn’t important in some shape or form? The ghost has many important roles to fill in the play and removing him would only degrade the play and confuse the audience. All in all, including the ghost on stage is the best option. Disincluding the ghost only serves to provide a confused audience along with a less exciting play. Including the ghost intensifies the play, helps the audience understand the play better, and helps them relate to Macbeth.
In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye explains the rationale behind Banquo's ghost in this play:
Following this murder, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet. He is filled with feelings of regret and, as a result of his troubled mind, sees Banquo's ghost.
This scene sets the atmosphere for the rest of the play. If this scene was not there it would be difficult for the audience to understand how later scenes are linked or how these three women can tell Macbeth’s future. Also if elements of the supernatural were not used in Act 1 Scene 1, as they have been, the witches could not be shown as sinister and evil. These two elements of horror, “sinister” and “evil” would later be used to explain the cause of the three witches’ behaviour further on in the play.
Macbeth doesn't want Banquo to be in any part of his life, that's why why he killed him. Now that he's come back as a ghost (he's trembling/scared that Banquo will never leave him alone)
The witches are giving Macbeth his fate. The entire time he is not interested in his fate but only in his downfall. Another thing that was displayed throughout this scene is the fact that even know the vision only appeared once the vision is reoccuring within Macbeth’s mind. Macbeth’s mind is so clouded with the fact that he is “ Invincible” it almost makes him into a ghost, who only sees power and killing. This quote could play both ways as a ghost or a vision is a literal or physical
When Macbeth begins talking to a ghost, his insanity becomes very apparent to the reader. From another one of the witches prophesies, Macbeth is threatened by Banquo because his sons are to be king one day as well. Macbeth begins to see Banquo’s and makes foolish comments. He says, “[Macbeth] The table’s full… [Lennox] Here is a place reserved sir. [Macbeth] Where? [Ross] Gentlemen, rise, his Highness is not well.” (3:4:47-49,53) In this quote Macbeth demonstrates his insanity because he thinks that the table is full and does not realize that the ghost he sees is invisible to the other sane people in the room. The others notice that Macbeth is insane as well because Ross even suggests that he is not well. Macbeth also appears to be insane when he tries to talk to the ghost. Macbeth says “[To the ghost] Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!” (3:4:93-94) Here, Macbeth is talking to the ghost and
In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye explains the rationale behind Banquo's ghost in this play:
Seeing the ghost of Banquo is the breaking point for Macbeth. The ghost also causes him to think more irrationally, which leads to the murder of Macduff. Also, after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is full of regret and guilt. The voices he hears reflect his mental state. “Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!”
(Hamlet, et al., 1998 Shakespeare, 1992, 1.4, 100) after the ghost appears from the watch. Furthermore, in the play Macbeth, the ghost of Banquo taunts Macbeth. which ultimately brings about fear in the audience. In other words,
These apparitions, if done right, could potentially be visually spectacular, having a serious impact on the audience, invoking fear and terror. These supernatural elements, combined with Shakespeare’s use of language and possible stagecraft, will have a dramatic effect on the audience as Shakespeare intended. In conclusion, supernatural elements feature throughout Macbeth, from the witches to apparitions and daggers. The only elements of the occult present in Macbeth, if we are to abide by the given definition, are the characters of the witches. In order for the dramatic effect that Shakespeare intended for the play to have on its audience, which it did in front of an Elizabethan audience, then a heavy amount of stagecraft concerning costumes, scenery and props will have to be applied to the performance.
From the very beginning of the play, supernatural and unnatural forces have inspired and encouraged Macbeth. They interfere with natural events and completely change the character of Macbeth and his wife. Witches, apparitions, ghosts, and other unnatural images are used to demonstrate the evil effects and consequences those forces can have. Shakespeare is successful in telling his audience that only evil will come when Macbeth or any other person tampers with natural forces for personal gain.
Taking the view I do of Lay Macbeth's character, I cannot accept the idea (held, I believe, by her great representative, Mrs. Siddons) that in the banquet scene the ghost of Banquo, which appears to Macbeth, is seen at the same time by his wife, but that, in consequence of her greater command over herself, she not only exhibits no sign of perceiving the apparition, but can, with its hideous form and gesture within a few fee of her, rail at Macbeth in that language of scathing irony . . . (117)
Banquo's ghost highlights Macbeth's hypocrisy, when he tries to deceive the others at the banquet, at drinking a toast to his friend Banqo, making him realise that he cannot easily hide behind pretence. All these forms of the supernatural help to play a huge roll in the destruction of Macbeth, and without the supernatural, the play would not be as interesting and exciting, and also would not end with the same disastrous consequences. The supernatural causes Macbeth to betray his king, as well as becoming a traitor to his own country, which he certainly would not have done if he were his own self. The supernatural therefore shapes the events of the play; while the narrative gives the audience and readers insight into the central characters, and makes them feel emotionally involved in the story.
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
The play starts out with the ghost, dressed in the late king’s war attire, walking past the guards on duty. One of the guards interprets the ghosts passage as being a bad omen of something horrendous to befall soon: “In what particular thought to work I know not,/ But in the gross and scope of mine opinion/ This bodes some strange eruption to our state.”(Shakespeare I.i). This clearly foreshadows a major tragedy since supernatural figures were associated with Satan and damnation during Shakespeare’s time. After the guards speculate about the ghost, and who the ghost is supposed to be, it suddenly disappears as the sun rises. The guards find this to also be a warning, since the ghost only came out at night, and “faded on the c...