The Significance of the Banquet Scene in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The Significance of the Banquet Scene in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The scene opens with Macbeth's warm welcome to the lords. This

composure is soon broken when Banquo's murderer appears. His guilt

manifests itself as Banquo's ghost and sends him into a frenzy of

apparently irrational behaviour. Lady Macbeth who is unable to see the

ghost is unsupportive and embarrassed by his outburst. The banquet

ends abruptly when Lady Macbeth feels obliged to ask the guests to

leave.

This scene represents a turning point in the character development of

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Before this scene Macbeth appears to be a

strong character however still needing a gentle push from his wife for

encouragement in this scene he breaks down entirely and even Lady

Macbeth can not reassure him. This is also the last scene in which we

see Lady Macbeth before she starts sleepwalking and reliving the night

She And

Macbeth killed Duncan. In this scene she plays the elegant hostess

conscious of the pomp and ceremony of the occasion. She becomes

embarrassed when Macbeth Goes into his fit WHILE reassuring the guests

"feed and regard him not". She then proceeds to insult MACBETH SAYING

THAT IF HE WAS REALLY A MAN THEN THIS IMAGE FROM HIS IMAGINATION

WOULDN'T SCARE HIM. "Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When

alls done you look but at a stool"

This scene also gives us an insight into the relationship between Lady

Macbeth and Macbeth. Instead of wondering what is wrong with her

husband Lady Macbeth only is more concerned about the fact that he is

embarrassing her and instead of giving him words of encouragement she

merely insults his manhood. Their relationship at this point appears a

lot weaker than previously in the play for example in Act 1 scene 5 in

Macbeth's letter he confides in his wife telling everything about the

witches and late in that scene they plan Duncan's murder together. But

in the Banquet scene they both appear to have LOST some of the

closeness and follow their own agendas.