Power seems like a magnificent thing to have. However, many aren’t sure how to use it, and in the wrong hands, terror will rise among people. Macbeth, a man in the story “The tragedy of Macbeth” was in this situation. He was a soldier who was heroic, brave, and ambitious. He was also a happily married man. This would change as soon as the idea of being a king and having power would enter his mind. Macbeth changed because of his desire to keep his power to himself and found comfort in hurting others to keep it. At the beginning of the book Macbeth shows he has a good heart. His state of mind changes after receiving word that he would become king of Scotland. While with his good friend Banquo, he comes across 3 witches whom each share news …show more content…
“Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” & “Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail Macbeth, and Banquo. Your children and descendants will be kings.” (1.3 50-73)” Neither of them had an idea these things would happen, which gets them both thinking about it. Banquo is more doubtful of his future, while Macbeth is more excited about it. Macbeth explains to his wife what he learned, and she is eager to get control early on. This is the beginning of an evil Macbeth. His wife believes that Macbeth is too soft and not demanding or strong like she is, so she tries to force him to do things he is hesitant to do to speed up the process of being in power. Soon after she finds out about the prophecies, Macbeth makes his first murder, forced by his wife, done by criticism of his manliness. “When you durst do it, then you …show more content…
So far, Macbeth has gotten away with murder and is now the new king of Scotland. Banquo hears the news of Duncan’s death, and even though he was laughing at the prophecies, he recalls what he was told and tries to connect the dots. Banquo isn’t 100% sure of it, but he is concluding that Macbeth is the real killer who is trying to make the witches' Prophecies come true. Macbeth finds out about Banquo's suspicions and is afraid he will get caught, but has a plan. “Your spirits shine through you. 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, And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness. And with him— To 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. Resolve yourselves apart. I’ll come to you anon.”(3.1.142-154).” Macbeth is furious that his good friend suspects him of a killer so he orders 2 murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, not only to keep his throne and name clean but also to keep the rest of the prophecies from coming true: Banquo’s sons becoming king
After murdering King Duncan he realizes that he is just one step closer to the crown. As a result, he has the desire to kill anyone who stands in his way of him getting the throne. Banquo stands in his way as he knows that King Duncan needed to killed. In this case, Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. He tells the murderers, “To leave no rubs nor botches in the work /
The prediction also leads to his notion that he killed King Duncan for Banquo’s sons. As a result, the witches’ prophecy compels Macbeth to hire murderers to kill Banquo and
He tries everything he can to rid himself of the witches' forecasts. He dispatches assassins to kill Banquo and his son as soon as he recalls the prophecy that Banquo will be greater than him. When the three witches reveal their final prophecies, he feels safe. Macbeth's murder of the king exemplifies his attempt to
When the Witches' prophecy states Banquoes son will become king one day, Macbeth quickly acts and remarks, "I am settled, and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat" (3.1.92-93). Macbeth decides to have Banquo and his son Fleance killed, despite his initial reluctance to harm his friend. Macbeth's determination remains evident in his language as he declares his resolve to carry out the "terrible feat," and in his interactions with the murderers he hires. Clearly, Macbeth's determination to maintain his hold on power overrides his moral qualms and personal relationships. Macbeth's actions as a King seem to only promote and help himself which becomes known when he states, "I'll make assurance double sure, / And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; / That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, / And sleep in spite of thunder" (3.4.90-93).
During a soliloquy in act 3 scene 1 Banquo seems very suspicious of Macbeth and how he is now King. During this soliloquy he says “Thou hast it now—king, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weïrd Women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ’t” (3.1.1-3). Even Macbeth’s best friend is wondering if Macbeth was the one who killed duncan. These two events are huge turning points in the play because if it is found that Macbeth is the murderer, we will see the eventual downfall of Macbeth and he will lose everything that he and Lady Macbeth have including their
After killing King Duncan, Macbeth had to find someone else to lay the blame on so that he did not look guilty. Since Banquo had heard the prophecies, Macbeth had him killed to eliminate that source of suspicion and to ensure that his children never became kings as it was promised. However, that alone was not enough. He accused 3 men of the murder of King Duncan. Alongside of his wife, they devised a sly plan that involved setting up the king’s grooms.
With Macbeth being a general in the Scottish military, he had major influences on people and their daily lives. After the murder of King Duncan, Banquo’s suspicion of who committed the murders arose around a single suspect, Macbeth. Knowing that Banquo most likely knew the truth that Macbeth killed King Duncan, Macbeth went back to his evil ways with ease. Through his attendant, Macbeth summons three murderers. Shakespeare introduces the murders with stage direction “[Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers]” (Shakespeare, 363), in which Macbeth he uses Banquo as bait in order to gain their graces and loyalty “That it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self: this I made good to you in our last conference, pass'd in probation with you, how you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments, who wrought with them, and all things else that might, so half a soul and to a notion crazed, Say 'Thus did Banquo.'”
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee. Thane of Cawdor! Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!
To Duncan he was the “worthiest cousin”; to the wounded sergeant “Valour’s minion”; to Banquo, “My noble partner”. King Duncan cannot reward him enough for all he has done. “More is thy due than more than all can pay”. Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor, but begins to be tempted by his own “vaulting ambition” to become king.
Second Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!(1.3.47-50)
This demonstrates that rather let Banquo be king, he is going to challenge and fight him for his crown. Banquo is the only person that knows about the prophecy and he is also suspicious of Macbeth killing Duncan. Instead of letting Banquo's’ son receiving the crown easily, Macbeth is going to challenge him for the crown. In order that Macbeth can be king, he has to kill Banquo and his son, so they don’t take crown from
To Macbeth they say “All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!/All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee thane of Cawdor!/All hail Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter” (Shakespeare ), revealing to him that he shall become thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland. The witches inform Banquo that he will “get kings, though thou be none” (Shakespeare).
After achieving the title of the King of Scotland, Macbeth wants to secure his position as the king and desires to inherit the Scottish throne to his ancestors. His aim was showed in “To be thus is nothing, /But to be safely thus” (III, i, 52-3). This quote reveals that Macbeth not only wanted to become the king but also wants to secure his position as the King of Scotland for the welfare of his upcoming generation. This reveals Macbeth’s is implying the witches’ prophecies; as long Banquo’s sons live, Macbeth’s throne would not be able to inherit down to his ancestors. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as represented through, “Banquo, thy soul’s flight, /If
In act 1 the witches came across Banquo and Macbeth as they were casting a spell. The witches start with Macbeth they give him many prophecies: That he would be Thane of Glamis, then Thane of Cawdor, then eventually king. Up next the witches give Banquo his prophecy “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.70-72) This is the witches telling Banquo that he is the father of many kings. Macbeth tries to find out more from the witches“Stay, you imperfect speakers.
They told Macbeth that he was going to be king, and told Banquo that his children were going to be king. With the knowledge that there is a possibility to become king, along with the selfish human nature, noble Macbeth was easily swayed by this prophecy. At first, Macbeth’s conscience took care of his ambitions, he was afraid he would betray the king, because he knew that he was “his kinsman and his subject” (1.7.13). However as the three witches continue to encourage Macbeth with carefully chosen words, he eventually pushes his conscience away and committed crimes that were dishonourable. Macbeth, easily controlled by his ambitions, loses his noble and heroic title in fear of losing his power.