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Macbeth's Soliloquy Analysis

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By Act III, Macbeth has accepted Banquo posses a great threat to his kingdom and is no longer his friend. The witches ' prophecies come back as Macbeth questions whether his actions were for his benefit or those of Banquo 's sons. Macbeth 's soliloquy reveals the extent of his character 's change: power and guilt have consumed his conscience, he 's become deranged and paranoid over irrational fears, and he displays characteristics opposite of those from earlier acts. All these elements expose a new Macbeth.
Power has corrupted Macbeth 's mind. His famous soliloquy reveals how different of a character he now is. Macbeth has become extremely paranoid of Banquo; He fears Banquo is plotting something against him. Macbeth fears Banquo 's nobility and his "dauntless" mind. The passage suggests Macbeth 's mental state is crumbling from irrational fear and the corruptive effects that come with power. Up until the soliloquy, Banquo has shown no signs of harming Macbeth, yet Macbeth says, "There is none but he / Whose being I do fear:" (III, i, 57-58). This is one example of Macbeth 's irrational thoughts. What does Macbeth have to fear if Banquo has done nothing yet? This fear clearly stems from the witches ' prophetic vision. Macbeth was told that Banquo would be a father of kings, yet Macbeth would have none. Macbeth later compares himself to Marcus Antonius, claiming his guardian angel fears Banquo just as Marc Anthony 's feared Caesar. The strangest part is the fact that Macbeth views …show more content…

Macbeth views himself as Marc Anthony, and Banquo as Julius Caesar. This stubbornness leads to his paranoia of Banquo, and disappoint with being king. The crown and scepter are useless to him because no son of his will wield them. He lives in constant fear believing he isn’t safe. Macbeth’s thoughts and actions in Act III contradict those of earlier acts and scenes revealing a change of

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