Macbeth wrongly convinced two men that Banquo was responsible for all of Scotland’s poverty. Macbeth is seen to be a very greedy man, and through these actions, he shows that he will go to any length to maintain his power as a king. “Know 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,” (III, I, 79-83) in the lines Macbeth is talking to the two murderers making it seem like Banquo was the heart and root of all the problems they had. Macbeth not only manipulated the two men but lied, not telling them the real reason he wanted Banquo dead.
Both the witches and Lady Macbeth are involved in Macbeth’s sins, but they never actually wield the knife. Every time, Macbeth actually does what other characters merely suggest. The witches tell Macbeth “All hail Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter”, and this prophecy, without mentioning murder, leads Macbeth to jump to the conclusion of killing King Duncan (1.3.48). When the witches tell Macbeth’s comrade (and foil) Banquo “Thou shalt get kings, though thou shalt be none. /So all hail Macbeth and Banquo.” Banquo doubts them, and the prophecy is fulfilled regardless of his inaction (1.3.65-66).
First is the prophecy that the three witches proclaim to him and Banquo in the forest. This occasion is what starts the entire debate of possessing power or not through violence. Next is Lady Macbeth for the reason that she is thinking of the benefits being the queen will have. Lastly, Macbeth’s own ambition of gaining power and seeking the love he does not wish to be lost from his wife compels him to accomplish the cowardly act of murdering King Duncan while he is asleep. So far, Shakespeare wanted the audience to not necessarily villainize Macbeth, but see him in a bad
The witches prophecy was intimidating towards Macbeth and makes him feel pressured. “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (I.iii.48). The witches believe that Macbeth will become the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and the king. Macbeth is confused about the prophecy. If the prophecy is good, Macbeth considers performing a bad action.
In fact, Macbeth becomes fascinated by them, "would they had stayed." Banquo serves as his conscience, perhaps representing the period audience who would have also thought the witches to be evil and unnatural, and warns him of the dangers of trusting such supernatural messengers; a warning that goes unheeded. After hearing the prophecy, Macbeth already thinks about, "murder," and becomes preoccupied with thoughts of becoming king showing the powerful hold they have over him with only one meeting, scaring the audience who would have believed in Witches. Macbeth believes the Witches as there first prophecy came true and ignores the fact that they’re evil beings whereas Banquo recognizes them for what they are. He even informs his most beloved, Lady Macbeth, who also shares his ambition.
Throughout this sinister story, terror proved to be the most potent force in influencing the actions made by its characters. Macbeth, and all those defying his rule were driven by dread. Macbeth’s thirst for power was speedily overtaken by paranoia after murdering King Duncan, resulting in him having even his best friend murdered, not to mention Macduff’s wife and children. We know Macbeth killed his best friend from how he spoke of him in the following lines: “There is none but he/ Whose being
Macbeth starts Act 1 Scene 1 with the presence of three witches. Introducing these characters at the start of the play informs the reader that the supernatural will play an influential role throughout. In Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth and Banquo are returning to Duncan from battle, when they come across the three witches. It is important to note that Macbeth and Banquo killed Macdonwald, a traitor of Duncan. Prior to being slain, Macdonwald was the Thane of Cawdor.
To further emphasize, the ghost, which Macbeth fears, is not of Duncan but instead, it is of Banquo. This shows Banquo’s significance in Macbeth as it demonstrates Banquo’s greater impact to Macbeth compared to Duncan. Duncan was his king, whom Macbeth was loyal to at the beginning, however, he betrayed him by murdering him to get the crown. On the other hand, Banquo was his partner in hardship, whom Macbeth trusted and was close to. Similarly, he sent murderers to kill him as he was fearful of the loss of his kingship.
In William Shakespeare's, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth is a noble warrior who had to kill the king, Duncan, in order to take the crown due to prophecies he was told by the witches. After the murder many people were suspicious of Macbeth including his friend Banquo. Macbeth knows the prophecy of Banquo as well, he shall be father of kings, and since Macbeth is king he has to do something about that. He hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. The audience is supposed to accept Banquo's ghost as a fantasy representing Macbeth's guilty conscience.
The witches manipulate Macbeth, telling him half of the truth in the prophecies, especially in the third prophecy involving Macbeth becoming king. Without Macbeth realizing the minor fault in these prophecies, he starts to gradually become more ambitious and more determined to kill Duncan in order to become king quickly as possible. The witches advance the plot again later in the play when Macbeth demands answer of his fate. They show Macbeth three more prophecies spoken by apparition; a head wearing a battle helmet, a blood-covered child, and a child wearing a crown and carrying a tree. The witches show Macbeth the three apparitions who tell him, Beware Macduff; / Beware the thane of Fife… Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn