My Dearest Banquo In Shakespeare's Macbeth'

Act 3, scene 2, of Shakespeare’s, Macbeth, displays a conversation in which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss the still-evident threats to Macbeth’s throne. Despite Macbeth murdering Duncan, Macbeth feels anxious of the prophecy the weird sisters foresaw, and does not wish for future descendants of Banquo to claim the throne. Throughout the scene, Macbeth continually references the importance of murdering Banquo and Banquo’s son, Fleance, but Macbeth never clearly states his intentions. Macbeth feels that rather than knowing his plans for Banquo and Fleance, Lady Macbeth should, “Be innocent of the knowledge, […], Till thou applaud the deed.”(3.2.47-48), stating that Lady Macbeth must not be aware of Macbeth’s plans until they are

Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is a tragedy about a man who believes the prophecy that was told to him by three witches saying he will become the Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. In addition, Macbeth encountered many obstacles before reaching his goal which is becoming the king of Scotland. Lady Macbeth questions whether he is a man because he hesitates to kill innocent people that are in his way. Moreover, the witches gained nothing from telling Macbeth the prophecy that made him end up being killed in the end. Unfortunately, this reminder of his guilt does not prevent him from continuing acts.

Banquo's purpose in the play is the quintessential foil of Macbeth, both in acting, as well as in meaning. Shakespeare utilizes Banquo in order to create opposite moods to what is the drive of the play, which is Macbeth and his wife plotting, scheming, and murdering, by offering great solid blocks of integrity, passion, and goodness, that slightly descend into questioning. In contrast to Macbeth's ambitious state, his transformation into an immoral form of such a state, and his acting on such, Shakespeare creates Banquo in order to give the reader a feeling for contrasting points in order to augment, and practically create, the play.

Although some may argue that Macbeth is responsible for King Duncan's death because he was the one to murder him, Banquo is actually the one to blame because he could have stopped it from happening. From the second the witches told the men their fortune and the prophecies came true, Banquo knew that things would end poorly, "All’s well. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have showed some truth." (Act 2, Scene 1). Why would Banquo be dreaming about the witches and wondering if Macbeth was alright unless he was questioning how Macbeth received the witches' predictions? As one of King Duncan's most trusted men, Banquo should have notified the King of the witches and the fortunes they told. Truth be told, one can't help but wonder if Banquo wanted to see

   In William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth the main two characters are worthless knaves because they have forsaken their moral values. The next character with stature is Banquo, whose prowess in battle ranks him alongside Macbeth. He lives a moral life and is heroic for this in a sense.

What a kind man Banquo is, always looking out for the interest of others. Too bad he won’t be around much longer to continue doing so. He must be killed. It is the only way to protect my throne. Banquo may be my friend and my trusted colleague and he is a good, noble man but he is a threat to me. His living will lead to my demise. The prophecy the witches predict, knowing that he will father a long line of kings if he lives, leaves me frozen in fear. I have no heir to the throne, I have no one. I know that Banquo suspects that I killed Duncan, I can tell by the way he acts around me. He is tense and uneasy. He isn’t wrong to be. But if he speaks of his suspicion that I murdered Duncan, my rule will surely be at risk.

Quotation #2: “It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,/ Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it./ The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms/ Do mock their charge with snores” (Mac. 2.2.5-8).

Macbeth stood in front of the mirror, disheveled and tired wondering when his life took a left turn. Was it after he killed his loyal friend Duncan? Or when put a target on Banquo's head for another to deal with. Either way, he knew his actions were unjust but somehow he did not feel sympathetic. Macbeth's only mission was to hide his actions and make it through Banquo's Funeral.

At the conclusion of a hazy, drunken night, King Duncan proceeded to his chamber in Macbeth’s castle, to which King Duncan was a guest for the evening. As it has turned out, that night would be his last. In an act of treason against the “Gracious Duncan”, the two chamberlains, Scotiae Proditor and Haereticum Impii stabbed the King to death (III.i.67). At that precise

From the outset, Shakespeare brings loyalty very much to the fore. In the initial stages of the extract, Macbeth questions Banquo by asking, 'do you not hope that your children shall be kings'. The questioning employed here by Shakespeare suggests to the audience that Macbeth is attempting to determine where Banquo's loyalties lie, what his feelings are regarding the very real prospect in Macbeth's eyes of his descendants becoming king. Some may also believe that in addition to testing him, he is doing his utmost to convince Banquo to see the situation in the same light that he does. That approach is supported by the phrase 'do you not hope'. Shakespeare may be informing the audience that Macbeth here is seeking a clear-cut demonstration that would leave him in no doubt as to whether loyalty to the King, to Macbeth or to ambition would take precedence as far as Banquo is concerned. However, it is important to note that Shakespeare may well be seeking to convey to the audience that although it could be said that Macbeth is scrutinising and persuading Banquo, he is doing so in a subtle manner. The audience knows that Macbeth isn't making his intentions and motives blatantly obvious, he is keeping his cards relatively close to his chest in that sense.

King Duncan has been invited into Macbeth’s home, to dine and enjoy himself. He expects to have a great time and is ridiculously thankful, yet what makes this ironic is the fact that the hostess that he is praising is conspiring to kill him-he will be murdered that night. This represents the duplicitous nature of Macbeth, as the outward nobility of his character is contrasted greatly to his true spirit.

Julio Villarreal English 4-W Professor Zirulnik January 18, 2015 The Tragedy of Macbeth Macbeth and his wife invite thanes of Scotland to a banquet with means of proving themselves throne-worthy. Much like the ethereal dagger that leads to Duncan's room, the ghost of Banquo appears at the banquet constantly, pushing Macbeth into random fits of rage and despair. Macbeth’s first order of events as a king is this exquisite banquet, a supposed representation of great discipline and benevolence, which becomes a wicked mockery of itself. Instead of Macbeth gathering with his subjects as he would wish, he is thrown off by the bloody apparition of his former ally. Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel tackles Macbeth in a true-to-the-origin fashion in

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and mourn the death of King Duncan. Sadly he was taken from us too soon. he was murdered by one of his own men. Someone he trusted. Someone who he thought he could count on. The eve of this murder is dark and stormy. This world is not and will not be the same without him. His friend Macduff found his corpse and said, “Approach the chamber , and destroy your sight. With a new Gorgon do not bid me speak, see and speak for yourselfs”. It seems that the kingdom is not as great as it was when King Duncan was alive. He will indeed be greatly missed. All hail King Duncan! He is still our king. Let his name live forever!

A homograph is a word that is spelled the same but can be pronounced differently or have different meanings. Different pronunciations of the word are used based on the context of the sentence it is in. This same idea is also true of people. Two people can have the exact same experiences, yet react to it in completely different ways. Characters in literature often reflect this same phenomenon, foil characters with identical aspects who react differently to circumstance. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, Banquo serves as a foil character to Macbeth emphasizing Macbeth’s unchecked ambition, a fatal flaw, that leads to his ultimate moral decline.

Characters in plays begin to become influenced as their stories unfold. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, two prominent characters Macbeth and Banquo have certain differences and similarities, and as the play progresses, contrasting attributes of both characters begin to appear. Both characters uniquely develop in the play, portraying eminent leadership skills, while possessing contrasting attributes towards temptation, and relationships with their families.