The Real Macbeth

Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were as cannons overcharged with double cracks..." (Act 1, Scene 2). In fact, Banquo even states, "Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear thou played’st most foully for ’t. Yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, but that myself should be the root and father of many kings. If there come truth from them— As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine— Why, by the verities on thee made good..." (Act 3, Scene 1). Here, Banquo admits that he knows Macbeth killed the King to gain the crown, and rather than being outraged or tempted to tell someone, he hopes that his fortune will come true as well. Banquo knew what Macbeth was up to, but chose to not act because he wanted his descendants to become Kings. He was tired of being in Macbeth's shadow and for once wanted the glory. It is because of this that Banquo should be responsible for the death of King

“Macbeth” and “Macbeth retold” by Mark Brozel, share many comparisons yet have many vital differences.

Later in the story, Macbeth does in fact gave Banquo killed and attempts to kill his lineage in fear that Banquo's line will take his throne.

Many people know about William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and know that it is a good play but not many people know that Shakespeare used Raphael Holinshed’s “Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland” as a source. In both stories there are many differences and similarities but the main one is the character Macbeth. Macbeth is a character in both stories but they both give him different and similar personalities, actions, and feelings.

Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, is a play that transcends time due to its timeless and universal themes. The themes presented in this play are just as relevant to modern audiences as they would have been to contemporary Elizabethan audiences. The play has been able to maintain its textual integrity, withstanding the fact that it is now performed out of its original context to remain a successful play for modern audiences. The issues of heroism, abuse of power and the deceptiveness of appearances are all key within the play, conveyed through the use of dramatic and literary techniques, are issues which still resonate with contemporary audiences. Shakespeare has tested the parameters of the conventional tragedy that was extremely popular during his lifetime and in doing so has created text, which is still relevant today.

But, later on in the play we learn by the witched that Banquo's descendants will become King and that they will prosper. It says “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”, when Macbeth learns about this and hears about it he is scared and then eventually considers Banquo as a threat to him to become King. So Macbeth has to come up with a solution to this and eventually comes up with the solution that he must murder Banquo and his son Fleance. He gets two murders to go out and murder Banquo and his son while they are walking so that his promise of becoming king will not be in jeopardy. This is an ironic act of betrayal because Macbeth and Banquo have been friends for a long time and have done everything together. Banquo was not just his friend he was also the co-commander of the army and had some power in Scotland.

2. Setting: Macbeth took place during the eleventh century (The Middle Ages) (“SparkNotes”), briefly in England, but mainly in Scotland. The social environment valued friendship among free, white,, and relatively equal men. There was a significant amount of religious conflict, women were held as inferior to men, and the monarch was an important figurehead. The atmosphere of the book is quite dark. For the most part, Macbeth’s ambition terrifies himself because he fears the consequences of his evil deeds. Therefore, this tragic play has a sinister atmosphere of despair. Macbeth is haunting and ominous, significant in the way it portrays Macbeth as a crazed lunatic with a dangerous ambition. Shakespeare wrote the play for his new patron, James VI of Scotland, honoring him through Banquo. The play still holds significance today as it teaches people to beware of dark power and extreme ambition.

It is the knowledge that Banquo has that causes Macbeth to turn his hands red with blood again. The king is suspicious, if not afraid, of Banquo and decides the only way he will be free of his worries would be to kill him. Macbeth also shows jealousy of Banquo, as he wonders why he will not lead a line of kings, rather than Banquo. Macbeth also begins to feel anger towards the weird sisters, as he begins to believe that he has been chosen to do the dirty work, while it is Banquo's descendants that will reap the benefits. It is the sum of these two matters- Banquo's loyalties and Macbeth's line of heirs- that he chooses to kill once more. Furthermore, his decision to hire the murderers and exactly how he gets them to turn against Banquo is another step towards the darkening of his soul. He uses the technique that Lady Macbeth used on him to murder Duncan; Macbeth told the murderers of Banquo's "wrongs"

This resource is designed as a reference guide for teachers. We have listed the major themes and motifs within Macbeth and provided examples of scenes where you can study them.

Macbeth fears Banquo’s descendents will take his kingship. He thinks that Banquo should be murdered to stop it from happening, “And though I could / With barefaced power sweep him from my sight / And bid my will avouch it” (3.1.134-136). In the quote, Macbeth is says that he would kill Banquo and offer his desire for Banquo’s death as sufficient justification for killing him (Shakespeare 88). Macbeth does not murder Banquo but cons murderers into committing the violence. Macbeth is not thinking clearly though because he would know that violence only breeds more violence. The murderers kill Banquo and further continue the

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character’s goal is to become the king. Macbeth seeks to gain as much power as he possibly can and this ultimately leads to his demise. He hears the prophecy of the witches and becomes so obsessed with fulfilling the prophecy because it states that he will eventually become king. Having this information, Macbeth goes out of his way to force the prophecy to come true. He becomes so power hungry that he tries to force fate leaving him with an undeniable guilt for his actions, the loss of love from the people who once loved him, and a harsh death in the end.

After killing King Duncan , Macbeth is starting to realize what it is that he has done, and becomes suspicious and paranoid of everyone around him by puting spy's in every castle and killing those who are any treat to him what so ever. Banquo is the only other person who knows of the meeting with the witches and he would assume that it was Macbeth who killed the King. The witches also said that Banquo would beget kings but he himself would never be king after Macbeth, and so Macbeth decides that Banquo is a threat to him. To get rid of the treat with banquo he decides to kill him and his son Fleance.

‘Macbeth’ is a play by William Shakespeare that shows a protagonist going from bad to worse throughout the play. Shakespeare wrote this play, taking in mind current affairs at the time of 1603-1606. This is the time when a Scottish king, James I was given the English crown. This king was obsessed with witches, so Shakespeare brought this theme strongly into the play. It also brings the theme of treachery towards the King. This pleased King James and also pleased him about showing the line of Stuart Kings, James descendants, in Act 4, Scene 1.

Macbeth was born in c. 1005 at Alba, Scotland. His parent’s names’ are Findlaech mac Ruaidri and Doada. Macbeth’s father was Mormaer of Moray until he was killed by his cousin’s, Malcolm and Gillecomgain, which was possibly brought on by Findlaech being too close to Malcolm II. His mother was the second daughter of Malcolm II (bio.com). Macbeth married Gruoch, also mentioned by the name of Lady Macbeth in the play, and she had a son named Lulach, which made him Macbeth’s stepson (Heydt, 55-7). Macbeth died on August 15, 1057 at Lumphanan, Scotland. He was buried in the Holy Isle of Iony, which was where many of the Scottish kings were buried (bio.com).

As a virgin to The Shakespeare Theatre, I was pleasantly surprised when my recent encounter with Macbeth was a stimulating and enjoyable excursion. The two and a half hours I had predicted to be less than enchanting were filled with symbolism, and an overall attitude towards the Shakespeare classic that I had never contemplated before.