Is Banquo Responsible For Macbeth

Even though Banquo assures Macbeth of his loyalty, Macbeth’s paranoia takes control of him and makes him see Banquo as a threat to his rule since Banquo was the only other person to witness the witches’ prophecy (Moyer, 2015, p. 35). Moreover, the part of the prophecy that states that Banquo “shalt get kings” (Shakespeare, 1606, Act 1, Scene 3, Line 69) further ignites Macbeth’s paranoia. By killing Banquo, Macbeth is cast in stark contrast to Duncan, who acknowledged his people’s loyalty and rewarded them instead of killing them for fear of losing his

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

“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings though thou be none.” said Banquo while he was directly involved with the witches, when he talked to them in person. At first he was very different than Macbeth, he was an innocent person accompanied by a guilty man, this contrast lasted until his death. Although never fully changed it slowly went away as the play goes on. Banquo is actually described as a much better person than Macbeth as a chosen one of the witches. There were other characters besides Banquo who were affected by the prophecies. Duncan being one of the primary ones. Because of the prophecies he was killed off very early in the play. The witches were the ones who caused this evil action to occur which greatly affected Duncan and Banquo.

Banquo won’t support Macbeth if he get to crown immorally. Macbeth didn’t listen to Banquo. He listened to the evil instead of following his conscience. The witches also told Macbeth to fear Macduff. After Macbeth heard this, he killed Macduff’s whole family. He believed everything that the witches told him, instead of overriding their prophecy and following his morals. Instead of doing the right thing, he committed multiple murders to try to cover up the previous ones.

He realizes that if he want to start his own dynasty, then he will have to have control of all the variables. Then Macbeth began to think, “For Banquo’s issues have I filed my mind;/ For them the gracious Duncan I have murdered” (Shakespeare 85). He realizes that he has set himself up to fail. He is cleared a path to the crown for Banquo’s kin. Macbeth goes on to state, “He chid the sisters/ When first they put the name of king upon me” (Shakespeare 85). This give the readers the thought that Banquo is jealous of the king. Macbeth, not wanting to risk his crown, calls for some outside murderers. As I stated earlier, Macbeth knew he must get rid of Banquo and his sons. He succeeds in having Banquo killed, but Banquo’s son, Fleance (the one person Macbeth needed to kill), escapes.

After he had attained his destiny, Macbeth felt that Banquo would become a serious threat. He did not like the fact that Banquo was destined to be a father to a whole line of kings. "Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared...If `t be so, for Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered..."(85). The path Macbeth chooses to take in order to stay at the throne was to have Banquo killed. But, Macbeth was never destined to kill anyone. Killing Duncan, Banquo and Macduff's whole household were all his decisions to attain his destiny.

Macbeth finally understands the Witches actions toward Banquo, “They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my gri, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If't be so, For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;” (III.i.60-66) Killing Duncan was one way but to live his olden days Banquo has to go. The witches proversided that Banquo was not going to be kings but his sons would.

Macbeth thinks about what he’s going to do to Banquo, and he thinks on about what the witches had prophesied to him; “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren scepter in my gripe, thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, no son of mine succeeding. ”(3.1.61-64) Macbeth is analyzing the situation, causing him to realize that Banquo would become more powerful than him because Banquo was prophesied that his family would be royal. Macbeth is jealous of Banquo with his endless line of successful leaders, therefore Banquo and his family would end up having more power than Macbeth. Since Macbeth wanted more power, he needed Banquo dead.

He killed his way to power and wanted no advice from anyone but his own. Firstly, Macbeth killed his best friend so his kids wouldn’t take his spot as king. Banquo was also part of the prophecy that told Macbeth that he would be king. It said that Banquo would not get much of a promotion but that his kids would be kings and rulers after him.

This scene is the first time that the reader is introduced to Banquo, and the first time that Banquo and Macbeth meet the three witches. We see the witches as anomalous and peculiar creatures based on Banquo’s reaction to them. Upon arrival Banquo insults the witches. He insults how they look and how they dress. “So withered, and so wild in their attire”(1.3.41) ,Macbeth and Banquo were trying to get to Forress when they saw the witches, Banquo seemed startled by the creatures they came across, they were nothing like what he had seen before. At this moment in the scene he did not know whether the witches were even alive. “Live you? Or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me” (1.3.43-45)They were so different that he couldn’t even tell whether they were alive or dead, nor if they could understand human language. He continues to denigrate the witches without knowing them. One can argue that this was because Banquo was intimidated by them. People are afraid of what they don’t understand, Banquo might have felt threatened and insulted them just to show that they didn’t unnerve him.

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.

The mood established at the beginning of Macbeth is ominous and evil. The presence of the witches sets a scene that something horrible is about to happen. The Three Weird Sisters are servants of Hecate, Greek goddess of magic, witchcraft, and ghosts. When they are first introduced they are talking about spells and witchcraft, which gives the audience the idea that something terrible is going to happen and Macbeth will be included in this tragedy. Banquo is said to have kings as his descendents while Macbeth is hailed as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king hereafter.

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

3. Macbeth offering Banquo the chance to save himself, reveals that Macbeth cares about Banquo. Macbeth and Banquo fight together and know each other better than anyone else. Banquo regards Macbeth as, “My noble partner” (Mac. 1.3.57). Macbeth also cares more about Banquo because he is a kind and moral man. Macbeth blames Banquo for defiling his mind, proving that Macbeth is a religious man. An additional proof are his nerves when planning the murders. Macbeth is more nervous during the murder of King Duncan because he committing a holy regicide against God. After acquiring the kingship, Macbeth faces his next challenge. When feeling threatened by Banquo he declares, “To be thus is nothing,/ But to be safely thus” (Mac. 3.1.52-53). The murder

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.