Responsibility Of Banquo's Downfall In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence” Here, Banquo starts to catch on to the fact that the witches may be trying to trick them into darkness by telling them this information, something Macbeth had yet to realize, which ended up in his

The rise in paranoia and insomnia leads to further problems. Macbeth feels the irrational need to cover up his tracks, and the only witness he cold suspect is Banquo. His impression of Banquo is that he has the qualities of a king, which make Macbeth anxious and jealous, “Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be fear’d" (3.1.53-55). In fear of his own sovereignty, Macbeth quickly becomes apprehensive of Banquo’s prophecy of him being the father to forthcoming kings, “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.70). Furthermore, it convinces him into believing that Banquo is a threatening enemy, and he can only be safe if Banquo is killed.

Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature” (Act 3. Scene1. Lines 47-49. Page44). To Macbeth, becoming king is worthless unless his position as king is safe. He fears that Banquo’s murder will be revenged by his own murder, and it may reveal the hidden knowledge of his guilt.

Macbeth's fears about Banquo run deep, and he sees him as a threat to his position as king. He describes Banquo's "royalty of nature," which he sees as something to be feared. Macbeth acknowledges

Macbeth’s fear is so intense that he does not know if he is touching the dagger or if it is a figment of his imagination. Alternately, he may wish what he is seeing is false because he knows his

Macbeth is so gullible that believed that he would become king just by what a few witches said. He also believed he could never be defeated because they predicted he would only be brought down by someone who was not born of woman. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo enter after the witches dance in a circle and say a chant. When Banquo sees the witches he says that they look strange

Macbeth attempts to banish the ghost from his presence. This vision of Banquo's ghost could be interpreted as a foreshadowing of Macbeth's impending death. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.

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.

In the story, Macbeth becomes nervous that Banquo will over power him. “But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared. ' Tis much he dares, And to that dauntless temper of his mind To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear.”

This points out that the Witches are adept at using indirectness and half-truths to deceive Macbeth. There prophecies, which can be open to interpretation, lead him into making fatal assumptions. Showing irony again, even Banqo acknowledges the Witches' use of honest trifles, and their ultimate goal of betraying and leading them to deal with the consequences. Thus, while Macbeth played a role in his own demise, the witches are accountable for the tragedies that took

(3.1.9-10). This means that Banquo will not act upon what the witches are telling him. What the witches are telling Macbeth would also never be coming true if he hadn’t acted upon it. As Banquo puts it in the play, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s/ In deepest consequence.”

To begin, Banquo is along with Macbeth when Macbeth’s prophecies. Banquo’s existence at that scene already became a threat to Macbeth because firstly, Banquo asks for his prophecies and secondly, Banquo knows about macbeth’s prophecies. Since Banquo is called to be the ‘father of a king’, Macbeth begins to fear in which he is fear of Banquo’s children taking over his power. When Macbeth is fearful of Banquo and says ‘to be thus is nothing./ But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep and his royalty of nature/...when first they put the name of king upon me/

In the first meeting with the witches; where Macbeth is prophesied to become the Thane of Cawdor and finally king. Banquo, whom had also been prophesized to become the father of many kings, comes to a realisation that “the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray in deepest consequence”. By saying this, Banquo believes that the witches will earn Banquo and Macbeth’s trust by telling them truth about little things, but if the witches decide to betray the two men, it may leave a devastating effect. Nevertheless, in contrast to Banquo’s skepticism regarding the witches, Macbeth desires to know more, “stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more”, and the idea of becoming king now occurs to him as a possibility. This suggests that Macbeth already has a deep desire for power and status; although, at this point, Macbeth is “too full o’th’milk of human kindness”, to commit himself to this immoral act of murdering the innocent

His capricious and malicious acts prove how naive and vile he is as a person. Macbeth even attempts to kill Banquo to prevent any trace of his nature from making him, a “fruitless crown.” Macbeth states, “Must lave or honors in the flattering streams, and make our face vizards to our heart, disguising who we are,”(3.2.45). With such desperation, Macbeth is willing to include other people in his premeditated murder. By having Lady Macbeth be part of his plot to kill Banquo, Macbeth reveals two things about himself: That he does not value those around him, even if they are his loved ones, and that he places his personal success over all aspects of his life.

Unlike Macbeth, Banquo, from the beginning of this encounter, continues to doubt the witches, “I’th’name of truth are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show?” (1.3.51-52) Banquo didn’t believe what the witches were saying, he questions their intentions and accuses them of raising Macbeth’s hope. Throughout this whole encounter, Banquo continues to protect Macbeth while staying loyal. He never once acted on his prophecies, he simply disregarded what the witches were saying and remained the noble man he is. Even to his death, Banquo has not once acted without honour and