![]() ![]() © 2005 Is Shakespeare suggesting that it will take two meetings to convince the murderers that Banquo deserves to die? Is Shakespeare doing this to show that the murderers are hesitant about murdering Banquo, perhaps because they might view Banquo as a good man who does not deserve to die? Which words does Macbeth use to stress the crushing effect Banquo is having? Macbeth compares them to different kinds of dogs. from the bill That writes them all alike: and so of men. What does the murderer’s reply suggest? We are just following orders? We’re not interested in reasoning? You are insulting us? MACBETH Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept All by the name of dogs: the valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed whereby he does receive Particular addition. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature That you can let this go? Are you so gospell’d To pray for this good man and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow’d you to the grave And beggar’d yours for ever? First Murderer We are men, my liege. MACBETH I did so, and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Our innocent self: this I made good to you In our last conference, pass’d in probation with you, How you were borne in hand, how cross’d, the instruments, Who wrought with them, and all things else that might To half a soul and to a notion crazed Say ‘Thus did Banquo.’ First Murderer You made it known to us. MACBETH Well then, now Why is Macbeth trying to justify his actions to a murderer? Have you consider’d of my speeches? Know Macbeth is trying to convince the murderer that That it was he in the times past which held you Banquo has a history of oppressing people So under fortune, which you thought had been lower down the social scale. First Murderer It was, so please your highness. Shakespeare makes it clear that Macbeth has already spoken to the murderer. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? Macbeth reveals his true thoughts here about Banquo: he cannot bear the idea that one day Banquo’s children will become kings. And champion me to the utterance! Who’s there! Now go to the door, and stay there till we call. His boldness and impression of personal invincibility mark him out for a tragic fall.Macbeth Annotated Act 3 (3.1, 3.2 and 3.4) Act 3 Scene 1 MACBETH To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! Rather than so, come fate into the list. ![]() This feature of his personality is well presented in Act IV, Scene 1, when he revisits the Witches of his own accord. The appearance of Banquo's ghost, in particular, causes him to swing from one state of mind to another until he is no longer sure of what is and "what is not" (I:3,142).īut Macbeth's hubris or excessive pride is now his dominant character trait. Nevertheless, the new-found resolve, which causes Macbeth to "wade" onward into his self-created river of blood (Act III, Scene 4), is persistently alarmed by supernatural events. Each successive murder reduces his human characteristics still further, until he appears to be the more dominant partner in the marriage. His ambition now begins to spur him toward further terrible deeds, and he starts to disregard and even to challenge Fate and Fortune. However, by Act III, Scene 2, Macbeth has resolved himself into a far more stereotypical villain and asserts his manliness over that of his wife. Macbeth is at his most human and sympathetic when his manliness is mocked and demeaned by his wife (see in particular Act I, Scene 7). When he is about to commit the murder, he undergoes terrible pangs of conscience. When Duncan announces that he intends the kingdom to pass to his son Malcolm, Macbeth appears frustrated. Despite his fearless character in battle, Macbeth is concerned by the prophecies of the Witches, and his thoughts remain confused, both before, during, and after his murder of King Duncan. ![]() These often conflict with the opinion others have of him, which he describes as "golden" (I:7, 33). Essentially, though, he is a human being whose private ambitions are made clear to the audience through his asides and soliloquies (solo speeches). Macbeth is introduced in the play as a warrior hero, whose fame on the battlefield wins him great honor from the king. ![]()
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