Macbeth 12 Essay Research Paper Banquo s

Macbeth 12 Essay, Research Paper

Banquo s warning to Macbeth was one of great wisdom. It reflected his rationalism, when the situation could have over-excited a lesser man. Unfortunately, the evil that was embedded in witches words was cloaked by their accordance with Macbeth s innate desires. His becoming Thane of Cawdor, as the witches said, served as a collateral for belief, and hence Banquo s warning fell on ears of dismissal to all but words of imperial progression. However true Banquo s words, they could not prevent the tragedy of Macbeth.

King Duncan was a virtuous leader, and his inferiors served through love. Yet when he crowned his eldest son, Malcolm, as Prince of Cumberland, the concoction of evil intent the witches had brewed and absorbed into Macbeth had its most lethal ingredient; a catalyst that assured reaction, and cultivated a complete abandonment of Macbeth s previous, honourable life, in favour of a selfish, bloody one. The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step I must fall down, or else o er leap,

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires.

Reason, upon a session of auto-interrogation, seemed to briefly return to Macbeth. We but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th inventor, he conceded. In a rational state, he could see how entangled in this business he was, and how hard it would be to get back out. But, as if he shared a marital evil with his wife, Lady Macbeth encouraged him across the bloody river he was already approaching. Through intimidation, she made him believe that what he was doing was in their best interests, even if it did mean the end of a harmonious dynasty.

Lady Macbeth was a sly woman who was prepared to sacrifice stability, content amongst the population and the course of history to benefit herself. She had harnessed the power of being able to dramatically influence, if not control, the emotions of her husband. When Macbeth decided against murdering Duncan, her reaction was so violent that it was as if he had committed adultery. From this time such I account thy love.

I know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from it s boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this. All of this, of course, was a cunning melodrama much more than it was the truth.

And so Macbeth had been convinced. Duncan and his guards were coming to Dunsinane, and Lady Macbeth had formulated a plan that, as long as Macbeth could screw his courage to this sticking-place, would not fail. She would make them all utterly drunk, so that when they were sleeping, Macbeth would use the guards daggers to kill Duncan. This would make it look as if they guards killed their King. The two hosts would feign sorrow, and let false face hide what the false heart doth know. It was a good plan in theory, but, although Lady Macbeth had mastered the art of manipulating others emotions, she had wrongly assumed that she could control her own.

Just prior to Macbeth doing the deed of killing his king, he met Banquo and his son Fleance in his castle s courtyard. In the coming days he would have wanted as many trusting allies as he could, and offered Banquo what was almost a bribe. If you shall cleave to my consent, when tis, it shall make honour for you.

But Banquo, although appearing respectful and loyal, was cautious. He would not lose honour in the process of trying to get it, and vowed to perpetuate his honesty.

The moment Macbeth killed Duncan, the extents of what he had done hit him. He had killed the King of Scotland, who had, with all his virtue, done nothing but good for the country. Duncan had honoured him with the title of Thane of Cawdor, on top of his already being Thane of Glamis. So devastated was Macbeth, that the daggers he used to kill Duncan were still in his hands when he met his anxious wife. He spoke of voices within his mind, List ning their fear, I could not say Amen , when they did say God bless us! He could not even bring himself to take the daggers back. I ll go no more. I am afraid of what I have done; Look on t again I dare not. Macbeth s conscience then, at least, was righteous, but it was easily overcome by his natural urge and aptitude for domination and power. He was a deadly and enviable warrior, capable of leading whole armies. In fact, it was for those reasons that he became Thane of Cawdor. He was aware of his potential, but saw that there was no conceivable road for him to the ultimate position of leadership. When Malcolm was named Prince of Cumberland, surely there was no other way the three witches prophecy could come true, without his own intervention.

Shortly after the completion of the deed, Macduff and Lennox arrived at Dunsinane, with intentions of waking their King from his sleep, unaware of its permanence. Soon they found him dead in his quarters, and the alarm bells are rung. When Macbeth went to see the Duncan with Lennox, he killed the two minders of the king, making it look as if it was them that committed the crime – Who could refrain, that had a heart to love, and in that heart courage to make s love known. Nobody suspected a thing of him. Cunningly, he and his wife pretended to be as distraught as everybody else. This was the first public act of dishonesty