1. As Act III begins, Banquo is reflecting on what has happened to Macbeth. What 3 events does he state and what does he hope for himself ? (Use concrete details)
2. Wat reason does Macbeth give the murderers for wanting Banquo killed? What reason does he give for not doing it himself? (Use concrete details)
3. Why do you think Macbeth does not tell Lady Macbeth about his plan to murder Banque and Fleance? (Use concrete details)
4. When Banguo's ghost enters the banquet, what is Macbeth's reaction? (Use concrete details)
5. What does Lady Macbeth say to the guests is the reason for his behavior? What can you say about their relationship at this point in the play? (Use concrete details)
Allegra Post Uno
ReplyDelete1. Banquo realizes that the weird sisters' prophecy is coming true. He fears for himself and suspects macbeth of having something to do with Duncan's murder. He says "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 theee made good, may they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?"
2.
Allegra Post Dos
ReplyDelete3. I think he doesn't want to tell Lady Macbeth because he knows she will demean him and probably not be on his side. He knows what he is doing is wrong and is getting out of control.
Grigg Post Number 1-
ReplyDelete1.Banquo has a soliloquy at the beginning of act three. In it he says, “I fear thou played’st foully for’t” (III.i.3-4). He is beginning to realize Macbeth isn’t the good man he once knew him to be. It is clear that he believes Macbeth committed foul deeds to win the crown. Banquo also says, “Yet it was said it should not stand in thy posterity, but that myself should be the root and father of many kings” (III.i.3-6). He knows the prophecy has named his kids future kings. This means Macbeth will not have an heir to the throne. Banquo hopes that his prophecy will come true just as Macbeth’s did. He says, “Why, by the verities on thee made good, may they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?” (III.i.8-10). He is afraid his prophecy will not come true because he is not willing to alter fate. He will not go so far as to kill Macbeth, the current king, to verify his prophecy.
2.Macbeth is trying to give the murderers good reason as to why to kill Banquo. He says, “Know that it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune” (III.i.77-79). This translates to mean it was always Banquo that gave the murderers troubles. He is trying to make Banquo seem worse so that they will murder him. It is evident that he has shown them proof as to why Banquo is guilty. Macbeth says, “Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave and beggared yours forever” (III.i.91-92). He tells the murderers that Banquo is the reason all of them are in poverty, living hard lives and dying young. Macbeth cannot be the one to kill Banquo because it will tarnish is reputation. He says, “For certain friends that are both his and mine, whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall who I myself struck down” (III.i.121-124). Macbeth and Banquo share the same friends, so if he kills Banquo all his allies will become his enemies. He has to be able to weep and wail over Banquo’s death so his friends will stay in his allegiance.
3.Macbeth does not want Lady Macbeth to know about the murders. He wants to leave her in the dark so that she can praise him after the deed is done. He says, “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed” (III.iii.48-49). It is clear that Macbeth realizes Lady Macbeth does not want any more murders committed. Lady Macbeth was blinded by her ambition when she had Duncan killed. Killing others hurts her conscious more because she cannot see that it is to protect her throne. She is gradually becoming the more passive one in their relationship.
4.Macbeth is very surprised when Banquo’s ghost enters the banquet hall. He just before sent the murderers out to kill Banquo, hoping it would be the end of the noblemen. When the ghost enters he is proven wrong. Upon seeing the ghost Macbeth says, “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold…” (III.iv.94-95). HE is shocked at the brutal murder he has just bestowed upon Banquo. HE cannot face the foul deed he has committed. By having the murderers kill Banquo he thought his conscious would be alleviated, but the ghosts proves otherwise.
5.Lady Macbeth tries to convince the noblemen and lords that Macbeth is suffering from a condition he has had since birth. She says, “My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth. Pray you keep seat. The fit is momentary; upon a thought he will again be well” (III.iv.53-55). She tries to hide suspicions. Macbeth is so shocked at the absence of Banquo at the dinner table that he is in a quandary. He is evidently acting very strange and Lady Macbeth is trying to cover for him. No one at the table believes that Banquo’s absence is because of anything more than rudeness. It is evident that their relationship is deteriorating. She embarrasses him and is ashamed of him. She questions his manhood. As their relationship deteriorates, so does their power. Their strong unity is the reason they have become so powerful, so as they become ashamed of each other they begin their downfall.
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ReplyDeleteAllegra post tres
ReplyDeletePost Tres
2. Macbeth says "For Banquo's issue I have filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered." He is almost blaming his craziness on Banquo and his issues, when in reality he has issues. He says "Given to the common enemy of man to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings" when he is trying to address that Banquo is a "common enemy" and to have is son be king is like making the enemy king. Manipulating the murderers is part of Macbeth's strategy to get what he wants.
Allegra Post Cuatro
ReplyDelete3. I would like to add that I think that since Lady Macbeth did not actually do the killing herself, she can't comprehend what is going through Macbeth's mind. It was easy for her the first time just to tell him to do it, but actions speak louder than words. Macbeth is pretty messed up from killing Duncan and kind of on a killing spree to get what he wants.
Grigg- 2nd analysis
ReplyDelete1.Banquo is no longer hopeful that the prophecies will come true for him. He is not willing to go to the lengths Macbeth has to gain kingship. Macbeth has murdered to be crowned and he cannot say he could do the same. Banquo has kind of lost hope that is prophecy will come true because of this reason. He feels Macbeth has permanently altered fate.
2.Macbeth averts his own persona onto Banquo. He puts all of the blame of his bad deeds unto Banquo. He is doing this to try and persuade the murderers that Banquo is a common enemy. The murderers will have trouble questioning the king of the land. It is too hard to not believe someone of higher power. Macbeth will not do it himself because their mutual friends will no longer support him. On an emotional level he no longer waits death to be upon his hands. He is the King so killing someone is bad in the public eye. If the commoners see him as the murderer of the beloved noblemen they will question his integrity and his allegiance to the country.
3.Macbeth does not tell Lady Macbeth because he wants to show his superiority. I think he might have been a little annoyed that in the first murder Lady Macbeth led everything. He wants to show he is manly and can take things into his own hands. He feels he is preserving the throne but Lady Macbeth knows things are getting out of control. Macbeth is merely trying to protect the throne. He suspects Banquo knows too much so he thinks he is being rational by killing him.
4.Macbeth is very shocked at the sight of Banquo. In the movie Banquo is depicted very bloody. This really gets Macbeth shocked because he was not prepared for the mental blow. He had other people kill Banquo to alleviate his conscious from the sight of his dead friend, so this apparition does not help. He already is suffering from not being able to clear his conscious of the last murder and now this one will not escape his mind.
5.Lady Macbeth makes up for Macbeth by saying he has an illness that he has had since birth. This is what she blames his strange behaviors. Macbeth is in a stupor at the sight of Banquo’s ghost. Lady Macbeth does not want anyone to suspect his strange behaviors to mean anything. It is clear that their relationship is at its demise. They are not working together. She is having to cover up for his weaknesses. In the movie she does not take his hand right after this scene, symbolizing the distance between them. Lady Macbeth is acting like a servant to Macbeth, tending to everything he is doing wrong.
Grigg- 3rd analysis
ReplyDelete1.It is clear that Banquo is jealous of everything Macbeth has received, Glamis, Cawdor, and the kingdom. Banquo is beginning to feel his prophecy will never come true, as Macbeth has too far altered fate. Banquo feels that Macbeth played foully for the throne and he is suspicious that Macbeth had something to do with Duncan’s murder.
2.Macbeth makes the murderers out to be a common enemy. Macbeth makes it seem as though all the bad things he himself did were actually Banquo’s doing. He explains to them that if they hope to have a better life and more money then Banquo needs to be dead. Macbeth will not commit the murder himself because he cannot risk losing some of his closes friends and allies. They are important in his kingdom. Also his conscious cannot take another murder. He was already unable to wash the bloody deed from his hands after the first one. If he murdered again it would be too much for him to handle.
3.Macbeth wants Lady Macbeth to stay in the dark until after the murder is done. He is so positive that this murder is the right political move that he feels it is unnecessary to confront her about it first. He wants no disbelief that he is making the right decision. I agree with what Allegra said in that Macbeth is on a killing spree. Death seems to be the only option for Macbeth right now. And also it is true that Lady Macbeth does not know the true guilt and shame that Macbeth feels because she did not do the killing.
4.Macbeth is at a loss of words. He says, “Sweet remembrance” (III.iv.37) as he gazes upon the ghost. He remembers Banquo back when he was alive. It is too much for him to handle, seeing his longtime friend dead and gone like that. Macbeth cannot face this treachery that he is responsible for, so he cannot even look upon the ghost. This ghost brings great fear upon Macbeth because he realizes that even dead Banquo has a strong presence. He cannot protect his throne from Banquo.
5.Lady Macbeth has to cover up Macbeth’s mistakes. It is clear the couple is slipping and the lords are gaining their suspicions. She does not want anyone to think he is acting strange because of Banquo’s absence, because that would link the two together. Later Lady Macbeth embarrasses Macbeth at the dinner table and their separation is evident. The two gained power as a unity, so if they break apart then their decline is imminent. There is much foreshadowing in the state of the pairs relationship at his moment.
Allegra Post 5
ReplyDelete( just realized that on my first post I ended with a concrete detail....my bad.)
1. As Banquo reflects, he talks about how Macbeth is gaining his power to the crown by treachery when he says "Thou hast it now—King, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for’t." (III.i.1-3). He knows that Macbeth did not gain power by being honest. He knows Macbeth killed Duncan to try and gain the title of the king. He also says that his sons will be heirs to the king and not Macbeths' in the quote, “Yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings” (III.i.3-6). Even with Macbeth as King, he will have no sons to take control when he is gone, Banquo's sons will.
Banquo hopes for himself that the witches' prophecy "Not so happy, yet much happier" will soon be seen.
2. I would like to add that Macbeth sort of uses the power of manipulation that Lady Macbeth used on him to get the murderers to do what he wants.
3. Macbeth knows Lady Macbeth wont support him but hopes that after the murder they can both reap the benefits. He wants her to stay in the dark for the time being when he says, "“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till you applaud the deed” (III.iii.48-49). Since Lady Macbeth is no longer controlling his murderous decisions, Macbeth uses his own free will. However, he hints to her that something bad is going to happen when he refers to "a deed of dreadful note”.
4. Macbeth has a hard time openly viewing something that shows the awful deed that he had committed. He says, “What man dare, I dare. Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear. The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger take any shape but that, and my firm nerves shall never tremble” Act 3 Scene 5, (100-104). The ghost of Banquo is so haunting to him that he describes it as an animal. Even though Banquo is dead, he still haunts Macbeth and shows to have a strong influence over him. Macbeth's plan was to rid Banquo, but now that he's back as a ghost Macbeth is in a bad position. He cannot believe his eyes.
5. Lady Macbeth uses excuses like Macbeth having an illness. She does this so nobody will suspect him of anything, although his behavior is making that hard. She says, "My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat. The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well." If the guests think he has an illness, they will not link Banquo's absence to his murder and Macbeth's guilt. However, she does not know exactly what he has done. Throughout the novel their intimacy has been lessening, but this part of the play shows that there is still something there.