Macbeth Banquo Character Analysis

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What is important to establish foremost is Macbeth’s character and perspective of a man before Banquo’s Ghost appears. Due to the previous ordeal of planning Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth ultimately forced him to commit the deed because her definition of a man was one who seeked power. In 3.4, Macbeth carries that definition of a man with him. We see him boast his new title as he, “[sits] i’ th’ midst” (3.4.11), of both sides of the table to display himself as the most powerful. But, we also see Macbeth keep his true emotions from within as he tells his guests, “Were the graced person of our Banquo present, / who may I rather challenge for unkindness / than pity for mischance” (3.4.47-49). Macbeth fakes sympathy for Banquo in order to hide …show more content…
We especially see that change in his realization as he converses with Lady Macbeth after the banquet; “I am in blood / stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / returning were as tedious as go o’er” (3.4.168). Macbeth uses the metaphor of wading in a river of blood to symbolize his murderous acts. Macbeth realizes that he has wandered so far into the mindset of killing, that returning would take as much time than to just continue. The substance of his realization shows how he has given up on his humanity. He is no longer focused on being an honest man because if he was, he would realize his wrongdoings and confess his actions, metaphorically wading out of the river of blood. But, because he has now adopted this erasure of feeling and humanity from the ghost, killing becomes meaningless. He also adds on, saying that those thoughts of killing, such as those of Duncan and Banquo, must “will to hand” (3.4.171), or else, “they may be scanned” (3.4.172). As Macbeth has now retired to continue the murderous acts, he describes how he must act boldly on those thoughts of killing before his emotions essentially “scan” his actions, which would weaken his image as a man. Just like the encounter with the ghost, Macbeth let his emotions control him, displaying weakness and vulnerability. But with this new mindset, he will never be vulnerable and weak because he vows to never feel again. Macbeth then finishes with his most terrifying statement: “My strange and self-abuse / is the initiate fear that wants hard use. / We are yet but young in deed” (3.4.175-76). Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that the fear exposed by the ghost was just fear felt by beginners to crime. Macbeth’s language about his new outlook on his feelings shows how Lady Macbeth manipulated him; Lady Macbeth has convinced him that man must commit murderous deeds for nobility,
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