Shakespeare's Macbeth-Foul Or Fair Exits

Words: 1218
Pages: 5

Macbeth Essay: Foul or Fair Exits

Shakespeare’s Macbeth encompasses the deaths of countless characters. It may seem harsh for wishing death upon an individual, however, a being’s death can have thought to be either fair or foul based on their attitudes and actions. Lady Macbeth, Banquo, and Macbeth are all characters that have passed in the play; Lady Macbeth and Macbeth both acquire fair deaths, while Banquo, on the other hand, attains a foul fatality. Although many characters come to a fair or foul end in Macbeth, the characterization of their death is based on the events of the character’s prior experiences. To begin, the death of Lady Macbeth is considerably fair. This is demonstrated by the way she encourages Macbeth, the fact that
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This is when Macbeth first shows his angst against Banquo, which is the beginning of Macbeth’s wrath towards others. Secondly, Macbeth’s paranoia leads him to think that Banquo is a threat to make Macbeth’s prophecies come true. Macbeth senses that Banquo is greater than him. This is proven when Macbeth says, "My genius is rebuked, as it is said / Mark Anthony's was by Caesar" (III.i. 60-61). The genius that Macbeth is referring to is how he feels less of a king and ashamed when he is near Banquo. Lastly, the prophecy of becoming king applies to the sons of Banquo and not Banquo himself. When Banquo demands the Weïrd Sisters for a prophecy, they say to him, “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” (I. iii. 69). Banquo’s only son is Fleance, therefore, this prophecy spreads out to Banquo’s descendants. Banquo’s prophecy is also thought to be a threat to Macbeth, since it is possible for Fleance to take Macbeth’s place on the throne. In Macbeth’s soliloquy, he states, "To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! / Rather than so, come fate into the list." (III. i. 74-75). Macbeth further shows how he has the intentions to murder Banquo and Fleance. This malevolent intention leads to the impractical death of Banquo. Hence, the murder of Banquo is foul through his respectable being, the mistrust of Macbeth, and the assumed divination that the three witches give to