With Macbeth being a general in the Scottish military, he had major influences on people and their daily lives. After the murder of King Duncan, Banquo’s suspicion of who committed the murders arose around a single suspect, Macbeth. Knowing that Banquo most likely knew the truth that Macbeth killed King Duncan, Macbeth went back to his evil ways with ease. Through his attendant, Macbeth summons three murderers. Shakespeare introduces the murders with stage direction “[Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers]” (Shakespeare, 363), in which Macbeth he uses Banquo as bait in order to gain their graces and loyalty “That it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been 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, so half a soul and to a notion crazed, Say 'Thus did Banquo.'”
Macbeth hires three murderers to kill Banquo, but in the meantime hosts an extravagant dinner party to eliminate any suspicions about his plans. The three murderers hide in the woods near the palace and successfully kill Banquo, while his son Fleance escapes. Macbeth became obsessed with power, and his greed is evidenced by his enthusiasm to kill his best friend for his own selfish
His desire for the crown outweighed his conscience to do what was morally right. Now, void of morality, he kills the guards to cover up and divert any suspicion from himself. And, as his thrust for power grows, he kills his friend Banquo to eliminate all threats that would stand in his way. His tyranny did not stop there; not only was he a lying murderer, but he now personified evil as he set eye on “The castle of Macduff” by ordering the killing of everyone in the household (4.1.151). Macbeth reigned with fear, berating those around him or killing them to maintain control.
Macbeth then decided to plan the murder of Banquo and his son, even though Banquo is his best friend. Macbeth was manipulated into following with Lady Macbeth’s plan, “I dare do all that may become a man/ who dares do more is none” (1.7.51-52). This caused Macbeth into killing the King. This leads Macbeth towards his death. In the end, Macbeth’s choices had lead him to his downfall.
Loyal subjects of King Duncan, last night on the 15th of August in the year 1040, our great King was murdered in his sleep in the very castle where we are now, Macbeth’s castle Inverness. The weather was foggy and rainy, and something felt off, but no one could put their finger on it. Little did we know, someone terrible was about to happen. Duncan was stabbed multiple times with kitchen knives that the servants use, but you can tell by the stab wounds that it was by someone who did not know how to hold a knife, therefore we can rule out the kitchen staff and servants. It was made to look like someone from the staff, which means that whoever did it was smart.
Macbeth had become everything that he had ever wanted to be which was the king of Scotland and when the witches told him that someone else was going to take his crown he went to extremes to try to keep them from doing that which was eventually what lead to him dying. The witches had told Macbeth that the sons of Banquo would take his crown so he decided to have Banquo and his son killed Macbeth said, “Our fears in Banquo stick deep/ And in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared”(3.1.49-51). Macbeth did everything he could to protect his crown, but that is eventually what lead to his downfall and his death. He killed his best friend Banquo which was when his ambition had gone to far and was the beginning of his decline.
For the murder of Duncan At first, he is not too sure of the murder of King Duncan but is then convinced by Lady Macbeth. He stabs King Duncan and then frames the drunk servants for his murder. For the second murder, he doesn't kill Banquo but hires other people to kill him. He is still responsible for the murder. Macbeth kills Macduff's family to punish Macduff and discourage him from rebelling against him.
In the Play Macbeth, Written by William Shakespeare, set in Scotland during the reign of King James VI (I in England) Macbeth is told by three witches that he will become king. This prophecy drives Macbeth to kill Duncan who was the king at that time. The guilt of what he had done soon drove him crazy along with his wife who urged him to do it. Interesting enough there was a real Scottish king named Macbeth who lived during the 11th century.
Macbeth’s ambition is not only seen in Banquo’s murder, but also Duncan’s. When Macbeth finds out that there is a chance that Duncan could become king, he becomes incredibly ambitious to kill him. Macbeth has hesitancy and doubt about murdering Duncan, yet his ambition overtakes him. He abandons his humanity and murders Duncan with a dagger (II).
His capricious and malicious acts prove how naive and vile he is as a person. Macbeth even attempts to kill Banquo to prevent any trace of his nature from making him, a “fruitless crown.” Macbeth states, “Must lave or honors in the flattering streams, and make our face vizards to our heart, disguising who we are,”(3.2.45). With such desperation, Macbeth is willing to include other people in his premeditated murder. By having Lady Macbeth be part of his plot to kill Banquo, Macbeth reveals two things about himself: That he does not value those around him, even if they are his loved ones, and that he places his personal success over all aspects of his life.
He is influenced by his wife, lady macbeth, who informs him that the only way for the two of them to be rich and happy is for Macbeth to become king and take the throne from Duncan. Banquo, a friend of the king and acquaintance of Macbeth also agreed with lady Macbeth and their plan to kill Duncan. While Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were plotting Duncan’s death he began to go insane. He would hallucinate a lot and act a lot different. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?
I, Malcolm, finally have become King of Scotland, which is my birthright. Silly Macbeth was finally killed in battle by Macduff. Macbeth's reign as King of Scotland was filled with revenge and murder. Macbeth believed the prophecies of witches that he would continue as King of Scotland, and this belief led to his death. It is now my responsibility to make Scotland the hopeful and peaceful and it was under the rule of my father King Duncan.
In an attempt to keep his unchecked power, Macbeth plans Banquo’s death. In this stage Macbeth’s paranoia is only somewhat reasonable based on his suspicion of Banquo. Critic Wilson Knight says, “He himself is hopelessly at a loss, and has little idea as to why he is going to murder. He tries to fit names to his reasons - “ambition”, he was not capable of ration conduct while doing it” (Wilson 59).
Macbeth feels his destiny is to murder King Duncan and become the King of Scotland, which is why Macbeth promises Lady Macbeth achieve his destiny. Therefore, Macbeth’s ambition for power leads to the death of King Duncan. Moreover, Macbeth’s ambition for power triggers the massacre the ones who impede him from his pathway to the Scottish Throne. First, Macbeth has murderers kill Banquo to avoid obstructions in his plan to become the King of Scotland. Macbeth tells the three murderers hired: “…
On the seemingly quiet eve of the 15th of August, King Duncan of Scotland was assassinated in his sleep. King Duncan was celebrating the death of the vulgar rebel MacDonald at the Thane of Cawdor’s Castle briefly before he was killed. MacDonald was killed by the newly appointed Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth, during combat against the Norwegians. Our sources suggest that as King Duncan was sleeping soundly in his room his ‘ professional’ guards were in an alcohol induced slumber.
