This is an important scene! Banquo is dead and Macbeth assumes he has got away with it - but who is that, sitting at the dinner table?
This scene is key in that it plays an important role in displaying Macbeth's destruction. At the start, he is satisfied that he has squashed any potential threats to his Kingship by getting rid of the final, suspicious person (Banquo), but as the scene goes on, Macbeth's real feelings come to the fore as he hallucinates (or does he?) Banquo's ghost sitting at the table, and realises that Fleance's escape means that there are still threats out there. He hasn't fully got rid of the 'snakes' yet, and he can't handle it. Notice in this scene how Lady Macbeth fervently tries to hide her husband's breakdown by making excuses and pulling him away to the side to give him a scolding. He doesn't listen - he is too far gone to take care of her words. His jovial, kingly facade was in place for all of a few lines before it started to become undone. Macbeth thinks he is strong. We know otherwise. This is reinforced by his wife, who brushes off his visions: This is the very painting of your fear. This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan. People are finally starting to see the king for who he really is - and that in itself leads to more destruction. Macbeth can't be seen as weak - and so this event is where his reign of tyranny really begins.
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In a Nutshell...After returning from war, Macbeth meets three witches who tell him that he is to become King. His wife persuades him to kill the existing King in order to win the throne - but this comes with a whole heap of problems, as Macbeth has to continually kill people - including his best friend - in order to hide the truth. ArchivesCategories
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