Banquo and Macbeth

        Macbeth also thinks by himself about Banquo’s personality. “He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety.” Macbeth could be saying that Banquo knows that he murdered Duncan, hence the use of the word “wisdom”, and that this would lead Banquo to doing an act of bravery. This could mean Banquo telling someone that he suspects Macbeth because he witnessed what the witches told Macbeth and that he was in deep thought about it. “To act in safety” could also mean that Macbeth is going to kill Banquo for his own safety of keeping the crown. Here, Macbeth was thinking on his own about what acts he may commit and there was no influence on him but the witches started his trail of thought.

        The witches’ influence also seeps back into Macbeth’s mind. “If’t be so, for Banquo’s issue I have filed my mind, for them the gracious Duncan I have murdered, put rancours in the vessel of my peace.” Macbeth has been thinking about Banquo so much that his mind is distraught and he can’t get any rest from thinking. “For them” suggests that Macbeth is talking about the witches and how they influenced him or he could be referring to Banquo’s children, who are to become kings and he has made it easier for them to become king. I think that the witches are influencing Macbeth here because he says that he did it for “them”.

        To conclude I think that the witches are the main influence over Macbeth because there are implicit references to them in Macbeth’s soliloquy; this could suggest that Macbeth is just thinking back to the predictions or they could be using there magic to send the message across. Macbeth does have some responsibility over Banquo’s death because he has his own thoughts about Banquo’s personality.