How important is the banquet scene in this play as a whole?

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How important is the banquet scene in this play as a whole?

Before we are able to fully explore the importance of Act III, Scene IV, of Shakespeare's famous 'bloody' tragedy it is necessary to look briefly at what is meant as a tragedy for Shakespeare used tragic circumstances in order to give insight into lots of situations and help tell a story, usually with a moral attached. Although Macbeth is undoubtedly 'tragic' and one of the bloodiest and violent of Shakespeare's plays its tragic nature doesn't necessarily stem from the murders and grievances within the play. Shakespeare has used Macbeth's vulnerability and naïve nature to portray tragic circumstances and to highlight the flaws within his character.

Macbeth is a fascinating individual; he is transformed by evil from a strong and noble general to a king that will stop at nothing, including murder, to retain his throne and hence his power. However, he is rarely in control of a situation and from the beginning, when he encounters the three witches, deeply suspicious and afraid of the supernatural, 'Speak if you can, what are you?' Act I Scene III. This is shown as he depends on the witches to guide him with what to do and good becomes entwined with evil, ' Fair is foul, and foul is fair', Act I Scene I. This also gives us a clue that it is going to be hard in the play to tell the difference between good and evil and when we encounter Banquo's ghost in Act III, Scene IV we know any glimmer of hope felt by Macbeth since the murder of Banquo is to be short lived. The line 'fair is foul, and foul is fair', also indicates a warning to us as readers that things may not necessarily be what they seem and they most definitely are not. Many versions of this quote are used throughout the play including the line of Lady Macbeth's when she tells Macbeth to; 'play the humble host' Act III Scene IV. When she says 'play' she is showing that she realises they have to cover up their true feelings. This is similar to 'fair is foul, and foul is fair' and can also be compared with the line Lady Macbeth uses to tell her husband to cover up his treachery 'look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't', Act I Scene V, just before Duncan is to arrive at their castle.
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The banquet scene, therefore, is one of the most important scenes of the play and, once the ghost appears, becomes a pivotal point. Things, up until now, were going relatively smoothly for Macbeth and he has fulfilled his dream of becoming king and his wife, lady Macbeth, queen. Although she knows of Duncan's murder, she has not been included in the plans for murdering Banquo, 'Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Chuck,' Act III Scene II, and at the beginning of the 'banquet scene' he wishes only for her to join in the celebrations for his coronation ' ...

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