'What Is the Significance of the Banquet Scene?'

‘WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BANQUET SCENE?’

The scene opens with Macbeth’s warm welcome to the lords. This composure is soon broken when Banquo’s murderer appears. His guilt manifests itself as Banquo’s ghost and sends him into a frenzy of apparently irrational behaviour. Lady Macbeth who is unable to see the ghost is unsupportive and embarrassed by his outburst. The banquet ends abruptly when Lady Macbeth feels obliged to ask the guests to leave.

This scene represents a turning point in the character development of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Before this scene Macbeth appears to be a strong character however still needing a gentle push from his wife for encouragement in this scene he breaks down entirely and even Lady Macbeth can not reassure him. This is also the last scene in which we see Lady Macbeth before she starts sleepwalking and reliving the night She And

Macbeth killed Duncan. In this scene she plays the elegant hostess conscious of the pomp and ceremony of the occasion. She becomes embarrassed when Macbeth Goes into his fit WHILE reassuring the guests “feed and regard him not”. She then proceeds to insult MACBETH SAYING THAT IF HE WAS REALLY A MAN THEN THIS IMAGE FROM HIS IMAGINATION WOULDN’T SCARE HIM. “Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When alls done you look but at a stool”

This scene also gives us an insight into the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Instead of wondering what is ...

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This scene also gives us an insight into the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Instead of wondering what is wrong with her husband Lady Macbeth only is more concerned about the fact that he is embarrassing her and instead of giving him words of encouragement she merely insults his manhood. Their relationship at this point appears a lot weaker than previously in the play for example in Act 1 scene 5 in Macbeth’s letter he confides in his wife telling everything about the witches and late in that scene they plan Duncan’s murder together. But in the Banquet scene they both appear to have LOST some of the closeness and follow their own agendas. Macbeth

Only cares about Fleance escaping while

Lady Macbeth only cares about how she looks in front of her guests. In Act 5 scene 5 when Macbeth hears of his wife’s death he doesn’t seem to show much emotion. So the Banquet scene is the midpoint of the collapse of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship. During his fit Macbeth appears to make a prophecy of his and Lady Macbeth’s own death ‘blood will have blood’ the reference to choughs AND birds of ill – omen is also SIGNIFICANT. The Banquet itself could be symbolic of THE STATE OF Scotland during Macbeth’s rule. It started with order then ended up in chaos.

So in conclusion I think that the significance of the banquet scene is that it shows us changes that have happened throughout the play. It shows us the development of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s characters. It also gives us an insight into Macbeth and lady Macbeth’s relationship and how it breaks down. The banquet itself represents Scotland during Macbeth’s rule as it starts with order then ends in chaos. It also gives us a glimpse of what is to come.

Karl Austin