What thoughts, feelings and images might have been going through the awareness of Duncan, Banquo and Macbeth as they were dying?

After committing treason and being crowned, Macbeth believes that Banquo is suspicious of him because they were both together when the Three Weird Sisters made the prophesy. When Macbeth learns that Banquo and his son are riding, he sends three men after Banquo to murder him and his son, Fleance (Macbeth wants the son murdered because of the witches prophesy of Banquo’s offsprings would become kings). The men are only half successful in their job though, and Fleance escapes.

Leading up to the death of Duncan, Banquo gives the reader a few hints about whether he knows that Macbeth is planning treason. “ And yet I [Banquo] would not sleep; merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to repose”; although this statement is pretty ambiguous, ‘the cursed thoughts’ could in fact mean his perception of Macbeth’s ambitions of becoming king. Banquo also warns Macbeth that he will not join with him in any act that will not keep “his bosom franchised, and allegiance clear”. Furthermore, at the beginning of Act 3.1, Banquo forwardly expresses his beliefs that Macbeth murdered Duncan. Even though Banquo is almost certain that Macbeth killed Duncan, he does absolutely nothing to counter this act. He does not speak a word to anyone about the prophesy and does not try to confront Macbeth by any means. Judging by this, Banquo must have felt extremely regretful for not doing anything about Macbeth treason. He also might have felt he should have pledged allegiance to Macbeth and accepted his murder of King Duncan instead of warning him beforehand, but judging by the goodness in Banquo’s character, this is highly unlikely.

On the other hand, a thought that was definitely running through Banquo’s mind was revenge; “Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge...!”. Banquo was perhaps too weak in will to confront Macbeth about his ambitions and his consequent actions, so in his place, he wanted his son to avenge his, and Duncan’s, murder and to become king. This means that Banquo must have also believed the prophesy of the Three Weird Sisters upon his death.

Last to succumb to death is ‘King’ Macbeth. Macbeth develops into a wicked fiend by the end of the play. By the time he is defeated, Macbeth has killed Macduff’s whole household, King Duncan and his guards, and Banquo. Macbeth also visits the Witches for advice towards the end of the play, showing how much reliance and confidence he has in them. The manner in which Macbeth is killed is truly tragic and devastating for him in all aspects. He loses everything he worked (killed) for; the crown, and is completely betrayed by the witches and their indefinite prediction.

Before he is slain by Macduff, Macbeth states that he would rather die than surrender to “kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet”.  Perhaps in his own mind, Macbeth may have felt heroic and courageous at the time while fighting Macduff. This is very wrong indeed, and indicates what sort of a man, or ‘monster’, Macbeth has become by the end of the play.

In Act 5.5 (line 18-27), Macbeth words start to reflect on his feeling of utter hopelessness and despair. His words are not only full of despair though; “Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” is a statement which probably means Macbeth is trying to play down his crimes, that they are meaningless since ‘”life’s but a walking shadow”. Before and during his death, Macbeth is perhaps trying to lull himself into a sense that he is not an evildoer, just a “poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage”.

The thoughts, feelings and images that might have been going through the awareness of Duncan, Banquo and Macbeth were all quite different. Duncan seemed to have died in his sleep, Banquo was feeling regretful, thinking of revenge, and Macbeth was simply devastated and in a state of despair and hopelessness, which the only cure to was death.