The first words spoken by Macbeth are very significant. He enters to the sound of a beating drum and says that he has never seen “so foul and fair a day”, meaning that the battle has been foul but their victory has been wonderful. His words echo those spoken earlier by the witches. Perhaps this is because the witches knew he would say these words and were mocking him. Perhaps the witches have some control over him. Or maybe Shakespeare is suggesting that Macbeth and the witches are similar in character as well as in the way they talk.
In the first meeting between Macbeth, Banquo and the witches, (Act 1 Scene 3), Macbeth and Banquo are returning from battle. The witches chant:
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Glamis!”
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Cawdor!”
“All hail, Macbeth! That shall be king hereafter!”
(Act 1, Scene 3.48)
The witches’ words have a powerful effect on Macbeth, he is immediately lost in thought, (as Banquo says: “he seems rapt withal”). Banquo notices this and asks him if he fears their words. Banquo cannot see why this great warrior should be afraid when he is promised good things. He then asks the witches to predict his own future and they say:
“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.”
“Not so happy, yet much happier.”
“Thou shall get kings, though thou be none.”
(Act 1 Scene 3.65)
The witches’ chose the right moment to approach Macbeth, as he was full of the triumphant of battle and fresh from killing. What the witches say seems to strike a chord in Macbeth’s mind, especially the prediction that he will be king, as he asks to here more:
“Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more”
(Act 1 Scene 3.70)
The witches vanish and Macbeth is confused as what he thought was solid has disappeared.
Macbeth and Banquo each react differently to the witches’ prophecies. Banquo senses that the witches are evil and is deeply suspicious of their powers. Unlike Macbeth, he has no ambition to be king. Banquo was not afraid to talk to the witches and demanded that they tell him what the future had in store for him. Macbeth is tempted by the witches’ predictions, because they echo his own thoughts. Macbeth seems worried about the prediction that Banquo’s children will be kings, as though this is some kind of threat to his future. If Banquo’s children will be kings, Macbeth’s rise to power will be pointless if his line stops when he dies. Soon after the witches vanish, Ross and Angus arrive with the news that Macbeth has been given the title “Thane of Cawdor”. Macbeth is amazed and asks them why they “dress him in borrowed robes”. Soon he will be wearing the stolen clothes of the king.
Macbeth says that “the greatest is behind”, meaning that all he has to achieve now is to become king. He makes another mention of Banquo’s children being kings and the idea seems to affect him. By this point Macbeth and Banquo’s relationship has changed, as at first they were very good friends and now they are, in the eyes of Macbeth, enemies.
Banquo advises caution, pointing out that the forces of evil sometimes tell people small things that will come true so that they can deceive them into believing greater things which are false. Banquo recognises the witches for what they are and for the moment puts them out of his mind.
Some time after Macbeth kills Duncan and becomes king, Banquo grows suspicious of him. In a short soliloquy, Banquo tells the audience that he suspects that Macbeth became king by foul means.
“Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and I fear
Thou play’dst most foully for’t”
It seems that Banquo is more concerned about the possibility of the witches’ predictions coming true, as they have done for Macbeth.
“But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them-
As upon thee, Macbeth their speeches shine-
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well
And set me up in hope?”
(Act 3 Scene 1)
In his soliloquy, Banquo does not suggest to the audience that he feels he is in any danger from Macbeth and he remains loyal to him.
Macbeth arranges for Banquo to be murdered, and obviously does not expect to see him at the banquet that evening. Macbeth is also very keen to find out whether Banquo’s son Fleance is going to be riding with his father. This is because he wants both of them dead, as he has relied on the predictions of the witches coming true up to this point and wants to prevent their prediction about Banquo also coming true. Also, Macbeth is afraid of Banquo because he knows too much about Macbeth’s meetings with the witches.
Macbeth tells the audience why he is afraid of Banquo in a soliloquy. He says that Banquo is brave, clever and wise and that he is the only man he fears. “But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be feared. ‘Tis much he dares,
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear”
(Act 3 Scene 1.48)
Macbeth sees his time on the throne as “barren” because Banquo’s children will be the future kings. Macbeth’s “seeds” will not grow, but Banquo’s will.
Macbeth begins to think that he has corrupted himself and murdered Duncan for Banquo’s benefit. He feels he has not done evil just for somebody else to get the rewards. Macbeth’s battle with fate begins, as he decides to deliberately prevent Banquo’s heirs from becoming kings.
The murder of Banquo strikes out Macbeth’s last hope, but the escape of Fleance allows the witches’ predictions to come true. Although “Lesser” in power than Macbeth, he is also “greater” than him in terms of goodness and future power, as Macbeth feared. Banquo’s descendants will indeed become kings, in spite of all Macbeth’s efforts to prevent this.
