Friday, February 22, 2008

Banquo's Murder


Why do you think that Macbeth is haunted by the ghost of Banquo but not the ghost of Duncan?

24 comments:

BrookeG said...

I believe that Macbeth sees only the ghost of Banquo because he feels more remorce for that killing. Even though he did not kill Banquo himself, like he did with Duncan, Banquo was his best friend. I cannot imagine what sort of feelings one would have after doing that.

Whitney C said...

I agree with Brooke about how he feels worse about killing Banquo rather than Duncan. I also believe that Macbeth felt more guilt because he knew Banquo was right about not paying attention to the witches in the first place. Banquo was Macbeth's best friend and by killing him Macbeth will not feel right and will be haunted by Banquo because of what he did.

Keiko A said...

I agree with Whitney and Brooke about Macbeth feeling guilty about having Banquo killed because they were best friends, and there was no immidiate threat to him by Banquo. And just because he killed Banquo doesn't mean that his son's will be kings after him, so I think that he might also feel guilty because it might not have had to kill Banquo because there is a chance that his family won't rule after Macbeth's rule.

hilary l said...

I agree with Brooke that Macbeth is being haunted my Banquo because he was a close friend to Banquo and he feels bad about that. I also think that he may feel haunted by Banquo and not Duncan because he has more of a chance of being caught now that he murdered both Banquo and Duncan.

Christine said...
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kaseyb said...

I also agree with Brooke that since Macbeth and Banquo were best friends, Macbeth feels terrible about murdering him. This is why he thinks that Banquo is haunting him. Also I think that the reason that Macbeth is not being haunted by Duncan because he had to kill Duncan to get what he wanted, but Macbeth didn't necessarily have to kill Banquo, he just thought he had to kill his son, Fleance.

Christine said...

I basically agree with everyone as well because Banquo had been Macbeth's friend for a long time and the fact that Macbeth had ordered his death must put a lot of guilt on him. When he starts seeing the ghost he completely freaks out and decides to make a toast to Banquo and the ghost reappears. This really shows how guilty he feels. Duncan wasn't really that close to Macbeth and in a way Duncan's murder did affect Macbeth because Macbeth had bad dreams from it. That could be Duncan's way of haunting someone but I don't know. Just a thought.

JordanR said...

I agree with what everyone has said. I think Macbeth was so haunted by Banquo because that was his best friend and he probably didn't feel okay with doing that. I think the fact the Banquo's son survived the attack was part of it too in some way.

TraciAnn said...

I agree with what everyone else has to say. Macbeth personally knew Banquo and was friends with him. He didn't have the same personal connection with King Duncan. Also Macbeth killed King Duncan to gain the thrown but Banquo had no reason to die because it was just his sons that were supposed to be kings not him.

Bandido said...

All of the above reasons are very good reasons but here are a few that have some merit as well.

1. Macbeth saw Banquo way more than he did Duncan so he has more memory of the image of Banquo to fully visualize him. If he were to see Duncan it would be just a fragment.

2. Shakespeare thought the play was long enough as it is and scrapped the part where Macbeth sees Duncan.

3. It was a, "did I really have to do that?" moment for Macbeth.

amandab said...
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amandab said...

I think that Macbeth is haunted by Banquo's ghost because that gave him more guilt knowing that it was his best friend he wanted dead just to stop his prophecy from coming true.

TylerF said...

I too agree with everyone from the standpoint of Macbeth feeling much more regret for the killing of Banquo. I also believe that Banquo and Macbeth were friends not merely acquaintances like Macbeth and Duncan. It is much like a veteran back from war, they too have flashbacks of their most terrifying experiences, although they are not ghosts, they are very much alike.

rachelf said...

I agree with what everyone else said. Banquo was Macbeth's best friend and so he feels more guilty about killing him than he does about Duncan. I also think that Macbeth realized after he killed Banquo that it was a huge mistake and was totally pointless, because Banquo has no affect on whether or not his son becomes king so thats another reason why he sees his ghost.

KaylaL said...

I agree with what everyone has said about Banquo being Macbeth's best friend. I don't know how Macbeth could not be haunted with what he did. Banquo was the one that told Macbeth not to pay any attention to the witches and the prophecy, Banquo knew what effect it would have on Macbeth. Macbeth probably regrets not listening to Banquo.

jenniferb said...

I agree with everyone in that Macbeth is haunted by the ghost of Banquo and not the ghost of Duncan because Banquo was his best friend. He feels guilty that he killed his best friend so he could stay King. I agree with Traci in that there was no reason for Banquo to die because he wasn't going to become king, it was his sons.

TraciAnn said...

I agree with Brooke, i too think that Macbeth feels worse for the killing of Banquo because he was more close to him than he was to Duncan. I know if my best friend died as well as an acquaintance I would feel lots worse about my best friend because I knew them better and had more memories with them. And I bet that’s just how Macbeth feels about Banquo.

TraciAnn said...

^^the one above is chelsea chapman^^

Tabitha M said...

I think that Macbeth is only haunted by Banquo's ghost for Banquo was a trustworthy great man who had heard the witches futures for them. Duncan didn't know Macbeth's future like Banquo did, so I believe Banquo is haunting Macbeth for he knows Macbeth's horrible plans.

jake a. said...

i agree with everyone else's responses on how banquo haunts him because he has had to become king by killing his trusting friend and duncan he will feel more worse because he was closer to banquo.

Allison M. said...

Okay so, I also agree with everything that's already been said. Macbeth is most likely haunted by Banquo's ghost, because he was Macbeth's good friend. He probably realized that he had acted on impulse, and killing Banquo wasn't something that was really needed. Also, the fact that Fleance had escaped caused some extra guilt and some paranoia.

Travisg said...

I think that banquo is hsunting him becasue he was good frinds and they had even tlked about not letting the power get to there heads and that they would just keep living and see how it plays out and macbeth ends up killing people over the power that he wants and he dosen't even know if he will be able to cover his tracks enough to keep them from finding out. They haunted him because they were angry because macbeth went back on his promise when he killed people over the power.

nathanb said...

Macbeth is haunted by Banquo and not by Duncan because Banquo was his friend. Duncan however didn't really do much for him.

Maria A. said...

I agree with many students on why Banquo is haunting Macbeth and not having King Duncan haunt Macbeth. Banquo was closer of a friend to Macbeth and that is what makes it more frightening to Macbeth when he sees Banquo's ghost. If it was King Duncan haunting him I don't think that it would bother Macbeth as much because he was more of an enemy with King Duncan and just wanted to take his place to be king and in the royal family.