Due to this unrestrained burst of ambition, Macbeth turns to darkness and he begins to act on his thoughts even though when Banquo asks if he ever thinks about the witches’ prophecy, he denies it all. Although the prophecy the witches foresee in Macbeth’s future is news to him, he is shocked and astonished because he has already thought of becoming a king in the past. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s duplicity in character comes through; he is indecisive, guilty and he becomes the worst type of traitor because he goes against God by murdering King Duncan. Macbeth is a character who undergoes a transformation; he leaves his cocoon and morphs into a butterfly, an evil butterfly for that matter. Banquo, Macbeth’s character foil, is one great character.
(3.1.162-163) Macbeth recognizes that Banquo will surely go to heaven, yet feels no sympathy for his old friend. When Macbeth hears he has nothing to fear of Macduff from the witches he decides, "Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of Fate. Thou shalt not live."
But in reality, Malcolm’s’ English troops break off branches off the trees and it looks as if Birnam Wood is walking up Dunsinane hill. But the third apparition is the most misleading. It claims that Macbeth cannot be killed by anyone borne of woman. As far as biology goes, all living mammals are borne of female. This makes Macbeth feel invincible.
| Macbeth: | (Turns his body to face Macduff) Thane of Fife, Macduff? Of all men, I chose not to kill you, for my sword is filthy with the blood of your wife and son. | Macduff: | (Shouts angrily) Killer! Traitor! It is destiny which fated me to revenge for my wife and my son.
To hell with the glory. | 83 | Why the hell should they want the war to end? They got lots of damn fools like us who’ll enlist, and when they stop enlisting they’ll drag ‘em in. | 95 | Who can comfort whom in war? Who can care for us, we who are set loose at each and tear at each other’s entrails with silent gleaming bayonets?
Macbeth, after becoming King and plunging further and further into evil, orders for Banquo to be killed, as in the mind of Macbeth, Banquo has gone from his dearest friend to it being that, “There is none but he/ Whose being I fear” (3.1.54-55). At the end of the play, the men he once called his comrades, his countrymen, are the once turned against him. Instead of being surrounded by troops of friends, he is surrounded by troops of enemies (Barnet xxxi). The ones that still did stick by his side were not his true friends though, as they were just, “constrained things/ Whose hearts are absent too” (5.4.13-14). In the end
When fevers burn or ague freezes, Rheumatics gnaw or colic squeezes, Our neebors sympathise to ease us Wi' pitying moan; But thee! - the hell o' a' diseases, They mock our groan! Of a' the num'rous human dools - Ill-hairsts, daft bargains, cutty-stools, Or worthy frien's laid i' the mools, - Sad sight to see! - The tricks o' knaves or fash o' fools - Thou bear'st the gree! Whare'er that place be priests ca' Hell, Whare a' the tones o' misery yell, An' ranked plagues their numbers tell In dreadfu' raw, Thou, Toothache, surely bear'st the bell Amang them a'!
I fear naught until the wood of Birnam brushes against the castle walls. Ten thousand soldiers my servant says, but it matters not. And what of Malcolm? Were he not born from the womb of a woman? The spirits hath told me not to fear, for none born of woman shall harm me.
Or would he have never found the courage to murder for his own personal gain? When we are first introduced to Macbeth, we are told that he is a war hero who would do anything to defend his king’s honor. His journey to unrighteousness begins when he first speaks with the three witches. They tell him “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (948). Macbeth first takes this in a joking manner, but soon begins to take it very seriously.
And be these juggling fiends no more believed, That palter with us in a double sense; That heep the word of promise to our ear, And break it to our hope. I’ll not fight with thee. (5.8. 17-22) It is clear in the end of the play that Macbeth realizes his actions were wrong and he dies a pitiful death. Macbeth was influenced greatly by other characters in the play creating mayhem inside his mind and turning his decisions in an evil way bringing disorder throughout Scotland.