Macbeth Acts 2-3
I enjoyed reading the article by The New Yorker about different ways to view the mystery in Macbeth, but I cannot find any other way to view the story. I do not see how anyone other than Macbeth could be the murderer. However, the article made me think about how the characters in the story view this situation and how they gather evidence.
A simple example of this is when everyone finds out that Duncan was murdered, and Lennox argues that "those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done 't./Their hands and faces were all badged with blood" (2. 3. 119-120). The characters see the blood and the daggers and immediately think that the servants murdered Duncan. The characters did not come to the right conclusion, but from this point onward, the characters start looking for clues that could prove someone guilty of the murder. Banquo even suggests that they "meet/And question this most bloody piece of work/To know it further" (2. 3. 150-152). Though the circumstances surrounding the murder seemed relatively straightforward, the characters want to gather more evidence to figure out what really happened to Duncan.
Macbeth's behavior also provides evidence for his guilt even though he tries to act normally. When Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost, he exclaims, "Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold" (3. 4. 114). This statement may raise suspicion because he clearly thinks he is talking to a dead person, but the sentence itself does not prove that Macbeth did anything. However, Macbeth's emotional reaction to the ghost is more suspicious. If he did not plan Banquo's murder, he would be more confused by the ghost's appearance rather than fearful because Banquo is his friend and should be alive. Since Macbeth organized Banquo's murder, he knows he did something wrong and fears the ghost when it shows up.
I also started thinking about the witches and the role they play in this story. They told Macbeth that he would be Thane of Cawdor and king afterwards, and they told Banquo that his descendants will be kings. Both men seem to take these comments seriously, and Macbeth takes action to take the crown. I wonder if any of this would have happened if the witches did not say anything to the men. Macbeth seems to take the witches' word as proof that he will be king, but he then has to force the situation to happen. He takes their prophecy seriously when considering Banquo and Fleance and their relation to the throne, so he murders Banquo to try to fight fate. Macbeth's knowledge of the prophecy causes him to act, which in turn fulfills the prophecy. I am also trying to understand how Macbeth views the witches' prophecy. On one hand, he treats it like proof that what they said will happen, but on the other hand, the only event that happened without his interference was him receiving the title of Thane of Cawdor.
A simple example of this is when everyone finds out that Duncan was murdered, and Lennox argues that "those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done 't./Their hands and faces were all badged with blood" (2. 3. 119-120). The characters see the blood and the daggers and immediately think that the servants murdered Duncan. The characters did not come to the right conclusion, but from this point onward, the characters start looking for clues that could prove someone guilty of the murder. Banquo even suggests that they "meet/And question this most bloody piece of work/To know it further" (2. 3. 150-152). Though the circumstances surrounding the murder seemed relatively straightforward, the characters want to gather more evidence to figure out what really happened to Duncan.
Macbeth's behavior also provides evidence for his guilt even though he tries to act normally. When Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost, he exclaims, "Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold" (3. 4. 114). This statement may raise suspicion because he clearly thinks he is talking to a dead person, but the sentence itself does not prove that Macbeth did anything. However, Macbeth's emotional reaction to the ghost is more suspicious. If he did not plan Banquo's murder, he would be more confused by the ghost's appearance rather than fearful because Banquo is his friend and should be alive. Since Macbeth organized Banquo's murder, he knows he did something wrong and fears the ghost when it shows up.
I also started thinking about the witches and the role they play in this story. They told Macbeth that he would be Thane of Cawdor and king afterwards, and they told Banquo that his descendants will be kings. Both men seem to take these comments seriously, and Macbeth takes action to take the crown. I wonder if any of this would have happened if the witches did not say anything to the men. Macbeth seems to take the witches' word as proof that he will be king, but he then has to force the situation to happen. He takes their prophecy seriously when considering Banquo and Fleance and their relation to the throne, so he murders Banquo to try to fight fate. Macbeth's knowledge of the prophecy causes him to act, which in turn fulfills the prophecy. I am also trying to understand how Macbeth views the witches' prophecy. On one hand, he treats it like proof that what they said will happen, but on the other hand, the only event that happened without his interference was him receiving the title of Thane of Cawdor.
I like how you mention that the events happened after the witches told them about the prophecy, and I too wonder what would've happened if they didn't tell them since all the events were caused by the witches first telling them.
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