Saturday, October 17, 2015

In Act 3 Scene 1, where Macbeth does a soliloquy, "To be thus is nothing, but be safely thus.." What does this soliloquy mean?This is right before...

Macbeth fears Banquo because of his integrity and fortitude - allusion to the witches' prophesies that "Banquo will be less than Macbeth, but greater."


He also realizes that because he has no heirs, Banquo's prophesy can come true. He now believes the crown is in jeopardy and Banquo is his greatest threat. He quickly decides to kill off Banquo because of 3 reasons (archetypal threes):


1. Banquo knows the prophesies and Macbeth believes Banguo knows he obtained the crown "most foully."


2. Banquo's reaction to Duncan's murder - he vowed to go after and slay the murderer. Macbeth knows that Banquo would come after him because Banquo is secure enough to stick to his virtues, unlike himself.


3. Banquo's prophesy can still come true and then all of Macbeth's effects for obtaining the crown are worthless since he would then have, "Put rancours in the vessel of [his] peace/ only for them; and mine eternal jewel/ given to the common enemy of man,/ to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!"


We also can observe a great change in character because if we compare this soliloquy to his "If it were done when 'tis done.." soliloquy, we see that he no longer needs Lady Macbeth manipulating powers, he begins to act on his own accord. This is almost a foreshadow for the rest of the play where Macbeth becomes more and more violent and without morals. No more contemplation between ambition and virtue. He only thinks of his plans as necessary, and this makes him increasingly dangerous.


This soliloquy paired with the flee of Fleance in the murder scene bring forth a very important theme: there is no way around fate.


Hope this helps!

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