Why Does Macbeth Want Banquo And Fleance Dead

Why Does Macbeth Want Banquo and Fleance Dead? A Deep Dive into Shakespearean Ambition and Paranoia

Shakespeare's Macbeth is a chilling exploration of ambition, guilt, and the corrosive effects of power. While Macbeth's regicide is the central act, his subsequent pursuit of Banquo and Fleance is equally crucial to understanding the play's tragic arc. This essay will delve into the multifaceted reasons behind Macbeth's relentless desire to eliminate Banquo and his son, examining the interplay of prophecy, paranoia, and the desperate need to secure his ill-gotten throne.

The Prophetic Threat: The Seeds of Fear

The witches' prophecy, a cornerstone of the play, fuels much of Macbeth's actions. They initially predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. Crucially, they also foresee Banquo's descendants becoming kings: "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." This seemingly innocuous statement becomes a potent source of anxiety for Macbeth. He might have initially dismissed it, but the fulfillment of the first part of the prophecy – his ascension to Thane of Cawdor – lends terrifying credibility to the second.

The Weight of Ambiguity:

The prophecy's ambiguity is key. It doesn't state when Banquo's descendants will reign, leaving a constant, gnawing uncertainty in Macbeth's mind. This uncertainty is far more potent than a clear and immediate threat. The looming possibility of Banquo's lineage overshadowing his own achievement throws his hard-won kingship into doubt, fueling his paranoia and driving him to drastic measures. This isn't just about seizing power; it's about permanently securing it, removing any potential challenge to his reign, however distant or improbable.

Banquo's Suspicions: A Growing Threat

Macbeth's fear is exacerbated by Banquo's growing suspicion. Banquo, a loyal and honorable man, is nonetheless disturbed by the swiftness of Macbeth's rise to power, and the unsettling circumstances surrounding it. He's perceptive enough to recognize the unnatural forces at play, and his subtle questioning and uneasy demeanor add to Macbeth's escalating paranoia. Banquo's inherent goodness serves to highlight Macbeth's growing depravity, further fueling his need to eliminate this constant reminder of his own moral failings and precarious position. Banquo represents a living, breathing embodiment of the prophecy, a daily reminder of Macbeth's vulnerability.

Beyond Prophecy: Personal Jealousy and Ambition

While the prophecy is the catalyst, Macbeth's desire to eliminate Banquo also stems from personal jealousy and ambition. Banquo, though initially supportive of Macbeth’s ambition, remains morally upright, untouched by the seductive whispers of ambition and the lure of regicide. This stark contrast underscores Macbeth's own moral decay.

The Shadow of Virtue:

Banquo's unwavering virtue acts as a constant, painful reminder of the path Macbeth didn't take – the path of integrity and honor. This fuels a deep-seated resentment, transforming from mere envy to a desperate need to silence the embodiment of everything Macbeth has lost. The elimination of Banquo isn't just about political expediency; it's about eradicating the symbol of the life Macbeth could have had, but cruelly chose to abandon.

The Fear of Exposure:

Furthermore, Banquo's integrity poses a significant threat to Macbeth's carefully constructed facade. Banquo might choose to expose Macbeth's crime, jeopardizing his reign and leading to his downfall. The fear of exposure, of having his dark secret revealed to the kingdom, intensifies Macbeth's resolve to eliminate Banquo. This is a practical consideration—the potential for betrayal—that adds another layer to his already complex motivations.

Fleance: A Future Threat, a Symbol of Continuation

While Banquo's death is the primary objective, the attempt to kill Fleance is equally important. Fleance represents not just a potential future king, but the continuation of Banquo’s lineage – the very lineage that threatens Macbeth's ambition. The killing of Fleance is therefore an act of preventative violence, a preemptive strike against a potential future challenger to the throne.

The Legacy of Power:

The murder of Fleance isn't just about removing a physical threat; it's about severing the line of succession. Macbeth understands that eliminating Banquo isn't enough. The prophecy's power lies in its promise of future kings from Banquo's bloodline. By killing Fleance, Macbeth attempts to permanently extinguish the prophetic threat, to break the chain of events predicted by the witches. This desperation, this frantic attempt to control the future, underscores his complete loss of control in the present.

The Descent into Madness: Paranoia and Guilt

Macbeth's pursuit of Banquo and Fleance is also a manifestation of his deepening descent into paranoia and guilt. The weight of his crimes, the constant fear of discovery, and the overwhelming sense of isolation drive him to ever more extreme measures.

The Corrosive Power of Guilt:

The murders of Duncan, Banquo (and the attempt on Fleance) aren't isolated events; they are symptoms of a spiraling decline. The guilt gnaws at him, transforming his once ambitious nature into a twisted parody of its former self. His paranoia grows, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination, fueling his irrational need to eliminate any potential threat, real or imagined.

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy:

In a sense, Macbeth's actions create a self-fulfilling prophecy. His fear of Banquo and Fleance, fueled by the witches' prediction and his own guilt, leads him to murder them, thereby creating the very danger he initially feared. This is a masterstroke of Shakespearean tragedy; the play's central conflict isn't simply a clash between Macbeth and his enemies, but a battle within Macbeth himself, a struggle against his own paranoia and the monstrous consequences of his ambition.

Conclusion: A Multifaceted Motivation

Macbeth's desire to eliminate Banquo and Fleance is a complex interplay of prophecy, personal jealousy, ambition, paranoia, and guilt. It's not a simple case of eliminating political rivals. It's a desperate attempt to secure his ill-gotten throne, silence the nagging whispers of his conscience, and control a future that has already spiraled out of his control. The pursuit of Banquo and Fleance serves as a potent symbol of Macbeth's tragic downfall, a testament to the destructive power of unchecked ambition and the corrosive effects of guilt. The murders, far from securing his power, ultimately hasten his demise, highlighting the self-destructive nature of his desperate acts. The weight of his choices, both political and personal, ultimately crushes him, leaving the audience to ponder the horrifying consequences of ambition untempered by morality.