On his return home from dutifully defending his beloved king, Duncan, Macbeth is informed of three prophecies by three witches. These "imperfect speakers" great him with the titles: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King. At this point in time, Macbeth's imagination is first awakens and he begins to wonder if such a think might ever befall him as a reality. Shortly after this encounter with the witches, Macbeth is greeted with his new title Thane of Cawdor, because of the treachery from the last one. It is evident at this point that Macbeth's thoughts have shifted to the possibilities that his new title infers when he says, "This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor." During the celebration of Macbeth's valiant victory and his n

Upon my head they put a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my gripe, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son o mine succeeding. If't be so, for Banquo's issue have I filled my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancor in the vessel of my peace Only for the, and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kinds, the seeds of Banquo kings!

Banquo received a similar prophecy by the witches, which states that he shall be the father of a long line of descendants that shall be king. This prophecy conflicts with Macbeth's interests because it would mean that inevitably Macbeth would be slain or somehow his line to the thrown would be cut.

Macbeth realizes that unless he is to slay Banquo and deter his prophecy then the killing of Duncan would only be his damnation and a fruitless cause.

And when we have our naked frailties hid, that suffer in exposure, let us meet And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us. In the great hand of God I stand, and thence Against the undivulged pretense I fight of treasonous malice.

Macbeth befalls a fate which has plagued humanity for centuries and perhaps will forever haunt. Shakespeare is imparting that the even the suggestion of power is a very corrupting influence. This suggestion is a trap, which feeds

Some common words found in the essay are:
If't Banquo's, Soon Macbeth, Duncan Macbeth, Macbeth Macbeth, Banquo Banquo, Thane Cawdor, Banquo's Macbeth, Signifying Macbeth, Prince Cumberland, King Macbeth's, thane cawdor, macbeth aware, macbeth begins, duncan macbeth, macbeth slain, prince cumberland,
Approximate Word count = 920
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)