Sample: Sources

(Background)

Mollie Bean, student in English L315, Spring 1995.

Shakespeare's morally challenged Macbeth is a much more sympathetic character than the Makbeth of the Holinshed chronicle. Macbeth, already a fairly crude man, is characterized as having some hesitance in the deeds he does, but, based on his treatment of Banquo, the real Makbeth lacks this hesitance and borders on ruthless.

In Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Banquo is one of Makbeth's "trusty friends"-- indeed he is the "chiefest." From this story I infer that Banquo was a cheerleader for the cause of getting rid of Duncan and getting Makbeth into power. Shakespeare makes the relationship between Duncan and Banquo more like that of a father and son.

Duncan: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour

To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,

That hast no less deserved, nor must be known

No less to have done so, let me infold thee

And hold thee to my heart.

Banquo: There if I grow,

The harvest is your own. (1.4.32-38)

With this relationship in place, Banquo hardly looks like a cheerleader for Macbeth. The tension between Macbeth and Banquo began when they heard prophecies that said Macbeth would be king, but also that Banquo would be the father of a line of kings. This problem prophecy gives Shakespeare's Macbeth motive enough for killing Banquo. In the Shakespeare version, the audience gets the impression that Banquo is a problem for Macbeth's plans and that, in strategic terms, he is "right" to put Banquo away for good.

Banquo: Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,

As the weird women promised; and, I fear,

Thou play'dst most foully for 't: yet it was said

It should not stand in thy posterity,

But that myself should be the root and father

Of many kings. If there come truth from them,

As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,

Why, by the verities on thee made good,

May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But, hush! no more. (3.1.1-10)

Macbeth: To be thus is nothing,

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that which would be fear'd: 't is much he dares,

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour

To act in safety: There is none but he

Whose being I do fear; (3.1.52-60)

In the Holinshed chronicle, Banquo is a supporter of Makbeth. My first thought is what kind of a man would turn on his own supporter? It seems that Shakespeare made his Macbeth have more of a conscience. Shakespeare's Macbeth makes a calculated move that, while cruel, is justifiable to get him on the throne. Shakespeare seems to embellish the role of Lady Macbeth to provide the "moral" Macbeth with the persuasion to kill that came so naturally to Holinshed's Makbeth. Holinshed's Makbeth turns not on a man who has been a problem for him, but on his own supporter The real Makbeth seems to be a greedy snake of a man.