Close Reading Assignment 6

Act 3 of Macbeth illustrates the preparations for the murder of Banquo.  Macbeth’s insidious plot is growing.   In Act 3, scene 1 Macbeth, in his soliloquy, relates his loathing and resentment of Banquo’s virtue and wisdom and how Banquo will be his downfall.  Since the Weird Sisters had prophesised that Banquo would be the father of many kings, Macbeth surmises that his murder is essential to the future of his kingship.  During this soliloquy Macbeth refers to fertility several times, which at first glance could be interpreted to mean Macbeth’s lack of offspring to carry on his royal lineage, however in the context of the passage, the words fruitless and barren, in the line “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren sceptre in my grip”, illustrate his meaningless and irrelevant reign (3.1.66-67).  The reader can sense that Macbeth is feeling regretful for his actions, yet unwilling to allow the future to play out as the witches had foretold. In regard to the possibility of Banquo’s descendants ascending the throne, if becomes quite obvious that Macbeth is appalled that he murdered Duncan for the benefit of Banquo’s children.  In the passage “For Banquo’s issue I have filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan murdered…to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo’s kings”, Shakespeare refers to fertility with the words issue and seeds (3.1.70-75).  Issue meaning the offspring of Banquo and seeds meaning future descendants.  These references to fertility show how Macbeth feels about potentially losing his descendant’s kingship to Banquo and he is incensed by the thought, which makes him decide to have Banquo and his son Fleance murdered.