Macbeth

Act 2 scene 4: this scene is an exposition scene: Duncan is buried and Macbeth to be crowned. An old man and Ross discuss the few unnatural events since Duncan's death. A falcon was killed by an owl and Duncan's horses ate each other. The falcon killed by the owl shows that the predator became the pray. We can assume that Macbeth is the owl and Duncan is the falcon. It also shows that there is chaos. We also learn that Macduff is suspicious; therefore he will not go to Macbeth's coronation. He is loyal to his old king. "Lest our old robes sit easier than our new":the old clothes are an image for Duncan and the new ones are Macbeth. This suggests that Duncan was a better king and we can assume that bad events will arrive soon.

Act 3 scene 1: the scene opens on Banquo questioning himself about the prophecy. Macbeth's prophecy was realized so why wouldn't his be too? He suspects Macbeth to have done evil things to realize it faster ("thou played'st most foully for't") and he doesn't want to do the same mistakes as Macbeth did. The fact that the third act opens on Banquo shows that we will focus more on him than on Duncan from now on. This is the first time that Macbeth and Banquo speak alone since they have seen the witches and they are beginning to separate. Macbeth lies to Banquo by saying that he doesn't think about the witches, he starts to think like a king replacing "I" by the royal "We". Macbeth asks a lot of questions about what will Banquo do later that night and with whom. He wants to know because he wants to kill him and his son. He isn't secure. When Banquo leaves and Macbeth is alone, he talks about how in front of Banquo his "genius is rebucked". He feels inferior to him because Banquo is such a good person. Banquo is the winner because he will realize his prophecy without corrupting himself; he is more noble than Macbeth. Then Macbeth sends murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance because he already has murderer sleep and guilt so he thinks that it will be easier. The murderers are his alibi. They are so miserable that they would do anything to have a better status. To persuade them, Macbeth says that Banquo is responsible for their misery and he compares them to dogs just like Lady Macbeth did to him.