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After he becomes King, Macbeth decides that he needs to get rid of Banquo and his son, Fleance, because the witches prophesied that Banquo's descendants would be kings of Scotland. Macbeth finds two men who are down on their luck and browbeats them into doing the job. Neither one has much to say. For instance, when Macbeth asks them if it was yesterday that he spoke with them, First Murderer merely says, "It was, so please your highness" (3.1.74). Macbeth then has to remind them that he has already explained that Banquo is the cause of all their problems and must be killed. [Scene Summary] The scene in which Banquo is murdered opens with First Murderer asking Third Murderer, But who did bid thee join with us?" (3.3.1). He's told that Macbeth did, and Second Murderer complains that Macbeth doesn't trust them. After this, it's all business. The three murderers attack Banquo and kill him, but botch the job, because Fleance escapes. [Scene Summary] The night that he has Banquo murdered, Macbeth gives a banquet for his nobles. The party has barely begun when First Murderer comes to the door. Leaving his guests, Macbeth goes to the door and tells him "There's blood on thy face." First Murderer replies, "'Tis Banquo's then" (3.4.13). First Murderer, apparently rather proud of what he has done, reports that Banquo is dead, but Fleance has escaped. [Scene Summary] When Lady Macduff refuses to say where her husband is, First Murderer declares "He's a traitor" (4.2.82). Macduff's son calls him a liar, and the man kills him before our eyes. It seems unlikely that this First Murderer is the same First Murderer that we saw before. The original speech heading is simply "Mur." This murderer and the other murderer (or murderers) who appears in this scene are probably best thought of as faceless forces of evil. [Scene Summary] |
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