The attack on Banquo and his son Fleance appears in the third scene. Although Macbeth
originally hired two murderers for this task (in Act III, 1), three murderers appear in this scene. Macbeth is so anxious, worried, and full of mistrust that he hires a third murderer to make sure that the first two murderers do not betray him and do not fail in their task. Macbeth is not going to take any chances. He wants to make sure that his plan succeeds.
Despite Macbeth’s precautions, though, the murderers are not completely successful. They do kill Banquo, but Fleance is able to escape. Thus, the prophecy of the Weird Sisters can still come true: the descendants of Banquo can still become kings.
At the beginning of the fourth scene, the murderers inform Macbeth that Banquo has been killed but that Fleance has escaped. Macbeth is extremely disturbed by this news, and it affects him physically. He tells the murderers, “Then comes my fit again; I had else been perfect” (20). Macbeth believes that his fear alone is making him ill. But as this scene progresses, Shakespeare reveals that there is another factor disturbing Macbeth: his guilt. He is still troubled by his conscience.
At this point in the story, Macbeth and his wife are hosting a feast or banquet for Ross, Lennox, and some other Scottish lords. Macbeth is so worried and anxious about Fleance’s escape that he cannot calm himself down. And the appearance of Banquo’s ghost (after line 36) does not make Macbeth feel any better. The ghost would most likely be made up in a spectacular fashion: appearing pale (with the use of white make-up), hideous, and blood-stained. The arrival of the ghost would thus be a matter of surprise and perhaps even shock to the Renaissance audience. The ghost sits down at the place reserved for the host, Macbeth.
The appearance of a ghost in Shakespeare’s plays always has a dual meaning or interpretation: literal and symbolic. Most people during the Renaissance did believe in ghosts. And, so, Banquo’s ghost is a true or literal ghost arriving for the purpose to haunt Macbeth. One of the superstitious beliefs regarding ghosts is that a ghost can make itself visible to only selected individuals. Thus, one person in a room may see a ghost while a second person standing directly next to the first person may not see it at all. In this banquet scene, only Macbeth sees the ghost. Lady Macbeth and the other lords do not. But in the Renaissance mind, this does not mean that the ghost is not a true ghost.
But the appearance of the ghost of Banquo also has a symbolic significance. In this instance, the ghost symbolizes the guilt and troubled conscience of Macbeth. Thus, the ghost has a psychological significance. Shakespeare apparently intends both the literal and symbolic (or psychological) interpretations for the ghost of Banquo. This, then, contributes to the richness of the play both in terms of plot (with Macbeth being haunted) and in terms of characterization (with a further psychological development or extension of Macbeth’s guilt and fear).
During the banquet Macbeth acts shocked and dismayed and even talks directly to the ghost. This, quite naturally, surprises and shocks the Scottish lords who are there. Lady Macbeth, who realizes that the problem is quite serious, tries to make the excuse that her husband’s problem is slight and that he had it all of his life (suggesting that it does not really affect him from performing his duties) She tells them, “The fit is momentary” (54). However, Lady Macbeth’s line is ironic. The “fit” is a result of his guilt, and that will last his entire lifetime.
Lady Macbeth takes her husband aside to scold him. She wants her husband to act sensibly and rationally before their guests:
This is the very painting of your fear;
This is the air-drawn dagger which you said
Led you to Duncan. (60-62)
These lines spoken by Lady Macbeth are extremely significant. By comparing the appearance of the ghost to the appearance of the dagger (in Act II, 1), Shakespeare is also comparing the source or cause of these supernatural events. The dagger appeared before Macbeth primarily for the reason of his guilty conscience. And, so, even though Lady Macbeth explains the appearance of the ghost as being caused by Macbeth’s fear, the comparison suggests that the ghost is also being caused by Macbeth’s guilt.
Macbeth, even though he wishes to present himself as a brave man, cannot act sensibly and rationally in the presence of a supernatural horror. When the ghost disappears for a brief time (line 72), Macbeth is able to calm himself a little. But after the ghost reappears (after line 87), Macbeth’s fear and horror return. Thinking and acting rationally is not possible for a man overwhelmed by such a strong emotion as fear. Macbeth asserts that he has no fear of any natural terror, such as the fiercest bear or tiger (99-100). But against a supernatural force or supernatural horror, he has no defense.
The feast ends with Lady Macbeth dismissing the surprised lords, who, as Lady Macbeth requests, do not say good-bye to Macbeth (because he is still suffering from his fit).