Banquos Ghost Not a Main Character in Macbeth

The ghost is a reminder of the crime he has committed. In many ways Banquo is the opposite of Macbeth.

Banquo is aware that the Witches' predictions may be tricking Macbeth into evil actions and is the first to suspect Macbeth of murder. He dies while protecting his son, Fleance, and comes back as a ghost to haunt Macbeth.

Characters say one thing yet mean something else and use euphemismscloseeuphemismA word, phrase or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant. to hide reality. Wicked and violent acts such as murder are covered up or the blame is shifted onto someone else. The Witches mislead Macbeth, or they at least make suggestions which allow him to mislead himself. Ghosts, visions and apparitions occur regularly.

As Macbeth’s banquet begins, one of Banquo’s murderers appears at the door to tell Macbeth of Banquo’s death and Fleance’s escape. Returning to the table, Macbeth is confronted by Banquo’s ghost, invisible to all but Macbeth.

The ghost’s presence disrupts the banquet, symbolizing the disruption of · the natural order caused by Macbeth’s regicide and subsequent murders.The spectral visitation Is not just a supernatural · occurrence but a psychological projection of Macbeth’s tormented conscience. Banquo’s ghost embodies the

Banquo’s ghost symbolises Macbeth’s conscience – in engineering Banquo’s (and, before that, Duncan’s) death – and marks the beginning of the decline of Macbeth’s reign. He is bereft of solace from that point. Thus, the meaning of the collocation of language Banquo’s ghost – often referred to in literature as the ghost at the feast – according to the Free Dictionary by Farlex (online) is:

The appearance of Banquo’s ghost in act 3, scene 4 - after he was murdered by the murderers hired by Macbeth - is of great importance to the story development and Macbeths inner conflict.

Scholars arguing that Duncan attends the banquet state that Macbeth's lines to the Ghost could apply equally well to the slain king. "Thou canst not say I did it", for example, can mean that Macbeth is not the man who actually killed Banquo, or it can mean that Duncan, who was asleep when Macbeth killed him, cannot claim to have seen his killer.

See annotated text for the appearance of Banquo's ghost and a gallery of how this moment has been staged. The Macbeths host a banquet for the Scottish thanes. A murderer tells Macbeth he has killed Banquo, but that Fleance escaped. Macbeth is horrified to see Banquo's ghost at the banquet table.