Who is banquo riding with the day of the feast

Banquo and Fleance approach on their horses and dismount. They light a torch, and the murderers set upon them. The murderers kill Banquo, who dies urging his son to flee and to avenge his death. One of the murderers extinguishes the torch, and in the darkness Fleance escapes. After his first confrontation with the witches, Macbeth worried that he would have to commit a murder to gain the Scottish crown. He seems to have gotten used to the idea, as by this point the body count has risen to alarming levels.

Macbeth and his wife seem to have traded roles. As he talks to the murderers, Macbeth adopts the same rhetoric that Lady Macbeth used to convince him to murder in Act 1, scene 7. He questions their manhood in order to make them angry, and their desire to murder Banquo and Fleance grows out of their desire to prove themselves to be men.

In the scene with Lady Macbeth that follows, Macbeth again echoes her previous comments. It is difficult to believe that the woman who now attempts to talk her husband out of committing more murders is the same Lady Macbeth who earlier spurred her husband on to slaughter.

Just as he begins to echo her earlier statements, she references his. Both characters seem shocked and dismayed that possessing the crown has not rid them of trouble or brought them happiness. Each murder Macbeth commits or commissions is intended to bring him security and contentment, but the deeper his arms sink in blood, the more violent and horrified he becomes. Ross leaves and, in her anger, Lady Macduff tells her son that Macduff is dead.

But her son is sharp like his father and he challenges her, prompting humorous banter between the two. A knock at the door interrupts their conversation. It is a messenger who has somehow learned of Macbeth's plan to have Lady Macduff and her son murdered. He begs her to flee at once and he runs from the castle in terror. Lady Macduff, sure she has done nothing wrong, hesitates to leave.

This delay is costly indeed, for the murderers arrive and burst through the heavy wooden doors. They tell her that her husband is a traitor and one of the murderers grabs her son and stabs him, killing him instantly. Lady Macduff runs screaming from the castle, but the murderers chase her down and slay her. Malcolm, however, is distrusting of Macbeth because he feels that Macbeth, who was himself once noble and trustworthy, has corrupted everyone around him.

Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty to him and Scotland by pretending to be a greedy and base prince who will 'cut off the noble's from their land' when he gains the Scottish crown. When Macduff morns openly for his country that has one evil ruler and another in wait, Malcolm confesses that his words were only to test Macduff's commitment to him and Scotland.

Ross comes from Scotland with the horrible news that Macbeth has murdered Macduff's family. Macduff, utterly destroyed by the foulness of the deed, cannot believe it, and must ask repeatedly if his wife and child are really dead. Macduff vows revenge and they leave to gather their troops and head for Scotland. When the two were together they could feed off each other's strength and prevent one another from dwelling on their crimes.

But Macbeth is gone and Lady Macbeth is left to brood over the atrocities Macbeth has committed at her command. Her guilt and fear follow her even in dreams, and she begins to walk in her sleep.

Her Gentlewoman has seen her several times rise from her bed. The Gentlewoman calls for a doctor who watches for two nights but does not see Lady Macbeth come out of her chamber. But, on the third night, he observes Lady Macbeth walk down the hall with a lantern, rubbing her hands violently. She reveals the events of that gruesome night and utters one of the most famous line in all of literature: "Out, damned spot!

The murder of Macduff's family and Banquo also weigh heavy on her mind: "The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean?

The Doctor is horrified to know the truth and he refuses to report to anyone what he has just seen and heard for fear that his own life will be in jeopardy. He leaves the castle, knowing that no doctor can cure what ails Lady Macbeth: "More needs she the divine than the physician" 5.

Act 5, Scene 2 The action moves to the countryside near Dunsaine where the rebels, led by Lennox and Angus, await the English army that will soon arrive. They make plans to meet at Birnam Wood and Cathiness, one of the soldiers, tells the others that Macbeth is hold up in the royal castle preparing for the attack. Act 5, Scene 3 Macbeth is in his war room awaiting Malcolm and his troops. Because of the three apparitions, Macbeth is confident that he will be victorious, and he refuses to hear the reports from his generals.

The Doctor comes in and Macbeth asks anxiously about his wife. The Doctor tells him that she seems troubled and cannot rest. Macbeth rejects his useless answer and angrily calls for his armour. Although we can see Macbeth starting to crumble under the mounting pressure, he convinces himself that he is still not afraid of defeat "Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane" 5.

Act 5, Scene 4 Malcolm orders his men to each cut a branch from a tree from Birnam forest to provide camouflage as they attack the castle. Malcolm's command to carry the boughs signals the true end of Macbeth, for Birnam Wood is moving toward Dunsinane.

Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all. As the weird women promised, and, I fear,. Yet it was said. It should not stand in thy posterity ,. But that myself should be the root and father. Of many kings. If there come truth from them —. As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine —.

Why, by the verities on thee made good,. May they not be my oracles as well,. And set me up in hope? But hush, no more. Here's our chief guest. If he had been forgotten,. It had been as a gap in our great feast,. And allthing unbecoming. Tonight we hold a solemn supper sir,. And I'll request your presence. Let your highness. Command upon me, to the which my duties. Are with a most indissoluble tie. Forever knit. Ride you this afternoon?

Ay, my good lord. We should have else desired your good advice,. Which still hath been both grave and prosperous ,. In this day's council; but we'll take tomorrow. Is't far you ride? As far, my lord, as will fill up the time. Go not my horse the better,. I must become a borrower of the night. For a dark hour or twain. Fail not our feast. My lord, I will not. We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed. In England and in Ireland, not confessing. Their cruel parricide , filling their hearers.

With strange invention. But of that tomorrow,. When therewithal we shall have cause of state. Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse. Till you return at night. If he had been forgotten, it would have been a loss to our great feast, and everything would have been unsuitable.

I would have liked to get your advice, which has always been thoughtful and beneficial, at the council today. Are you riding far? As far as I can go between now and dinnertime. We hear our murderous cousins are staying in England and in Ireland, not confessing that they savagely killed their father, and telling strange lies to everyone who listens. Get to your horse.

Until later tonight! Is Fleance going with you? Let everyone have free time until seven tonight. Till then, God be with you! To be king is nothing, if I am not safely king.