Thursday, November 13, 2014

In Macbeth Act III, what is the importance of the escape made by Fleance?

It is not only the threat that Fleance's escape from death poses for Macbeth, but it is also the fact that the witches' predictions have verity. Now, for Macbeth "Nothing is what is not," and Macbeth's anxiety and paranoia increase, for if Fleance lives, so may Birnam Wood move.


Macbeth's perception of reality and fantasy seem to merge now and as "blood will have blood," the more that Macbeth becomes mired in his bloody deeds, the more horrified and violent he becomes as the pressure to dissemble and to eliminate his enemies presses upon him. For, after he learns that Fleance has escaped death, Macbeth, in his horror, begins to see the ghost of Banquo and imagines him seated at the table with the guests. To the dismayed guests, Lady Macbeth excuses her husband's behavior as an old childhood delusion that recurs on occasion so they depart. After they leave, Macbeth tells his wife that his fears come from lack of experience and will harden with further malevolent deeds




...My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.
We are yet but young in deed.



Furthermore, he decides to visit the witches again.

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