Look at Macbeth’s Monologue in Act III Scene I, what do we learn about Macbeth? Essay

In Macbeth’s monologue in Act III Scene I, we learn a lot about Macbeth’s insecurities. He tells us that he does not feel safe on the throne because of the witches’ prediction that Banquo’s children will be kings. He fears Banquo because Banquo is brave, and he represents good and he would not approve of how Macbeth obtained the crown, we can see Banquo’s suspicions earlier in this scene when he fears that Macbeth has â€Å"played’st most foully† for the crown. He says that Banquo is clever and as long as Banquo is around, Macbeth will live in fear of him. Macbeth then talks about how the witches have predicted that Macbeth will have no children and his crown is â€Å"fruitless†, and he has a â€Å"barren sceptre† meaning that he will not pass on his crown to anyone in his family. He then says that he only murdered Duncan for Banquo’s children, as they will be the next kings, and it was only for them he gave his soul to the devil and only for them he has become a more evil and treacherous man. He then asks for fate to be kind. This is a clear change in Macbeth’s character here, earlier in the play he was described as â€Å"disdaining fortune† in battle, which means that he did not worry about fate or fortune, he just fought bravely against the odds, but now we see that Macbeth has come to rely on fortune and beg for it to be kind to him. In this monologue Macbeth reveals that he is probably going to kill Banquo and Fleance, Banquo’s son. Earlier in the scene he asked how Banquo was going to get to the banquet at Macbeth’s palace and if Fleance would be going with him. He wants to kill Banquo to stop himself going mad with fear of the witches’ prediction about Banquo â€Å"having kings†. He realises that this may mean that one of Banquo’s children may kill him to become king. He wants to kill Banquo and Fleance, as that will stop Banquo’s line of descendants as Fleance is Banquo’s only son and then Macbeth will be safe in the crown. We can also see that Macbeth is a very insecure person and is especially insecure as a king. He will go to any lengths to make sure that he remains king, even murdering his best friend and his best friend’s son. There are some hints I this passage that Macbeth is going slightly mad. He says that he ahs â€Å"filed his mind†, which means that has corrupted his mind or has gone a bit crazy, by killing Duncan. In this monologue we see some of Macbeth darkest and deepest thoughts. He has changed from the brave, loyal and honourable man that we first were introduced to him as by the dying captain to a man that is willing to murder innocent men for power, and a man that is haunted by predictions made by some old women.