Give an account of the banqueting scene. What does this scene tell us about the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? What aspects of the scene promote dramatic effectiveness?
             The play, Macbeth was probably created by Shakespeare in 1603-06 when James I was the King, it was published in 1623 which was 7 years after Shakespeare's death. All the information and dialogue in Macbeth will not be historically correct because Shakespeare had to write Macbeth with the King in mind so he could get in his good books. There is plenty of evidence of this in Macbeth for example; there are various compliments in reference to the King's ancestors, pays homage to James I fascination with witches and explores themes which the King enjoys and finds important such as loyalty and kingship. Banquo was King James's ancestor so Shakespeare had to keep this in mind also when writing Macbeth.
             Just before the Banqueting scene Macbeth had been troubled, as the witches had told him that Banquo's descendants would become Kings. So Macbeth arranges Banquo and his son to be murdered whilst they are out together riding on their horses. Macbeth persuades the two murderers that Banquo is their enemy and he is better off dead and if they carry out the dirty deed they would have shown Macbeth that they are proper men. Macbeth does not want to kill Banquo openly just in case people link him as a suspect or in any way suspicious. So instead he arranged a time and a place for the murderers to assassinate Banquo and Fleance so there was no chance of jeopardising his authority and Kingship. Macbeth arranged the murder of Banquo and Fleance without Lady Macbeth knowing, the only time Macbeth hints darkly about the terrible deed is going to be done, is just before the banquet where Macbeth tells his wife to pay more attention to Banquo at the banquet. All through the plotting of Banquo's and Fleance's murder, Macbeth still holds fears and...