Jen on Banquo's Ghost

Banquo's Ghost (Jen South)

In regards to the question of why only Macbeth being able to see Banquo, there are several things to consider. First, it is the beginning of Macbeth's fall into madness, and fall out of favor with the lords surrounding him. That the killing of Banquo and the subsequent reporting of the death occur before Banquo is seen in ghost form by Macbeth, it can also point to regret on the part of Macbeth for having his good friend, who heard thr weird sisters telling of three futures, killed. The regret manifests in the blood seen on the ghost of Banquo.

At the same time part of me wonders (if there had not been a scene with Banquo), he was already a ghost when Macbeth is approached by the sisters three. Not much evidence to back this thought but kind of interesting to consider since the one class period when l spent talking of ghosts that were originally viewable to all, but eventually haunt one person in particular.