Macbeth decides to kill Banquo...

P – After killing King Duncan, Banquo is the next obstacle to Macbeth who might reveal what he knows. So he has to kill him. Q - Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, E – Macbeth is haunted by the idea of Banquo’s sons, who will become kings, according to the witches. Shakespeare conveys this idea by using emotive language such as ‘rancours,’ ‘peace,’ ‘eternal’ and ‘enemy.’ This gives us a strong sense of how Macbeth is feeling and the passions he is keeping in control. Again, this is said to the audience as a monologue before the murderers arrive. P – Macbeth has to give a public reason for killing Banquo. He tells the murderers that: Q - though I could / With barefaced power sweep him from my sight And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not. E – Macbeth is in a tricky position as with the death of Duncan, people are already suspicious. So to hide his guilt he arranges a banquet in his friend’s honour. He suggests here that he could banish Banquo with ‘barefaced power’ but actually he ‘must not.’ Therefore he needs the murderers to do his dirty work for him. This is an important decision which will lead to more death.