Macbeth: Master of Manipulation

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     Macbeth utilizes his skill of manipulation to convince the murderers that it is, in fact, Banquo who has left them to suffer in poverty.  This ultimately causes the murderers to have their own motivation in killing Banquo, instead of just following the orders of their king.  In Act III Scene I, Macbeth tells the two murderers that in his prior speech, he communicated to them that it had not been he that had cast them to misfortune, but it had been Banquo.  Macbeth continues to push what he wishes for the murderers to believe as he plainly tells them that Banquo is their enemy.  Before this conversation, the murderers may have loathed Macbeth as he was the individual in power when they were oppressed, but when Macbeth feeds them this untrue blame on Banquo, they are now able to side with Macbeth against Banquo.  With this new hatred, Macbeth knows that the murderers will strive to accomplish the task of killing Banquo as they are no longer just doing it for him.  Through manipulating who the murderers hold accountable for their state, Macbeth is able to arm them with more than just weapons.

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