External Conflict

In Act iii of Macbeth the conflict shifts mostly from internal to external as Macbeth's focus moves to maintaining his throne. The main conflict is with Banquo and Fleance both of whom he has hired murderers to kill by convincing them to seek revenge. Macbeth has led them to believe that Banquo is the source of their misfortune in life, and that he must pay for it. Banquo, once Macbeth's friend, is now his worst enemy. The dramatic irony of the situation is that the audience knows that Banquos poses no real immediate threat to Macbeth, besides his knowledge of the prophecy, which only he knows, and still Macbeth wants to take his life. Not only does Macbeth want Banquo dead, but his son Fleance as well. Although the conflict is external in the sense that it is Macbeth versus Baquo, the conflict truly lies internally within Macbeth because he has formulated a possible threat in his mind which has become completely real to him. Banquo has not yet done anything that would cause harm to Macbeth or threaten his throne, but the potential that lies there is reason enough for Macbeth. I believe the conflict in this rises from a fear within Macbeth as well as the poison of power.