Why does macduff not attend Macbeths banquet?

Answer 1

In the Shakespearean play, Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] held a banquet at Forres Palace after his coronation at Scone. But when it came time for everyone present to be seated, Macbeth wouldn't take his seat. The reason was the pre-empting of the seat by the ghost of Banquo. Banquo was heading back to the Palace for the banquet when he was accosted by three murderers. He made it no further than the nearby park, because his throat was slit. But his ghost made it to the banquet, on time and to unsettle Macbeth, who had hired the killers.

Answer 2

Macbeth does not sit down at the feast because he sees Banquo's ghost sitting in his spot. He ends up panicking and behaving strangely, which Lady Macbeth tries to explain to the guests as him having another one of his "fits."

Answer 3

Because the ghost of Banquo, the Chief General of the murdered King Duncan whom Macbeth has had assassinated, appears to him at the royal banquet that was meant to be held in his honour. Banquo had become suspicious of Macbeth's murderous behaviour earlier on in the play, so Macbeth sets out a plot to invite him to a grand dinner whilst secretly arranging to have him assassinated when he is on the way there. This duly happens, although Banquo's young son Fleance escapes. At the banquet, Macbeth is about to feign bemusement and bewilderment as to why Banquo hasn't turned up, but then sees Banquo's ghost sitting in Macbeth's empty throne. The ghost is visible only to himself, so none of the other dinner gusts can understand why he is behaving so strangely, apparently raving like a madman at an empty chair, but Macbeth knows that Banquo has returned as a wraith to accuse him of the murders he has committed, and to warn him that he himself is heading towards the same fate. Lady Macbeth initially tries to calm the gathering by saying that her husband is suffering only from a common fever, but when the ghost keeps on reappearing and sends Macbeth into an increasingly anguished frenzy, the dinner party has to depart in a state of disturbance and unease.

Answer 4

Lady Macbeth wants this to be a perfect social occasion and her husband is making the guests uncomfortable by screaming at his empty chair and generally being disruptive. Besides some of the things he is saying might give away who killed Duncan and Banquo.

Answer 5

Because he sees Banquo's ghost, and Macbeth is feeling the guilt for having ordered his best-friends murder.

Answer 6

Macbeth behaves strangely at the banquet as he sees Banquo's ghost sitting on his throne covered in blood. However, he is the only one who can see it.

Answer 7

Because he murdered Banquo earlier that day, and Banquo's ghost is haunting him at the banquet.

Answer 8

He was in England trying to rally an army against him.