In Act 3, scene 3, Macbeth sends a third murderer to help the other two murder Banquo and his son. Does the third murderer know as much about Banquo as Macbeth says he does?
From what I see, it seems as if it could go either way. For example, this part:
"Almost a mile, but he does usually -
So all men do - from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk."
Yes, the third murderer knows something about Banquo....but then again, he says that all men do the same, so then it seems as if he's just saying something everyone would know. Help!
In Act 3, scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth sends a third murderer to join the two others in their mission to assassinate Banquo and his son. The question you raise is whether the third murderer knows as much about Banquo as Macbeth claims he does.
To explore this further, let's examine the specific lines you mentioned in your question:
"Almost a mile, but he does usually -
So all men do - from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk."
These lines convey that Banquo often takes a walk from where they currently are to the palace gate, which is about a mile away. The phrase "So all men do" suggests that this is a common behavior for many individuals, and not necessarily exclusive knowledge about Banquo. The third murderer's response can be interpreted as a general observation rather than specific information about Banquo's habits.
Based on this, it seems that the third murderer's knowledge about Banquo may be limited. It is possible that Macbeth simply recruited a random individual and provided them with basic instructions rather than someone who had an in-depth understanding of Banquo's routines.
However, it's important to note that Shakespeare deliberately leaves the identity and knowledge of the third murderer ambiguous. This ambiguity allows for different interpretations and adds to the suspense and mystery surrounding the events.
To fully understand the intentions and motivations behind the third murderer's involvement, it requires a deeper analysis of the text and consideration of the characters' relationships.