He is presented as crazy. He has had Banquo murdered and tried to have Fleance murdered, but Fleance escaped. One of his hired murderers appears at his door just as he's to go to a banquet with his lords, so he hears this news just before he walks in. Lady Macbeth has to remind him to be cheerful and to provide the appropriate toasts. Of course, the first thing he does is comment--to cover his tracks--on how wonderful it is to everyone present...if only Banquo were here! And of course, the gashed ghost of Banquo appears. He is apparently the only person who can see the ghost, sitting in his chair at the table. He raves at the ghost like a madman, insisting he is a man and not afraid of anything--except this. Lady Macbeth has to cover for him, explaining that he's prone to inexplicable fits. She finally has to dismiss all the guests on the excuse that any questions they ask just aggravate the "fits."
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