Used as basically tools by Macbeth, the murderers hold little importance in the overall story of Macbeth, though their actions do have great consequence as they’re to kill Banquo and Lady Macduff and her child. Their use by Macbeth represents a shift in his character, as instead of doing the killing himself, like what he did with Duncan and the servants, he instead hires and manipulates these men into doing his killing for him. Whatever little honour Macbeth could justify having with his previous murders is gone by the action of hiring others to do it for him, thus removing the direct association and consequence. The murderers, from a modern understanding, may be a message about the flawed feudal system in place at the context of the story, as they are easily manipulated into blaming Banquo for their own misfortunes. Yet when considering the absolute monarchy Shakespeare wrote the play in, it is unlikely that was the true intent. Rather, it is clear the murderer’s presence in the play is to highlight how little Macbeth at this point cares about anyone but himself and maintaining his power as king.
