Quotes

• Give 3-4 quotes from this scene

  'My noble partner'

  'Have we eaten on the insane root (...)?'

  'The instruments of darkness tell us truths (...) to betray's'

  '...Macbeth and Banquo, all hail
• Explain the quote, 'My noble partner'

  The epithet of 'noble' shows how highly Banquo thinks of Macbeth. It is very complimentary and contrasts to the dramatic foil of Macbeth and Banquo further in the play as at this point, we see them as almost equal in nobility

  This is not the first time Macbeth has been described as noble. This repetition reinforces the tragic hero's reputation. In fact, he is labelled "noble" five times in the play and the epithet "worthy" is also used seven times to describe the character.
• Explain the quote 'Have we eaten on the insane root'

  This quote displays Banquos skepticalness in the situation as he repeatedly asks questions. He believes that him and Macbeth must have eaten something to make them hallucinate such a strange sight. This contrasts to Macbeth as he seems very rapt with the witches predictions and curious to know more.
• Explain the quote, 'The instruments of darkness tell us truths (...) to betray's'

  This entire speech of Banquos displays proleptic irony, in that we know that Macbeth is going to disobey Banquos guidance. Banquo is trying to tell Macbeth not to get his hopes up or trust the witches showing how he is not as keen on power as Macbeth is
• Explain the quote, '...Banquo and Macbeth, all hail'


  The technique uses is a chiasmus, this inverting shows Macbeth and Banquos parallel natures at this point in the play. Their parallelism will then be broken as Macbeth becomes eager for power
• Give 3 quotes from this act

  3.1 - 'Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all'

  3.1 - 'My lord' x2 and 'my good lord' x2

  3.3 - 'O, treachery! (...) Thou (Fleance) mayst revenge'

  3.3 - 'Who did strike out the light
• Explain the quote, 'Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all'

  In this quote, Banquo is using an asyndetic list to run through all the titles/prophecies Macbeth has inherited. During this speech we truly see how much he is a dramatic foil to Macbeth as he is extremely moral aswell as unwilling to lean into the prophecies, as Macbeth has
• Explain the quote, 'My lord' x2 and 'my good lord' x2

  My Lord is almost overused in this scene. This may be to show the new power dynamic that Macbeth has with Banquo as, now that he is king, he holds much more power compared to Banquo. As well as this, the power dynamic shows tbe control that Macbeth has on Banquo - his power almost compels Banquo to do his bidding. This way of addressing Macbeth shows that they are no long good friends as they used to be, now that Macbeth is king.
• Explain the quote, 'O, treachery! (...) Thou (Fleance) mayst revenge'


  Thou mayst revenge: This is said to Fleance. Banquo means that if Fleance flees and lives, he may have a chance to revenge his father's death.
• Explain the quote, 'Who did strike out the light'


  This quote is used to show the shift in morality. Now that Macbeth is dead it seem. we can understand this to literally mean that the torch has been extinguished and also as a reference to the ending of Banquo's life

  Light is seen as a symbol of purity and goodness - now that Banquo is dead, there is no more light

  This also brings back the dramatic foil of Macbeth and Banquo
• Give 3 quotes from this scene

  'Never shake (...) thy gory locks at me!' (M)

  'Avaunt and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!' (M)

  'It will have blood they say: blood will have blood' (M)
• Explain the quote, 'Never shake (...) thy gory locks at me!'

  This use of a modal verb shows the authority and power that Macbeth has at that time. However it also shows the panic he is undergoing as he succumbs to insanity

  This quote plays on words in a way that twist the words to make a true by technicality. When Banquo's ghost is looking at him Macbeth feels guilt. He says that he technically did not kill Banquo in that someone else did. This shows the guilt Macbeth feels over killing Banquo
• Explain the quote, 'Avaunt and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!'

  The use of these imperatives shows how desperate and fearful Macbeth over his hallucinations.
• Explain the quote, 'It will have blood they say: blood will have blood'

  In this quote we see how the idea of blood is consuming Macbeth and how guilt he is feeling over the recent death of Banquo. He is fixated on blood, death and the guilt.

  he knows that he will have to suffer for his murders. Macbeth recognizes that just as he murdered people to gain power, others on a quest for power may murder him to gain what he has. There is a vicious cycle of bloodshed and violence as a result of Macbeth's actions.