Banquo

• What is Banquo's function in Macbeth?

  To operate as a foil to Macbeth
• How are Banquo and Macbeth described by Duncan?

  As our captains
• What does the sergeant say about Banquo and Macbeth?

  They were like cannons overcharged
• What word does Duncan use to describe Banquo?

  Noble
• How do Banquo and Macbeth differ after meeting the witches?

  In their reactions to the prophecies
• What prophecy do the witches give to Banquo?

  His descendants will be kings
• How does Banquo respond to the witches' prophecies?

  He is skeptical and wary
• What is Macbeth's reaction to the witches' prophecy about being king?

  He takes matters into his own hands
• What does Banquo's lack of ambition indicate about his character?

  He does not have the same fatal flaw
• What historical source did Shakespeare use for Macbeth?

  Hollinshead's Chronicles
• How does Shakespeare alter Banquo's character from the source material?

  He presents Banquo in a more positive light
• Why might Shakespeare have portrayed Banquo positively?

  King James I was believed to be his descendant
• What does Banquo admit about his thoughts before sleeping?

  He has cursed thoughts
• What does Banquo dream about?

  The three weird sisters
• What does Banquo suspect about Macbeth after Duncan's murder?

  That Macbeth played most foully for the throne
• Why does Banquo not raise objections to Macbeth's actions?

  He believes he can gain from Macbeth's position
• What does Banquo say about staying loyal to Macbeth?

  He will lose no honour by doing so
• How does Banquo's goodness ultimately affect him?

  It costs him his life
• What does Macbeth fear about Banquo?

  His good and wise nature
• How do critics view the relationship between Macbeth and Banquo?

  They cannot coexist; only one survives
• What complexity does Banquo's character reveal?

  He is good but not without flaws
• What theme does Shakespeare explore through Banquo and Macbeth?

  The conflict between good and evil
• What does Banquo's indecision in the face of treason suggest?

  He is a complex character
• foil - prevent something wrong from happening
• He doesn't trust the witches phrophecies

  1. behaves rationally towards them
  2. questions whether they are real and doesn't trust them
  3. However he is still intrigued and thinks about them, as he admits to having "dreamt last night of the three weird sisters"
• "i fear thou played most foully for it" - Banquo suspects that macbeth has achieved his newfound titles through dishonest means. He mutters these words to himself which demonstrates his loyalty as he is supressing his suspicions and not openly confronting macbeth
• more honourable then macbeth

  1. he thinks before he acts and does what is right
  2. he is ambitious and wants the prophecies to come true but does not act on predictions
  3. isnt corrupted by ambition (macbeth's fatal flaw) so stays honourable
  4. Banquo's conscience is more important to him than gaining power and glory
• "the instruments of darkness tell us truths" - Banquo retains his morality and when he hears about the prophecies is resistant and reluctant to the supernatural force. "darkness" describes the witches as evil and deceptive
• Banquos ghost - These hallucinations are a supernatural sign of macbeths guilt, as the ghost is only visible to him, which indicates his growing madness and descent into paranoia highlighting his deteriorating mental state (loss of sanity)
• Banquos ghost

  1. challenge to macbeth's kingship - The fact Banquo's descendants are prophesied to be kings threaten macbeth's claim to the throne. The ghost servers as a reminder of this threat
  2. Guilt and conscience - the ghost is a manifestation of macbeth's overwhelming guilt. It shows he is haunted by his crime and cant escape the consequences of his actions: never ending cycle of torment
• Banquo's ghost

  1. retribution - the ghost's presence suggests that justice will eventually be served. Macbeth may have gotten away with murder for a while, but he cant escape the consequences forever
• words to describe banquo:

  heroic

  courageous

  determined

  sceptical/wary

  intrigued

  good judgement