banquo

• religion and temptation - topic sentence

  Shakespeare uses Banquo’s character to make a clear assertion about the importance of religion. Using him as an exemplary example, and Macbeth as an example of what happens when you stray from God and to Deliver a clear message about the importance of resisting evil; advocating turning to God. His Internal struggle emphasises humanity allowing the audience to connect with his character on an emotional level.
• religion and temptation - nature

  • Religious nature connotations in 1.3: “if you can look into the seeds of time // and say which grain will grow and which will not”
  • Banquo is sceptical and uses religion to understand prophecies.
  • Ecclesiastes 11.6: “Sow your seed in the morning”
  • Natural imagery parallel to Bible: Seeks solace in biblical teaching & uses them to protect him from malevolent supernatural forces.
  • Natural semantic field “seeds” “grain will grow” - remain obedient to natural order - does not forgo position akin to Macbeth.
  • Emblematic of Jesus as he confesses temptation - the heavens “candles are all out” - lack of stars in the sky. Seeks solace from heaven.
• religion and temptation - foil

  • Foil to Macbeth - “Stars hide your fires” (motif of stars exposes Macbeth and Banquo diametrically opposed aspirations).
  • Macbeth wants to hide malicious intention.
  • Banquo wants to confess his temptation and achieve salvation.
  • Through resisting to withhold temptation Banquo parallels Jesus, who was tempted by the devil.
• supernatural topic sentence

  The theme of supernatural seems to gravitate towards Banquo and follows him throughout the play, even in death. He meets the witches with Macbeth and eventually becomes a supernatural entity, appearing as a ghost to torment Macbeth.
• supernatural- “look not like the inhabitants of the earth”

  • Act 1 Scene 3 meet witches - recognises overt evil and dehumanisation - “look not like th’inhabitants o’ th’earth”
  • witches’ physiognomy exposes evil + inhumanity
  • Banquo is perceptive as ancestor of James I - indirect flattery
• supernatural- “restrain in me the cursed though”

  • Has some initial reaction but morally takes over
  • “restrain in me the cursed thoughts”
  • understands ludicrousness of plotting regicide based on unsubstantiated prophecies
• supernatural - banquo ghost

  • Upon death, supernatural ties him and Macbeth together.
  • 3.4: Banquo’s ghost appears at banquet - destroys dignified imagery
  • Forced to exclaim “quit my sight” - Banquo and Macbeth connected through supernatural.
  • Unravels Macbeth’s mind.
• supernatural - i dreamed of the three wierd sister part 1

  • "i dreamed of the three weird sisters last night" (banquo) "i think not of them" macbeth - act 2
  • scrupulous, pious and honest and the anti thesis to the theme
  • external demeanour aligns seamlessly with his true nature, exemplifying a stark contrast where his appearance mirrors reality
  • abstract noun "dreamed" signifies affliction he is haunted in waking moments and realm of sleep - intrusion of superstition into banquos consciousness trespassing his unconscious mind
• supernatural - i dreamed of the weird sisters part 2


  • motif of sleep is synonymous with loss of innocence
  • macbeth "sleep no more" and lady macbeths somnambulant state
  • banquo restrains capacity to sleep and acknowledges his ability to"dream" illuminating preservation of innocence truthfully admits to being captivated by supernatural without subsuming to guilt induced insomnia
  • sincerity operates as a foul to macbeths deceit as macbeth falsely asserts he does not "think" of the prophecies
  • moral characterisation strategically employed to contrast macbeths dishonesty and duplicity
  • juxtaposition accentuates moral divergence between banquo and macbeth
• nobility— topic sentence

  banquos nobility is explicitly clear and shakespeare consistently holds him as an example of ideal morals in face of corruption. whilst he struggles against temptation, his good morals and Nobel character win out, and he makes the morally obliged choice to disassociate with macbeth
• nobility - “royalty of nature”


  • Nobel and majestic characteristics
  • compounded by macbeth describing him as “wise”
  • implies rational and intelligent characteristics
  • macbeth presented as “worthy“ regresses into a ”hell hound“
  • both characters are initially noble
  • shakespeare explores disadvantageous effects of loosing sight of morality and being preoccupied with belligerence
• noobility- 3.3

  • noble and caring attitudes shines most brightly in 3.3 just before his murder
  • “fly good fleance fly fly fly!”
  • knows he won’t survive the ambush so implores fleance to run
  • aware that if he is targeted fleance likely is aswell