Banquo

• "Our fears in Banquo / Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which would be feared."

  • Macbeth is shown to fear Banquo's "royalty of nature"
  • Banquo has had the same experience as Macbeth, yet Banquo has responded as Macbeth should have. This means Banquo serves as a constant reflection of how Macbeth should have acted. He also serves as a constant reminder of the morality Macbeth started with and is losing.
• The Witches predict Banquo being "lesser than Macbeth and greater".

  • This becomes true: In status, he is lesser (sir) but he is morally superior, with a stronger will. He remained loyal to the kind and obedient to God and the 'Great Chain of Being' and therefore he will have a greater afterlife.
• "the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles to betray's in deepest consequence".

  • Here, Banquo is referring to the Witches as being "the instruments of darkness". Unlike Macbeth, who is refusing to see the potential consequences of believing in the prophecies, Banquo is aware that there is likely a trap involved in the predictions.
• Shakespeare uses metaphorical language and supernatural imagery as Banquo proclaims "the earth hath bubbles" and questions "have we eaten on the insane root?".

  • This quote demonstrates how Banquo works to distance himself from the witches whilst Macbeth aligns himself with them.
  • The contemporary audience would recognise the witches as a force of evil and thus favour Banquo.
  • While a modern audience would perhaps view the Witches as humorous, due to the lack of a belief in witches' existence.