Banquo | Macbeth

• Banquo | Supernatural

  
  

  "Can the devil speak true?"

  
  

  (Act 1)


  Banquo alike Macbeth was shocked to hear about the witches' prophecies being true . However he speaks in the metaphor "the witches" and the rhetorical question implying that he distrusts the witches motives and intent which contrasts to Macbeth who is misguided believing that the witches are doing this for his own betterment.

  
  

  Context: like many Jacobeans at the time, Banquo did not trust the witches. Banquo's decision to not trust the witches would be seen favourably by the Jacbobean audience
• Banquo | Supernatural/Reality vs Appearance

  
  

  "The instruments of darkness tell us truth"

  
  

  (Act 1)


  The metaphor "the instruments of darkness" [talking about the Witches] will create a facade of trust whereas in reality will misguide you.

  Banquo doesn't trust the appearance of the witches he knows the reality that belies the witches are that they are agents of chaos.

  
  

  Context: Time of the witch-hunts

  illustrates the strong ideology Banquo has that witches has bad intentions.
• Banquo | Supernatural - Divine Right of Kings

  
  

  "In heaven their candles are all out"

  
  

  (Act 2)


  Banquo seems to recognise the supernatural elements happening. Foreshadows that a blasphemous act against God will happen (death of kind Duncan). The use of hyperbole emphasises that Banquo was aware that something was amiss. The theme of the supernatural is illustrated by the Divine Right of Kings when Kind Duncan is murdered disrupting God's will.
• Banquo | Ambition

  
  

  "In the great hand of God..I fight of treasonous malice"

  
  

  (Act 2)


  This reinforces the idea that Banquo is uncorrupt whilst Macbeth is completely corrupted - the declarative sentence illustrates that.

  
  

  Context: Banquo is horrified that someone violated the Divine Right of kings as they are going against the act of God.
• Banquo | Ambition/ Reality and Appearance

  
  

  "I fear thou play'dst most foully for it"

  
  

  (Act 3)


  The fricative echoes the witches' paradox "fair is foul and foul is fair" and reinforces a slight doubt Banquo feels about Macbeth.

  
  

  Context : ambition was seen as corrupting as it made people bypass their place in the hierarchy within the Great Chain of beings