Banquo

• Banquo and Macbeth [Witches/Supernatural/Kingship] - proclaims in "the earth hath bubbles" and questions "have we eaten on the insane root"

  • Use of metaphorical language and supernatural imagery
  • 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
• Banquo and Macbeth [Kingship/ - Macbeth says "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 - Banquo serves as a constant reflection of how Macbeth should have acted - constant reminder of the morality Macbeth started with and is losing.
  • Repetition of the verb "fear"
• Banquo and Macbeth - he asks the witches to "speak then to me" as he want to know what the "seeds of time" will have in store with him

  • Shows that he does have interest in the prophecy and his own ambition, but his ambition is less strong than Macbeth's and he can control it
• Banquo and Macbeth - When speaking to the witches, Banquo remains composed and in control as he states "neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate"

  • This reveals that Banquo is very moralistic and responsible character
  • And juxtaposes Macbeth's response, who commands the Witches to "stay, you imperfect speakers", revealing his desperation
• Banquo and Macbeth - [Witches] Macbeths name was first mentioned and they were "there to meet with Macbeth"

  • Macbeth, as the focus of the witches, allow them to control him and grows his ego, whereas Banquo does not, but perhaps this is due to the prophecies not being directly to him - but rather his offspring.
• Banquo and Macbeth - Macbeth, who describes the witches as “imperfect”, and Banquo have recognised the witches as unnatural and evil but Macbeth chooses to ignore this

  • However, why does Banquo save his son? He tells Fleance to “fly” – but also “thou mayst avenge”. Therefore, it is clear that he wants Fleance to kill Macbeth or to take the crown and therefore fulfil the prophecy.
  • Earlier in the play, the father-son relationship is not depicted to be loving, as Shakespeare uses formal “boy” and “sir”. Here, he makes the audience question whether its is out of love, or out of ambition.
• Banquo - "I dream'd last night of the three weird sisters"

  • This suggests that Banquo had been thinking of the witches before they met, as when he admits this is still the same night as they met the witches
  • Could just be an oversight
  • But could be evidence that Banquo is not entirely unconnected to the supernatural either
• Banquo - suspects but doesn't speak out - "I fear thou played'st most foully for't"

  • He suspects Macbeth because he can identify evil as a moral person
  • Alternatively, he suspects Macbeth because its what Banquo would have done in his position, as he had "cursed thoughts" himself
• Banquo and Macbeth - "noble Banquo", "Worthy Banquo", "no less deserv'd", "wisdom that doth guide his valour" and a "royalty of nature"

  • Repeatedly referred to as being noble and honourable throughout the play with honourable vocabulary
  • Shakespeare this makes it clear that he is widely regarded as such and there should be no doubt to his loyalty. However, the audience WOULD BE WARY because in Shakespeare's play "Othello" the antagonist Iago is honest and honourable - yet is anything but these qualities
• Banquo - the witches predict Banquo being "lesser than Macbeth and greater"

  • This paradoxical language + equivocation becomes true throughout the play. 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 the greater afterlife
• Banquo - Frequently speaks in terms of business

  • "my allegiance" - loyalty and commitment - "my" - almost like he's selling it
  • Verb - "augment" - make something greater / increase
  • Verb - "franchised" - a privilege or authorisation granted by a governing power

  This gives the sense of him playing strategically - carefully chosen and non-committal language, which allows him to reserve his judgement so he can choose to support the correct side
• Banquo and macbeth - "the instrument of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles to betray's in deepest consequence"

  • Refers to the Witches as being "the instruments of darkness", unlike macbeth, he is aware that there is likely a trap involved in the predictions
• Banquo and Macbeth - whereas Macbeth asks Banquo to "cleave to my consent", Banquo vows to "keep my allegiance clear"

  • This demonstrates he will not go against the king even if it benefits him

  "I shall be counselled"

  • He is willing to be advised and tempted by Macbeth, which shows he's franchised - wants to retain the privileges he has gained from loyalty to the king and this may change to new king

  states that "my duties" are "forever knit" to macbeth - he has shifted his loyalty and allegiance to Macbeth rapidly, which shows it is not fixed and he moves for his own benefit
• Banquo - the CONTEMPORARY audience widely believed that the devil existed - the witches can be seen as a symbol of temptation. - Banquo resists. Macbeth being thane of Cawdor gives credibility to it

  • Macbeth says with additional ambition: "yield to that suggestion"
  • Whilst Banquo recognises it is a trick as he states "the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles to betray's in deepest consequence"

  Banquo knows that's temptation, and it will have severe consequences

  • His suspicion protects him from disgrace - will die in God's favour