banquo

• Banquo


  Brave noble, Macbeth's antithesis
• Banquo


  • Has ambitious thoughts but demonstrates restraint and doesn't act upon them
  • Represents the route that Macbeth chose not to take - the path where ambition doesn't lead to betrayal and murder
• Witches' prophecies


  Macbeth is entranced and absorbed by them, but Banquo perceives them with scepticism as he doesn't trust the witches
• Banquo's prophecies


  Juxtaposed with Macbeth's "lesser" and "greater", "happier" and "not so happy", suggesting Banquo is Macbeth's antithesis
• Temptation


  The crux of the play, Shakespeare portrays Banquo as morally strong for resisting it, unlike the morally weak Macbeth
• Banquo


  • Resists the temptations of evil offered by the supernatural (Witches)
  • Viewed as a moral superior by the contemporary audience who believed the devil existed and walked amongst humans trying to tempt them
• Banquo


  • Perceived by the contemporary audience as a moralistic character as his values were in line with those of the Christian Church
  • Calls upon God for help in resisting temptation
• Banquo


  • Noble and honourable, with a "royalty of nature"
  • His response to the Witches' prophecy could be seen as strategic, carefully chosen and non-committal language to reserve his judgement
• Banquo


  • Resistive to evil, recognising the Witches as agents of the devil and able to reject evil thoughts, unlike the morally weak Macbeth
• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship


  Distances after Banquo's murder as Lady Macbeth disapproves and Macbeth starts acting independently
• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's development


  Reverse directions - Macbeth becomes more like Lady Macbeth was, while Lady Macbeth becomes more like Macbeth was
• This is a reversal of gender roles and the point at which Macbeth cannot return to virtue
• Macbeth was a reluctant killer, tempted by Lady Macbeth and the witches, but now he is killing despite it
• Macbeth's greed - what he has will never be enough, he will keep doing evil
• Macbeth and Banquo's friendship


  Initially very strong and loyal, but tested when they meet the Witches, causing a division
• The Witches and Macbeth/Banquo


  Create friction between Macbeth and Banquo by telling them Banquo's children will become kings
• Banquo and Fleance


  Banquo has a protective and affectionate attitude towards his son
• Banquo: '"the earth hath bubbles" and "have we eaten on the insane root?"'
• Macbeth: '"Our fears in Banquo / Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which would be feared."'
• Banquo's name was not mentioned by the Witches, unlike Macbeth, so he is less susceptible to their control
• Banquo: '"neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate"'
• Banquo recognises the Witches as unnatural and evil, unlike Macbeth who chooses to ignore this
• Banquo's sacrifice for Fleance - out of love or ambition?
• Banquo: '"I dream'd last night of the three weird sisters"'
• Banquo suspects Macbeth but doesn't speak out
• Banquo is repeatedly referred to as noble and honourable, yet Shakespeare leaves ambiguity about his true nature
• The Witches predict Banquo being "lesser than Macbeth and greater"
• Banquo speaks in strategic, non-committal business language
• Banquo: '"the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles to betray's in deepest consequence"'
• Banquo is willing to be advised and tempted by Macbeth, showing his loyalty is not fixed
• The Witches represent temptation to sin that Banquo, as a moral superior, is able to resist unlike Macbeth