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English- Macbeth
Banquo
banquo- quote explanations
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jess marshall
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Cards (7)
“lesser than macbeth and greater”
paradoxical
prophecies
could hint at the fact that banquo will
not
see his
reputation
sink as low as macbeths
doesnt experience the same
psychological
torment as macbeth
doesnt
succumb
to the
temptation
of paying
heed
to the witches
dies with a moral
purity
that macbeth could only wish for
“the instruments of darkness… betray’s in deepest consequence”
audience can see banquo
ability
to contain his
ambition
able to resist the witches
evil
superlative
‘deepest’ emphasises banquos
awareness
of the dangers of succumbing to the witches
shakespeare presents banquo as the character who takes the higher
moral
ground
“there’s husbandry in heaven, their candles are all out”
suspicious
of something but unable to
pinpoint
it
lack of
stars
in sky could represent the
forthcoming
actions of M and LM which bring
darkness
to scotland
darkness could
foreshadow
banquo
impending
death
“merciful powers/ cursed thoughts”
noticeably on
edge
seems
uncertain
and uneasy
distracted by bad dreams since meeting the witches
plagued by his ‘cursed thoughts‘, which rest
heavily
on his mind and prevent him from
sleeping
in
jacobean
england it was commonly believed that bad dreams were caused by
demons
stark
contrast
to then M and LM call on
spirits
to assist them in
evil
acts
banquo is morally
superior
to macbeth
“bosom franchis’d”
banquo is a
staunch
defender of his
integrity
perhaps suspects that macbeth is planning something and wants to
protect
himself
he will only gain respect by acting
honourably
will not enter any form of
corruption
if it means he cannot keep his
‘allegiance
clear’
“this most bloody piece of work’
portrayed as the
mouthpiece
of
loyalty
shakespeare
presents banquo as the
spokesperson
for
morality
“thou played’st most foully for’t”
has grave
doubts
about macbeth but doesn’t
publically
voice his
scepticism
banquo unvoiced
qualms
have given macbeth free
reign
to commit
unthinkable
crimes
adjective
‘foully’
is a direct reference to the witches
incantation
from act 1
macbeth has behaved ‘foully’ to live the ‘fair’ life which was
proposed
to him
verb
‘played’st’ usually associated with
games
so perhaps banquo is being critical of macbeths
perception
of
competition
macbeth saw kingship as the
prize
to this game and the end goal which he’d stop at
nothing
to achieve