Banquo Flashcards
What kind of man is Banquo?
Duncan - Banquo is loyal and honourable
‘true worthy Banquo’
‘noble Banquo’
‘…hold thee to my heart’
Macbeth - a close friend and equal with Banquo at the start; calls him
‘my dear partner’
Macbeth - fearful of the threat from Banquo as he is honourable and noble
Banquo has a ‘royalty of nature’
What do the witches say about Banquo?
Prophesise that his children will be Kings:
‘Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none’
Compare him to Macbeth: more noble and honourable but lower in status:
‘Lesser than Macbeth, and greater’
How does Banquo react to the witches prophecies?
Banquo like Macbeth is tempted but asks for help to resist:
‘Restrain in me the cursed thoughts nature gives way to’
However Banquo knows it would be dangerous to believe them:
‘And oftentimes to win us to our harm
The instruments of darkness tell us truths..’
How is Banquo a threat to Macbeth?
- He suspects Macbeth (but Macbeth does not know this) so could be a threat:
‘I fear thou played’st most foully for it’
- The witches said Banquo’s children will be Kings which threatens Macbeth’s position:
‘Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none’
- This makes Macbeth feel weak:
‘Our fears in Banquo stick deep’
How does Banquo contrast with Macbeth?
Banquo does not give in to the temptation of the witches’ prophesy
‘restrain me in the cursed thoughts nature gives way to’
Loyal to King Duncan
‘keep allegiance clear’
Will fight against ‘treasonous malice’ after King killed
How does Banquo’s murder mark a turning point?
Macbeth does not involve his wife in the plan, highlighting that their close relationship is over
Calls the murder of Banquo
‘a deed of dreadful note’
[euphemism - cannot say the word murder]
Thinks Lady Macbeth will be pleased with him
‘till thou applaud the deed’
How does Macbeth’s manipulation of Banquo’s murderers mirror how Lady Macbeth manipulated him to kill Duncan?
Both of you know, Banquo was your enemy
How is Banquo’s ghost at the banquet a symbol of Macbeth’s guilt and disordered state of mind after killing Duncan and Banquo?
Regicide and killing Banquo have upset the natural order of things, Macbeth is plagued with guilt
‘never shake thy gory locks at me’
Banquo’s ghost sits in Macbeth’s seat at the table - symbol that Macbeth is a usurper, not rightful King
