Banquo

Question 1

‘The instruments of darkness tell us truths’

Answer 1

• Banquo is seemed to be uncertain whether he should believe the witches prophecies
• He doesn’t allow the supernatural to manipulate him

Question 2

‘May they not be my oracles as well / And set me up in hope?’

Answer 2

• Banquo hopes his prophecies are true
• But he, unlike Macbeth, has no real desire to force it to happen
• Doesn’t engage in the supernatural

Question 3

‘Thy gory locks at me!’

Answer 3

• Banquo’s ghost is shaking at Macbeth
• Could infer the ghost is accusing Macbeth
• The ghost is shaking his head, for murdering him and also to show that killing him won’t secure his position as King

Question 4

‘Thou played’st most foully for’t’

Answer 4

• Banquo suspects that Macbeth may of killed Duncan to become King

Question 5

‘Chief guest’

Answer 5

• Banquo receives false praise from Macbeth

- Banquo is aware Macbeth has done something wrong, but still treats him as a friend

Question 6

‘What, can the devil speak true?’

Answer 6

• Banquo surprised that such evil could bring around truth

- We see that he finds the witches evil as he refers to them as the ‘devil

Question 7

‘Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths’

Answer 7

• Banquo is aware of the evil of the witches
• He doesn’t believe the witches and doesn’t let their prophecies to influence him as well
• He sees that the witches are telling truths to win their trust, and later on hurt them both