Banquo Flashcards
‘lesser than Macbeth and greater’
L - comparative adjectives
Banquo is lesser than Macbeth in status as he will not be king. However, he is greater than Macbeth morally.
‘instrument of darkness’
L - metaphor
Banquo associates evil with darkness.
D - This suggests that the witches are controlled by a more powerful evil force as they are only the tools.
‘in great hand of God I stand’
L - religious metaphor
Banquo’s use of religious metaphor shows that he is a force for moral good. He is a foil to Macbeth.
C - this flatters King James I, Shakespeare’s patron, as he is a descendant of Banquo.
‘I fear thou played most foully for it’
Banquo suspects Macbeth has done something morally wrong to become king.
‘myself should be the root and father of many kings’
According to the witches’ prophecy, Banquo’s children should be the future kings of England.
‘my good lord’
[Macbeth] ‘grave and prosperous’
L - adjectives
Both Macbeth and Banquo have their suspicion of each other but pretend that they do not.
‘if you can look into the seed of time’
L - conditional word
Banquo’s use of conditional word shows his suspicious and less trusting attitude towards the witches. Unlike Macbeth, he does not immediately wonders how his children will become kings as he is more skeptical.
Banquo
TS1 - Banquo is portrayed as the opposite of Macbeth in his reaction to supernatural.
TS2 - Banquo is presented as the foil of Macbeth.
TS3 - Banquo is presented as the father of future kings, who Macbeth sees as a threat.
