Banquo

Question 1

All Banquo Quotes

Answer 1

• “Look not like th’inhabitants o’th’earth” (Act 1 - Supernatural)
• “Royalty of nature” (from Macbeth) (Act 3 - Ambition)
• “The heaven’s candles are all out” (Act 2 - Appearance vs Reality)

Question 2

“Look not like th’inhabitants o’th’earth” (Act 1 - Supernatural)

Answer 2

• Banquo percieves their overt evil and dehumanises them, the withces’ physiognomy exposes them as inhumane and evil
• Banquo is portrayed as perceptive as it was believed he was an ancestor of James I, thus this is a form on indirect flattery

Question 3

“Royalty of nature” (from Macbeth) (Act 3 - Ambition)

Answer 3

• Banquo has an exemplary balance of ambition and respectability
• Noble and majestic nature is not overpowered by his ambition
• Macbeth realises Banquo has maintained his power as an ambitious stoic hero whilst maintaining his status as a rational and intelligent being

Question 4

“The heaven’s candles are all out” (Act 2 - Appearance vs Reality)

Answer 4

• Antithesis of deceitful and emblematic of Jesus as he confesses his temptation
• Banquo seeks solace from heaven from the lack of stars in the sky. Macbeth tries to hide this saying “stars hide your fires” highlighting Macbeth and Banquo as diametrically opposed in their aspirations