Banquo

Question 1

“If you can look into the seeds of time,// and say which grain will grow and which will not,// speak then to me”
act 1
religious + supernatural

Answer 1

• Banquo carries the message about the importance of resisiting evil; Shakespeare advocates turning to God for support
• In the bible it says “Sow your seed in the morning”
• The natural imagery parallels to the Bible; thus Banquo seeking solace in Biblical teachings - using these to protect him from malevelent supernatural forces
• A natural semantic field is established with “seeds” and “grains”. This reinforces how Banquo remains obident to the natural order and to God - he does not try to alter his position akin to Macbeth

Question 2

“candles are all out”
act 2
appearnece vs realtiy

Answer 2

• Embelmetic of Jesus as he confesses his temptation, Banquo claims the heaven’s “candles are all out”. Banquo seeks solace from heaven
• Opposed to Macbeth “stars hide your fires”. This motif os stars exposes Macbeth and Banquo as diametrically opposed in their aspirations
  -Macbeth wants to hide his malicious intentions from God yet Banquo wants to confess his temptations to be free

Question 3

“royalty of nature”
act 3
ambition

Answer 3

• emphaisis his noble and majestic nature but is not powered by his ambition
  -“royalty” connotates power and status. Macbeth recognises that Banquo has maintained his power as an amibitious stoic hero
• This idea is compound shortly after, when Macbeth describes him as “wise”, implying a rational and intelligent character
• Banquo is depicted as having and exeplary balance of ambitition and respectibiltity
• doesn’t have a fall from grace as doesn’t indulge in temptations

Question 4

“he hath wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety”
(about Banquo from Macbeth)
Act 3
ambition

Answer 4

• Banquo is a foil to Macbeth as Macbeth embodies reckless power whereas Banquo has control and self constraint
• Macbeth is envious ( 1 of 7 deadly sins) of Banquo’s ability to restrain his ambition and refrain from over indulgence into “deep desires”

Question 5

“look not like th’inhabitants o’th’earth”
supernatural
act 1

” I dream’d of the three weird sisters last night”
supernatural
act 3

Answer 5

• Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches for the first time, Banquo perceives the overt evil and duhumanises them through description
• Banquo is portrayed as perceptive as it was believed he was ancestor of James I, this is a form of indirect flattery
• He is plagued by the thoughts of the witches’ prophecies. It seems superstition is taking a hold on him and trespassing on his unconscious
• In contrast to Macbeth was “does not think of them” he is honest, characterising him as moral in order to amplifiy Macbeth’s dishoensty and deception

Question 6

“Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s In deepest consequence.”
Act 1

Answer 6

Banquo is warning that the witches tell small truths to trick people into trusting them. He suggests that the witches give people just enough truth to make them believe their lies, leading them into making bad decisions. Banquo’s words show his caution and wisdom, as he recognizes the witches’ ability to deceive and lead people into dangerous situations. Unlike Macbeth, Banquo doesn’t let ambition cloud his judgment, and he understands the witches’ true intentions.