Banquo: Macbeth Flashcards
Banquo: foully
Fears Macbeth has “played most foully for it”
Use of the fricative foul deploys a harsh tone that creates helps establish a gap between Macbeth and banquo. “Foul” is a hint to witches and use of foul draws connotations that Macbeth came to throne in a deplorable manner, it links to the supernatural and evil.
“Foully for” and ‘weird women” - alliteration of both statements draw connection or collaboration between witches and Macbeth
Gap helps depict him as foil of Macbeth
Context: Holinshed’s Chronicles
Shakespeare presents banquo in a more positive light, as king James was a descendant of Banquo.
Deliberately cast a foil to Macbeth.
Macbeth: banquo irony
“Wisdom that doth guide his valour” - use of a symbolic juxtaposition through character here is significant. Macbeth is highlighting the fact that he knows Banquo has the capabilities to kill him through lexical choice “valour” drawing connations to to bravery and wisdom. Coupled with “wisdom” highlighting the ability of Banquo. However, this is significant as it actually creates a contrast between the character as their hamartias are completely opposed, this wisdom and valour ultimately gets banquo killed. On the contrary, Macbeth ambition gets him killed. Shakespeare uses this to highlight the constructs the character represents. Macbeth is representation of evil (Macbeth) and banquo (good). However, they cannot co-exist in harmony, this further establishes the idea that banquo is a foil to Macbeth.
Banquo: Dream
“I dreamt last night of the…weird sisters”
Open admission of how supernatural stayed on his mind
Highlights like Macbeth had dreams/desires of supernatural but controls them doesn’t act on them. - Foil
Furthermore, is a direct contrast “I think not of them” - Macbeth. Highlights theme of appearance vs reality shows
