Macbeth Banquo Flashcards
1
Q
“As the weird women promised, and, I fear
Thou play’dst most foully for’t”
A
“weird”
- wyrd meaning fate
- plays into the Jacobean fear of witches
- starting to doubt his own scepticism
“play’dst”
- games are meant to be fun
- euphemising the murder
- Banquo doesn’t want to think that Macbeth has done the worst
“foully”
- links to “foul is fair” which is the witches’ language
- acknowledging that Macbeth has been corrupted by them
- because he has become “foul”
-also suggests he thinks Macbeth has done something immoral
2
Q
“May they not be my oracles as well,
And set me up in hope? But hush! no more.”
A
“may”
- not a certain modal verb
- weak
- still sceptical nonetheless
“in hope?”
- even the rational character is being influenced
- Shakespeare is showing the witches’ power
- also being corrupted by them
“hush! no more.”
- awareness that it is immoral
- repressing the desire for them to be true
- different from Macbeth
- more rational and reasonable
- highlights Macbeth’s unchecked recklessness
- hamartia
3
Q
“Our fears in Banquo stick deep”
Macbeth Act 3, Scene 1
A
“our”
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are nearly becoming each other.
“deep”
- concerned on Banquo’s knowledge
- “I fear he play’dst most foully for’t”
- he was there with the witches
- he might think Macbeth killed Duncan
- also concerned that his son might become the King
- he is threatened by Banquo
4
Q
“He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear”
A
“wisdom”
- threatened by Banquo’s morality
- he is aware of his sins
- worried that he will be exposed
“fear”
- revealing of his level of anxiety
- he knows Banquo listens to reason
- scared that his own best friend will expose him
