Macbeth: Banquo

Question 1

Macbeth and banquo meet the witches talks about instruments
Act 1 scene 3
Speaker: banquo
- Supernatural

Answer 1

“The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequences”
L/S:
- ‘instrument of darkness’ are the witches, juxtaposition with ‘truths’ shows that the witches are evil and want to lure Macbeth with truths
- foreshadowing to the second prophecy, where Macbeth suffers the consequence of trusting the witches

Question 2

When banquo and Macbeth speak to the witches banquo talking about the devil
Act 1 scene 3
Speaker: Banquo
- supernatural

Answer 2

“What, can the devil speak true?”
L/S:
- banquo is describing the witches as the ‘devil’ which has connotations of temptation
- shows he is uncertain about the witches prophecies and is weary of them