Banquo In Macbeth

Banquo's purpose in the play is the quintessential foil of Macbeth, both in acting, as well as in meaning. Shakespeare utilizes Banquo in order to create opposite moods to what is the drive of the play, which is Macbeth and his wife plotting, scheming, and murdering, by offering great solid blocks of integrity, passion, and goodness, that slightly descend into questioning. In contrast to Macbeth's ambitious state, his transformation into an immoral form of such a state, and his acting on such, Shakespeare creates Banquo in order to give the reader a feeling for contrasting points in order to augment, and practically create, the play.

Although some may argue that Macbeth is responsible for King Duncan's death because he was the one to murder him, Banquo is actually the one to blame because he could have stopped it from happening. From the second the witches told the men their fortune and the prophecies came true, Banquo knew that things would end poorly, "All’s well. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have showed some truth." (Act 2, Scene 1). Why would Banquo be dreaming about the witches and wondering if Macbeth was alright unless he was questioning how Macbeth received the witches' predictions? As one of King Duncan's most trusted men, Banquo should have notified the King of the witches and the fortunes they told. Truth be told, one can't help but wonder if Banquo wanted to see

The main interest of the character of Banquo arises from the changes that take place in him, and from the influence of the witches upon him. And it is curious that Shakespeare's intention here is so frequently missed. Banquo being at first strongly contrasted with Macbeth, as an innocent man with a

Banquo won’t support Macbeth if he get to crown immorally. Macbeth didn’t listen to Banquo. He listened to the evil instead of following his conscience. The witches also told Macbeth to fear Macduff. After Macbeth heard this, he killed Macduff’s whole family. He believed everything that the witches told him, instead of overriding their prophecy and following his morals. Instead of doing the right thing, he committed multiple murders to try to cover up the previous ones.

Macbeth and Banquo’s reaction to the prophecy told to them by the witch’s gave way for two opposing opinions on both the validity and manifesting of the prophecy. Although their opinions throughout the unveiling of the prophecy were opposing throughout, at all times they both rendered the prophecy in contrastive ways, whether they contemplated on its benefit or hindrance towards their gleaming future.

Macbeth wants to know more from the witches, he doesn’t think that what they are telling him is enough because he know he will eventually be Thane of Glamis, by his father’s death (inheritance) but he doesn’t understand how he will be Thane of Cawdor. Banquo wants to know more from the witches because he believes that they can see into the future. He is not scared of what they have to say to him. He is skeptical of them. Macbeth is hard to satisfy, even when things seem to be in his favor, Banquo doesn’t know if he truly believes that the witches were real, and that what they say was true, but he wanted to know in case it might have been

Quotation #2: “It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,/ Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it./ The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms/ Do mock their charge with snores” (Mac. 2.2.5-8).

Shakespeare uses Banquo to highlight the fact that Macbeth is “Rapt withal”, Macbeth is very gullible and takes things at face value and he begins to think of the witches’ statements as providence rather than prophecy. Shortly after, during his aside he state that he will leave it to chance but the seeds of ambition are already beginning to grow in his mind due to these prophecies. Also, the quote “to me you speak not” shows that Banquo, contrasting heavily from Macbeth, is rather unfazed by these prophecies. This also furthers their character’s differences, in the sense that Macbeth is more easily persuaded and not questioning anything, while Banquo is more down to earth and is taking the witches words

In the case of Macbeth, children represent the future of family lines of kings and nobility. The dead child is used to represent both the murder of Macduff’s children and the murder of Banquo to put an end to his line, which would father kings. This is rooted in Macbeth’s insecurity of the witches’ prophecy. While Macbeth will be King of Scotland, his line will not continue. Therefore, his crown and scepter fruitless.

Julio Villarreal English 4-W Professor Zirulnik January 18, 2015 The Tragedy of Macbeth Macbeth and his wife invite thanes of Scotland to a banquet with means of proving themselves throne-worthy. Much like the ethereal dagger that leads to Duncan's room, the ghost of Banquo appears at the banquet constantly, pushing Macbeth into random fits of rage and despair. Macbeth’s first order of events as a king is this exquisite banquet, a supposed representation of great discipline and benevolence, which becomes a wicked mockery of itself. Instead of Macbeth gathering with his subjects as he would wish, he is thrown off by the bloody apparition of his former ally. Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel tackles Macbeth in a true-to-the-origin fashion in

Even before the actual murder is carried out, seeds of conflict are sown between Macbeth and other characters and forces such as Banquo, nature, and himself. As Macbeth is waiting to plan for his murder, he encounters Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth takes this chance to ask Banquo for his support in the future when he needs it. Rather than an absolute answer, Banquo agrees only on the condition that it leaves his conscience clear. This foreshadows the imminent dispute between the two after Macbeth’s treason against Duncan. Banquo displays himself as a honest man, who will be unwillingly to side with the traitor, Macbeth. Before and after the murder, there are clear signs of nature’s view on Macbeth’s actions. The night is starless and

In this scene, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are hosting a dinner as king and queen. The first murderer appears in the doorway, and Macbeth talks to him for a brief amount of time, learning of Banquo’s death. He is angry that Fleance has escaped. He believes that if Fleance had died, Macbeth’s throne would be secure from anyone trying to take over.

During the middle of the war, Macbeth and Banquo stumble upon three weird sisters who claim to know the future of both Macbeth and Banquo. They all say that Macbeth will be Thane of Cowdor, and that he will eventually become King of Scotland. They also claim that Banquo’s sons will also be Kings of Scotland. Overwhelmed with this prophecies. Macbeth writes his wife [Lady Macbeth] a letter telling her about the prophecies. Being the ambitious women she is, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to murder the rightful King of Scotland Duncan during his sleep when inviting him over to their castle. After the assassination everything starts to go downhill right away. Animals start to eat other animals, and the sons of Duncan,

A homograph is a word that is spelled the same but can be pronounced differently or have different meanings. Different pronunciations of the word are used based on the context of the sentence it is in. This same idea is also true of people. Two people can have the exact same experiences, yet react to it in completely different ways. Characters in literature often reflect this same phenomenon, foil characters with identical aspects who react differently to circumstance. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, Banquo serves as a foil character to Macbeth emphasizing Macbeth’s unchecked ambition, a fatal flaw, that leads to his ultimate moral decline.

Characters in plays begin to become influenced as their stories unfold. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, two prominent characters Macbeth and Banquo have certain differences and similarities, and as the play progresses, contrasting attributes of both characters begin to appear. Both characters uniquely develop in the play, portraying eminent leadership skills, while possessing contrasting attributes towards temptation, and relationships with their families.