Banquo
Ø He has distinguished himself on the battlefield
Ø Is seen as a courageous and loyal patriot
Ø Contrasting reactions when he and Macbeth meet the Witches – it highlights Banquo’s nobility and lack of ambition.
Ø Banquo acts as a contrast to Macbeth
Ø Banquo is a shrewd character
o He perceives the witches are fundamentally evil and may trick and ultimately betray Macbeth
Ø He is astute in his unwillingness to accept the idea that Duncan was killed by his own guards
Ø He declares the Scottish lords should further investigate Duncan’s murder
Ø Banquo changes as the seed of ambition takes root in him
o He prays to the ‘merciful powers’ to help him resist temptation (Act 2)
Ø By Act 3 his noble character has become tarnished by ambition
o He clearly suspects Macbeth, but says nothing because of his ambitions for his sons –as witches prophesies for Macbeth have come true , he hopes the prophesies relating to his sons will also materialise
o His failure to conduct any investigation into Duncan’s death indicate his moral decline
o He is morally wrong in his failure to take action against Macbeth, it is also unwise as it puts the life of Fleance at serious risk
Ø Ultimately Banquo falls victim to Macbeth’s tyranny – Macbeth is fearful of Banquo’s innate nobility and of the prophesies relating to Banquo’s descendants
Adjectives attributable to Banquo
Patriotic , loyal, noble, honourable, perceptive, shrewd, astute, honest, truthful, ambitious (for his sons), corrupt(to a degree)
Ø He has distinguished himself on the battlefield
Ø Is seen as a courageous and loyal patriot
Ø Contrasting reactions when he and Macbeth meet the Witches – it highlights Banquo’s nobility and lack of ambition.
Ø Banquo acts as a contrast to Macbeth
Ø Banquo is a shrewd character
o He perceives the witches are fundamentally evil and may trick and ultimately betray Macbeth
Ø He is astute in his unwillingness to accept the idea that Duncan was killed by his own guards
Ø He declares the Scottish lords should further investigate Duncan’s murder
Ø Banquo changes as the seed of ambition takes root in him
o He prays to the ‘merciful powers’ to help him resist temptation (Act 2)
Ø By Act 3 his noble character has become tarnished by ambition
o He clearly suspects Macbeth, but says nothing because of his ambitions for his sons –as witches prophesies for Macbeth have come true , he hopes the prophesies relating to his sons will also materialise
o His failure to conduct any investigation into Duncan’s death indicate his moral decline
o He is morally wrong in his failure to take action against Macbeth, it is also unwise as it puts the life of Fleance at serious risk
Ø Ultimately Banquo falls victim to Macbeth’s tyranny – Macbeth is fearful of Banquo’s innate nobility and of the prophesies relating to Banquo’s descendants
Adjectives attributable to Banquo
Patriotic , loyal, noble, honourable, perceptive, shrewd, astute, honest, truthful, ambitious (for his sons), corrupt(to a degree)