Macbeth : Banquo

A1

“The instruments of..”

“Darkness tell us truths.”

Banquo recognises the darkness of the Witches

He sees their immorality and deceit, showing his strong morals

Warning Macbeth of the issues of the supernatural

He presents himself as the light of the play

MOTIF = light and dark

Foreshadows his morality to come

Juxtaposes Macbeth who is easily drawn in to the evil

A2S1

“Their candles..”

“Are all out”

Darkness of night symbolic of Macbeth asking stars to hide

Candles refers to the stars and how the country is dark

Macbeth has hidden the country from the light

Foreshadows evil and supernatural to follow

Shows how corruption is already taken over

MOTIF = light/dark

MOTIF = sleep: Banquo can sleep in the dark as he is moral

The dark keeps Macbeth asleep as he’s evil

A2S3

“In the great hand..”

“Of God, I stand… I fight.”

Juxtaposition to Macbeth who rejects God

Banquo is willing to fight for God and defend him

Fighting for mortality

Macbeth is fighting for power

MOTIF = hands

Shows his responsibility to fight for good

A3S3

“Fly, good..”

“Fleance, fly, fly, fly!”

Comes as he is being killed by Macbeths murderers

Children are referenced as birds throughout the play

By saying fly its referencing how Fleance must escape the darkness of the country

Selflessness

Even when dying he places others above him

Fleance contributes to the restoration of Natural Order

Juxtaposes Macbeth who is selfish and full of greed

A3S3

“Who did…”

“Strike out the light?”

Symbolises Banquos good

Even his murderers see him and refer to him as the light

motif = light/dark

Contrasts Macbeth and the murderers

His light stands out even more in the darkness

By taking out the light, evil kept over

As seen in A1S4 Banquo was the light to Macbeth

Macbeth is unstoppable in his hunt for power

A3S4

“Thoust cannot say..”

“I did it, never shake thy gory locks at me.”

Banquo appears as a ghost at the banquet hosted by Macbeth

Macbeth does not accept blame for what he did to Banquo

Justifying his actions to himself to try and prevent guilt

Banquo still condemns him even when killed for his immorality

Appearing is ironic - he tried to get rid of Banquo but still it consumes him

Ghosts are linked to evil and the supernatural

Representation of Macbeths guilt and the supernatural control over him

Juxtaposes Banquo who lived with God and rejected the supernatural

A4S1

“A show of eight kings..” & “the blood…”

“The last with a glass in his hand; Ghost of Banquo following.” & “bolstered Banquo smiles at me.”

MOTIF = blood

Represents Macbeths culpability and guilt

Macbeth did not succeed and the proephyc remains true

Even Macbeth and evil cannot disrupt the light and Natural Order

Representative of his fruitless crown

A moral juxtaposition to Macbeths

Macbeth was unable to erase Banquo from his mental turmoil

Foreshadows restoration of natural order

Banquo remains smiling both mocking Macbeth and showing his goodness