Banquo

Banquo

1. Ambition

   • Shows Ambition; wants his son to be king
     • "Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope?"
   • Shows the same raw ambition as Macbeth
     • Believes in the witches' prophecy
       • "Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised"

2. What he represents

   • Represents the path Macbeth did not take
     • He had the same ambition but didn't act on it
       • Represents loyalty
         • Loyalty to Duncan
           • Loyalty to Macbeth
             • "Let your highness Command upon me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie Forever knit."

3. Haunting

   • Banquo's ghost represents Macbeth's guilt
     • Reminds him of all his wrongdoing
       • "(to GHOST) Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me."
   • Reminds Macbeth that he chose ambition over loyalty
     • Shows that cold blooded ambition will come back to haunt you
       • Literally in this case

4. Symapthy

   • The audience feel sympathetic towards him
     • He is ignorant of Macbeth's plot to kill Duncan
       • He is also ignorant of Macbeth's plot to kill him
     • He is likeable due to his loyalty and morals
       • He is also likeable due to his affectionate relationship with his son

5. Context

   • Macbeth is based on Holinshed's Chronicles
     • Banquo is said to be part of the plot to kill King Duncan
       • Shakespeare wanted to please King James I, who was a descendant of the real Banquo
         • Shakespeare made Banquo good in the play to please the king