6.1.7

Banquo

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Banquo - Distrusts the Supernatural

Banquo distrusts the witches and doesn't try to tempt fate.

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‘The instruments of darkness'

  • ‘Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths’ (1,3).
  • This quote suggests that Banquo doesn`t know whether they should trust the witches. He fears that they may have made the prophecies to hurt Macbeth.
  • Jacobean audiences feared the supernatural, and Banquo echoes this fear. He does not allow them to manipulate him, and does not show a lot of interest in the prophecies. Because of this, Banquo is percieved as a good, God-fearing character.
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‘My oracles as well'

  • ‘May they not be my oracles as well / And set me up in hope?’ (3,1)
  • This quote indicates that Banquo hopes that the witches’ prophecies (predictions) will come true for him. However, he does not show any desire to force them.
  • He does not really engage in the supernatural.

Banquo's Ghost

In Act 3, Scene 4 Banquo’s ghost appears to Macbeth. We don’t know whether this is real or something Macbeth imagines. The ghost appears in the seat where Macbeth should be sitting.

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'Thy gory locks'

  • ‘Thou canst not say I did it; never shake / Thy gory locks at me!’
  • From Macbeth’s words, we can work out that the ghost is shaking his head at Macbeth.
  • The ghost seems to be accusing him.
  • We could suggest that Banquo’s ghost shakes his head at Macbeth because he knows that Macbeth will not secure his position as king by murdering him.

Jump to other topics

1Literary & Cultural Context

2Plot Summary

3Characters

4Themes

5Writer's Techniques

6Recap: Main Quotes

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