| what are these, so withered, and so wild in their attire, that look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo recognises the strange appearance of the three witches |
| you should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo recognises the oddly unfeminine faces of the three witches |
| my noble partner, you greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo tells Macbeth that he his worthy to be a future King and so the witches do speak ‘fair’ |
| if you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo asks the Witches to give him a prophecy by referring to nature |
| lesser than Macbeth, but greater (Act 1, Scene 3) | the first witch says that Banquo will be lower in terms of status / power but higher with regards to his goodness (he will be granted salvation in Heaven) |
| thou shalt get kings, though thou be none (Act 1, Scene 3) | the third witch says that Banquo’s sons will become kings, although he will not be one himself |
| have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner? (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo is flabbergasted by the witches statements / vanishing act that he asks if they are high on drugs |
| what, can the devil speak true? (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo’s words upon hearing Macbeth gain the ‘Thane of Cawdor’ title – he is shocked by the accuracy of the witches’ prophecy |
| tis’ strange; and oftentimes to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths (Act 1, Scene 3) | Banquo understands that supernatural intervening has taken place to lead those weakest into danger by reciting truths (harbinger) |
| there if I grow, the harvest is your own (Act 1, Scene 4) | Banquo uses nature as imagery to show that the fruits of his labour belong to the king (natural order) |
| hold, take my sword…there’s husbandry in heaven (Act 2, Scene 1) | Banquo gives Fleance his sword for protection and noticies how there is a lack of stars – ‘candles’ – in Heaven (shows pathetic fallacy) |
| a heavy summons lies upon me (Act 2, Scene 1) | Banquo is tired but remains alert – he is suspicious of what could happen |
| merciful powers give restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to repose (Act 2, Scene 1) | Banquo appeals to powers of ‘goodness’ to help him fight his worrisome thoughts and feelings of sleep (opposite to Lady Macbeth’s prayer to evil spirits) |
| give me my sword…who’s there? (Act 2, Scene 1) | Banquo, upon hearing Macbeth’s footsteps, has the first instinct to ask for his sword back (the epitome of faithful and noble soldier) |
| I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters, to you they have show’d some truth (Act 2, Scene 1) | Banquo is showing his suspicion – does not trust the witches or Macbeth’s intentions |
| still keep my bosom franchis’d and allegiance clear, I shall be counselled (Act 2, Scene 1) | Banquo is ambiguous – he tells Macbeth that he has a clear conscience and will remain on the right, natural course (Macbeth can no longer trust Banquo for full support) |
| too cruel anywhere (Act 2, Scene 3) | Banquo’s response to Lady Macbeth saying ‘what in our house?’ – shows that Banquo can see through her guise of innocence |
| thou has it now – King, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the weird sisters promis’d; and I fear thou play’dst most foully fort (Act 3, Scene 1) | Banquo believes that the witches were accurate in their prophecy but also believes that Macbeth used foul means to attain the throne – he is suspicious |
| let your highness command upon me, to the which my duties are with a most indissoluble tie for ever knit (Act 3, Scene 1) | Banquo speaks politely and respectfully to the new King to not show his suspicion – he is very cautious and smart |
| as will fill up the time (Act 3, Scene 1) | Banquo is to go riding with his son in order to protect him and watch over him (he knows he will some day be King and is therefore in danger) and he does this to keep Fleance away from Macbeth for the full day – worried |
| O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly. Thou mayst revenge! (Act 3, Scene 3) | Banquo is killed by the murderers and pleads for his son to escape to safety. The word ‘revenge’ suggests the idea that he later emerges as the ghost in the banquet scene in order to frighten Macbeth |
Banquo Quotes – Macbeth
September 3, 2019