Banquo Quotes

Witches prophecy to Banquo

FIRST WITCH: Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
SECOND WITCH: Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3. When Banquo asks the Witches to tell him his future, they make cryptic prophecies. The final one predicts that his descendants will be kings, but he will not. In saying how he will be lesser and greater than Macbeth, this may be suggesting that he won’t rise to the rank of Macbeth, but will enjoy greater honor and reputation. The Witches’ statement about Banquo being not as happy but happier than Macbeth is equally ambiguous. But it too can be explained by Banquo suffering a violent death yet not going through the mental torment of Macbeth before dying. There is a great deal of subtle foreshadowing here.
have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner - Banquo to Macbeth

Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3. When the Witches appear amid claps of thunder to make their prophecies and then suddenly vanish, Banquo questions his sanity. He wonders if he and Macbeth have ingested the root of a poisonous plant that brought on madness. This could be a reference to hemlock or henbane, plants that can induce a state of madness. In this passage Shakespeare personifies the word “root” by giving it human characteristics. Foreshadowed here are Macbeth’s later hallucinations about a dagger, Banquo’s ghost and apparitions while visiting the Witches.

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s
In deepest consequence.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3. Banquo shows himself to be much more cautious than Macbeth in reacting to the Witches’ prophecies. He calls attention to the danger of acting on the predictions of the evil “instruments of darkness,” as he metaphorically describes the Witches. They may be telling a little truth in order to gain their confidence, so that they can deceive and betray them into causing harm, he warns. This is foreshadowing of Macbeth’s fatal decision to kill King Duncan. This passage raises the question: do the Witches control people’s fate, or do people have free will to decide their own fate, regardless of what the Witches prophesy.

This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle:
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed,
The air is delicate.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 6. If the audience didn’t already know that Duncan was walking into a deathtrap, they would think Banquo is describing some kind of paradise as they approach Macbeth’s castle. Banquo paints an idyllic scene: the martlet or martin chooses to nest and breed on the castle, the air is sweet-smelling, and a metaphor compares the soothing breeze to “heaven’s breath.” Summer is personified, it has the martlet as its guest, while a number of other rich metaphors – “pendent bed and procreant cradle” – complete the deception of appearance. There is heavy irony in this inviting description of Macbeth’s home, for it is the castle of a regicide.

There’s husbandry in heaven;
Their candles are all out. Take thee that too.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers,
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose!

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 1. An uneasy Banquo observes that the lights of heaven are shut off, foreboding the horrible crime that is about to happen. He uses the metaphor of “candles” for the stars. He also uses a simile to compare sleep to a heavy lead summonsing him, a sleep that eludes him because of “cursed thoughts.” He asks the powerful supernatural spirits to curb these thoughts. He doesn’t reveal what these thoughts are, but they are likely connected with the Witches’ prophecies. Banquo seems suspicious that something bad is about to happen. The passage foreshadows Duncan’s murder.

Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised; and, I fear,
Thou play’dst most foully for ‘t. Yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them –
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine –
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,
And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1. In this soliloquy Banquo realizes that all the prophecies of the Witches about Macbeth have come true, he is now King of Scotland. However, Banquo is suspicious that Macbeth got the crown by foul means, in other words he was involved in the murder of the rightful King Duncan. But Banquo finds hope and comfort in the rest of the Witches’ prophecy: that he will be the father of many kings. Like Macbeth, Banquo has his own ambitions, but is not willing to sell his soul to achieve them, as Macbeth has done. Losing all trust in Macbeth, Banquo is now socially and morally isolated from his former best friend.

Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear’d: ’tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear.

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1. Macbeth reveals his deep-rooted fear of Banquo upsetting his ambition to remain the pre-eminent power in Scotland. He also discloses much about Banquo’s character. He acknowledges that he is noble, wise and brave – virtues he fears and resents in his former friend.

Here had we now our country’s honour roof’d,
Were the graced person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance!

– William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 4. Shakespeare adds dramatic irony and an unexpected twist to the story at this point. A deceptive Macbeth expresses disappointment that Banquo is not present for his coronation banquet, suggesting that this is due to Banquo’s “unkindness” and not any “mischance.” The audience knows that Banquo is absent because Macbeth had him murdered. Macbeth has not yet noticed that moments before this Banquo’s ghost entered to sit in Macbeth’s place.
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