Skip to main content

Contrast the difference between Banquo and Macbeth with relation to the witches' prophecies.

One of Banquo's first responses to the Weird Sisters is incredulity.  He doubts his senses, asking, "Were such things here as we do speak about? / Or have we eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?" (1.3.86-88).  He wonders if the sisters were actually there or if he and Macbeth hallucinated them after, perhaps, eating some wicked plant that affected them thus.  Macbeth's response?  "Your children shall be kings," he says...

One of Banquo's first responses to the Weird Sisters is incredulity.  He doubts his senses, asking, "Were such things here as we do speak about? / Or have we eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?" (1.3.86-88).  He wonders if the sisters were actually there or if he and Macbeth hallucinated them after, perhaps, eating some wicked plant that affected them thus.  Macbeth's response?  "Your children shall be kings," he says to his friend (1.3.89).  Therefore, while Banquo's first instinct is to doubt, Macbeth's first instinct is to believe.  Macbeth seems pretty trusting, given that these women appeared from nowhere, knew the identities of Macbeth and Banquo, and then vanished into thin air; Banquo is much warier and more cautious.


Further, while Banquo makes conversation with the men who come to tell Macbeth about his new title, Macbeth becomes immediately introspective and secretive.  He begins to hope: "If chance will have me king, why, chance may / crown me / Without my stir" (1.3.157-159).  Banquo seems relatively unaffected by the prophecies, other than to wonder at them, but Macbeth takes the Weird Sisters' words as fact.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more