3.1
  • Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth
  • Banquo recognizes that the witches promised he’d be the root and father of many kings.
    • Shakespeare uses plant and seed imagery in this scene to emphasize the strength and power of Banquo’s family legacy.
      • The connotations of “Roots”= strength, depth, growth, power.
      • The connotations of “Seeds”= new life, beginnings, growth, continuance, fertility, prosperity
  • Macbeth now sees his best friend Banquo as his enemy and a threat to his power and rule as king because of the Witches’ prophecy about Banquo being the father of many kings.
    • See Banquo has children and Macbeth does not
    • In Shakespeare’s time, family bloodlines and the family name was what lived on after death, not individual glory or honour  If you don’t have children you risk of your reputation being entirely forgotten. When Macbeth dies, his story, his honor and glory in battle dies with him. But, because Banquo has children, his legacy of honor, loyalty, and goodness will live on and he will always be remembered as an honorable man.
    • Therefore Macbeth’s crown is a fruitless crown because it will not be a long reign and no one will come after him. So, while he has power now, it is not long lasting and no one will remember his deeds, his bravery or honour after he passes.
  • Macbeth describes Banquo in his monologue as a wise man of valour
    • Macbeth knows that Banquo is a better man than him in every way.
      • Banquo is wise, even tempered, and logical, honourable, and Good.
      • because of this Banquo is a threat that must be extinguished.
  • When Macbeth meets with the murderers he does many things to manipulate them into killing his best friend.
    • He belittles them by flaunting his power in their faces and making them feel less than human.
    • He bribes them with empty promises of money and power
    • He makes them believe that it is Banquo’s fault that they are starving and poor instead of his own fault.
    • Macbeth manipulates the murderers into killing his best friend by belittling their manhood / masculinity by emphasizing their inability to take care of their families.
      • Who does this sound like / remind us of? Lady Macbeth!
      • So perhaps the student has become the master?
    • Macbeth manages to convince them that Banquo is responsible for their poverty, hunger, poor crops, and misery despite MCB himself being the King who is supposed to do all of that himself. As king he is supposed to take care of his people and clearly he has not done this.