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MACBETH - OTHER CHARACTERS (Banquo banquo (Brave thane who Macbeth has…
MACBETH - OTHER CHARACTERS
Banquo
Brave thane who Macbeth has killed
Son Fleance escapes
Praised for courage in battle like Macbeth- Duncan says
"Noble Banquo,/Thou has no less deserved"
when sees him after the battle
Calm not bothered when meets Witches - happy to discuss with Macbeth as long as doesn't want him to do anything dishonourable - Wise "
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles - to betray's"
Banquo suspects Mac murdered Duncan -
"I fear/Thou play'dst most foully"
but doesn't do anything about it - may be slyly ambitious as Witches did say his descendants would be Kings one day - reminds himself he will be "
father/Of many kings
" - which show his ambitious thoughts distract even the most honourable characters
Macbeth thinks Banquo & his son are a threat to him so hires killers to murder them, Fleance escapes & Banquo's ghost haunts him - Banquo's exclamation of "
O, treachery!"
shows that he didn't suspect Macbeth would betray him.
Banquo has "
a wisdom that doth guide his valour
" - thinks before he acts & not guided by selfish desires unlike Macbeth.
Ambitious like Macbeth & hopes witches predictions come true but doesn't act on their predictions so represents the path Macbeth could have chosen. Banquo isn't corrupted by his ambition & so remains honourable
Macbeth promises to "
honour
" Banquo for his loyalty but Banquo chooses to keep his "
allegiance clear
" - his conscience is more important to him that power & glory .
King Duncan
King at start & son Malcolm King at end (other son Donalbain not in it much)
Kind, fair, honest & generous - hands out honours to Macbeth & Malcolm, gives Lady Mac a diamond
Everyone thinks Duncan is a great person even Macbeth - Macduff says to Malcolm
"Thy royal father/Was a most sainted king"
when visits Malcolm in England. Macbeth says "
his virtues/Will plead like angels"
Downfall is the he is too trusting - stays at Macbeth's place - even describes the previous Thane of Cawdor as
"a gentleman on whom I built/An absolute trust"
- can be firm when needed as executes the treacherous Thane of Cawdor.
Example of a good king - nurtures his subjects - plant imagery - says he will
"plant"
Macbeth & make sure he is "
full of growing"
Macbeth says one reason he shouldn't kill Duncan is because he is a good leader with many "
virtues
" & Macduff calls him "
a most sainted king
" reminding us that kings thought to be chosen by God
Not a soldier like Macbeth or Macduff - he's gentle & less aggressive - doesn't fight himself but sensibly sends best soldiers to fight for him.
Not afraid to be emotional - shows "
drops of sorrow
" because so happy & talks about his "
gentle senses"
which could be seen as unmanly
Macduff
Macbeth has Macduff's family killed (wife & son) -
"All my pretty ones?/Did you say all?"
- overcome with grief, doesn't see emotions as sign of weakness, says he will "
feel"
his grief "
as a man"
.
Macduff finds Duncan's body and is horrified by it -
"O horror, horror, horror"
Macduff is a nobleman - honest with integrity so acts as contrast to Macbeth
Doesn't go to Macbeth's coronation so suggests he is suspicious of Macbeth
Strong sense of loyalty & love for country, doesn't like how Macbeth rules to goes to England to persuade Malcolm to help. Exclaims
"O Scotland, Scotland!"
reflecting his emotional turmoil over state of his country.
Irony - he is angry that under Macbeth's rule "
New widows howl, new orphans cry
" - ironic as his wife & children have just been murdered
Puts country before family - goes to England leaving wife & children unprotected - decision shows strong sense of justice but lack of wisdom
Brave - fights & kills Macbeth freeing Scotland from
"the tyrant"
Lady Macduff can't understand Macduff leaving them, says he lacks "
the natural touch
" - his behaviour shows a lack of fatherly love - she shows courage & love as comforts her son calling him
"Poor bird"
- scene in prose making it feel natural & homely so murders even more shocking.
Malcolm
Goes to Scotland with an army - clever as disguises soldiers with branches
Generous - when becomes King he makes all the Thanes into Earls
Malcolm & Macduff make good partnership because Macduff's experience gives Malcolm the confidence to take action.
Malcolm is fair and honest like Duncan & learns can only trust people who have proved their loyalty - when Macduff visits him he tests his loyalty by pretending to be a tyrant.
Malcolm & Donalbain learn from their father's mistakes - flee Scotland when Duncan killed - "
There's daggers in men's smiles"
Has many of the qualities that made Duncan good king but less naive so suggests he'll eventually make a better king
Suspicious of false appearances unlike Duncan, he says
"To show an unfelt sorrow is an office/Which the false man does easy"
eg. Macbeth
Becomes a confident leader, earns trust of Scottish thanes who say will "
give obedience where 'tis truly owed"
because he is the rightful king
