The scene starts with a soliloquy from Banquo. This soliloquy is a multi-purpose one. Firstly it is a reminder to the audience of the witches’ prophecies in the beginning and that they should expect the second as the first one was already accomplished. In addition, the audience gets a glance at Banquo’s suspicions that Macbeth might be the murderer. “ And I fear thou playdst most foully for’t”. There is a slight contrast here between the characters of Macbeth and Banquo as the last one is actually troubled by the prophecies, whereas Macbeth curiously wanted to learn about them and in addition, took action so that they would become true. Ironically however, Banquo’s tone recalls the ambition of Macbeth. Firstly Banquo told no one about the witches’ prophecies even though one of them turned up to be true, maybe because he secretly wished for his part to come true. This actually can be supported in this soliloquy where Banquo says “ it should not stand in thy posterity” but that myself should be the root and father of many kings…may that not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?”Even though ambition is shown from the both characters they seek to achieve them in many different ways. Previously in the scenes Macbeth and also his queen, praised the Devil and all evil so that they could accomplish their goal. Banquo, on the other hand, turns to “verities“ and “ hope“, the complete opposite to the Devil. Here the audience also sees that Banquo, believes in verities and, unlike Macbeth, would never take the actions to kill the King, in order to make the prophecy true. The contrast is furthermore emphasized by Shakespeare’s use of language where Banquo speech is full of positive connotations such as „hope“ and on the other hand Macbeth is linked to imageries of blood, for example when he calls Duncan’s sons “bloody cousins”.
Macbeth enters in the room proud of his new rank and his royal court. He greets Banquo as his chief guest. This the irony in Macbeth’s speech as the audience already is suspicious of Macbeth’s plans about murdering Banquo and planning it to do it that exact afternoon. Lady Macbeth mentions that she desires no gap in the the great feast. “ If he had been forgotten, It would have been a gap in our feast”. This gap foreshadows to the actual gap later in the banquet where Banquo could not make it as he was murdered. Even though she dislikes Banquo, especially for his part in the prophecy, this is foreshadowing is accidental as the audience finds out later that she was unaware of her husband’s plans. Here the breakdown/ separation in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s is beginning to grow. This is one of the main tragedies in this play as the destruction of their passionate relationship, brings both the characters to their end.
It is interesting that Macbeth has adopted the royal we, that monarchs use to show absolute authority over the rest. Banquo again contrasts to Macbeth as he shows his royalty to him, the King, “Let your highness, command upon me”. He also responds to his royal we “ay my good Lord”. Macbeth killed his King for his own interest, something that was the worst crime at the times, as it was believed that the King was chosen by God.
Suspicion of Macbeth’s plans about Banquo rises when he starts asking him many innocent questions such as “ride you this afternoon”.. “is it far you ride”.. “goes fleance with you?”. These are equivocations as it is unsual for Macbeth to ask so much detail especially for Fleance, Banquo’s son. This is Shakespeare’s dramatic irony, as the audience later finds out that Macbeth’s true intentions were to murderer both Banquo and Fleance as they were in his way. Ironically again ,Macbeth asks three questions. The number three is persistent throughout the play as it is the witches’ number and in this case it is probably used to represent that Macbeth has already moved to the dark side and that know he is unconsciously connected to the witches all the time. The afternoon could also be related to the witches. Banquo calls himself “ a borrower of the night” and he is in fact murdered at night. At the times, the belief was that almost all bad events occurred during night as it was the time of the witches and evil.
Macbeth obviously has a disregard for time. He says “ but of that tomorrow”. He has plenty of time now and tomorrow is supposed to bring hope. However in this case the audience finds out later that Banquo is murdered by Macbeth and there is no tomorrow. In addition this line foreshadows to the famous “tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow” speech in act V where there is no more hope or future for Macbeth. This links back to the beginning of the extract where Banquo saw the hope in becoming the father of a king.
In conclusion, the contrast of Banquo and Macbeth are carefully treated by Shakespeare. His use of diction and imagery contrasts the two characters as to who is the good and who is the evil one. The good in the play i soften symbolized by hope Shakespeare also uses a lot of dramatic irony and equivocations to represent how appearances can be deceiving.
