Thursday, May 14, 2015

Please give some good quotations showing Banquo's bravery in Macbeth.

You might like to think about Act I scene 2, which is when
Duncan receives reports of how the fighting of his soldiers against the invading army
supported by the treacherous Thane of Cawdor is going. In response to being informed
about a fresh sally into battle by the Norweigian Lord and his troops, Duncan asks the
Messenger if this vigorous renewed assault "dismay'd" Banquo and Macbeth. Note how the
messenger responds:


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Yes,


As sparrows
eagles, or the hare the lion.


If I say sooth, I must report
they were


As cannons overcharg'd with double
cracks;


So they


Doubly
redoubled strokes upon the foe:


Except they meant to bathe
in reeeking wounds,


Or memorise another
Golgotha,


I cannot
tell--



The way in which the
Messenger responds with obvious sarcasm, saying that Banquo and Macbeth were frightened
like sparrows could frighten eagles, clearly emphasises Banquo's bravery. Also, consider
the way in which they responded to the fresh attack by "redoubling" their efforts in
this perilous situation, that could have overwhelmed them.

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