Banquo
How does Shakespeare present Banquo as a threat to Macbeth? AO1 (10 marks) – Knowledge & Understanding (What Shakespeare shows about Banquo as a threat) Shakespeare presents Banquo as a serious and growing threat to Macbeth because he represents future kingship, moral goodness, and natural authority , all of which undermine Macbeth’s insecure rule. At the start of the play, Banquo is introduced as Macbeth’s “noble partner” , showing they are close allies. This makes Banquo’s later role as a threat more powerful, because Macbeth is ultimately betrayed by someone he once trusted. The witches’ prophecy immediately creates danger. They say Banquo will be “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” and “father to a line of kings.” This means that although Macbeth becomes king first, Banquo’s descendants will eventually rule Scotland. This threatens Macbeth’s ambition because his kingship has no future legacy, unlike Banquo’s. Macbeth quickly recognises this danger, admitting: “Our f...