Macbeth

Macbeth

by William Shakespeare

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Macbeth: Banquo


In the first selection, eminent critic A.C. Bradley asserts that Banquo is influenced by the Weird Sisters "much more truly than Macbeth." According to the critic, Banquo essentially loses his innocence when he acquiesces to Macbeth's method of accession, even though he suspects Macbeth of committing Duncan's murder. In the second excerpt, Leo Kirschbaum challenges the position taken by A. C. Bradley that Banquo, as well as Macbeth, is influenced by the witches' prophecies.

A. C. Bradley
The main interest of the character of Banquo arises from the changes that take place in him, and from the influence of the Witches upon him. And it is curious that Shakespeare's intention here is so frequently missed. Banquo being at first strongly contrasted with Macbeth, as an innocent man with a guilty, it seems to be supposed that this contrast must be continued to his death; while, in reality, though it is never removed, it is gradually diminished. Banquo in fact may be described much more truly than Macbeth as the victim of the Witches. If we follow this...

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