Student Question
Why is Banquo's son predicted to be king when Malcolm succeeded Macbeth?
Quick answer:
The prophecy of Banquo's son becoming king doesn't specify when this will occur. Shakespeare, writing during the reign of James I, who was believed to be a descendant of Banquo, incorporated this prediction to appeal to his audience and the king. Despite Malcolm succeeding Macbeth, Banquo's lineage is significant, as it was believed that James I, a more powerful king than Malcolm or Macbeth, was a part of it.
It is important to remember that Macbeth was probably written during the early reign of James I, who was supposedly related to the real Banquo. James 1, who was first King of Scotland, succeeded his cousin Queen Elizabeth because she was childless and James was her closest Protestant relative. The witches do not say exactly when Banquo's sons will be kings. At the time of Banquo's murder, Fleance is rather young and so it would be natural for the older Malcolm, who had been named successor to Duncan, to take over as king, Audiences at the time would have associated the witches' prophecy with James I, not necessarily Fleance. And thus Banquo's offspring did inherit an even larger throne than Malcolm or Macbeth.
It is actually foretold that Banquo's descendents would become kings in the future - "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" (1.3). Also, consider the prophecy shown to Macbeth...
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in Act IV, scene 1:
A show of eight Kings...
MACBETH: Thou are too like the spirit of Banquo. Down!(125)Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first.
A third is like the former. Filthy hags!
Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes!
What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?(130)
Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more:
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass
Which shows me many more; and some I see
That twofold balls and treble sceptres carry:
Horrible sight! Now I see ’tis true;(135)
For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. What, is this so?
Fleance, Banquo's son, escaped the murder attempt that killed his father, thus allowing him to live and produce generations descended from Banquo. It was believed during Shakespeare's times that King James I of England was a descendent of Banquo, so one must consider the fact that Shakespeare was writing for the times and for the person in power at the time.
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