banquo essay grade 9

Miss Huttlestone's GCSE English

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‘Macbeth’ Grade 9 Example Response

Grade 9 – full mark – ‘Macbeth’ response

Starting with this extract (from act 1 scene 7), how does Shakespeare present the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

In Shakespeare’s eponymous tragedy ‘Macbeth’, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship is a complex portrait of love, illustrating layers of utter devotion alongside overwhelming resentment. Though the couple begins the play unnaturally strong within their marriage, this seems to act as an early warning of their imminent and inevitable fall from grace, ending the play in an almost entirely different relationship than the one they began the play with.

In the exposition of the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth initially appear immensely strong within their marriage, with Macbeth describing his wife as ‘my dearest partner of greatness’ in act 1 scene 5. The emotive superlative adjective ‘dearest’ is a term of endearment, and acts as a clear depiction of how valued Lady Macbeth is by her husband. Secondly, the noun ‘partner’ creates a sense of sincere equality which, as equality within marriage would have been unusual in the Jacobean era, illustrates to a contemporary audience the positive aspects of their relationship. Furthermore the lexical choice ‘greatness’ may connote ambition, and as they are ‘partner(s)’, Shakespeare suggests that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are equal in their desire for power and control, further confirming their compatibility but potentially hinting that said compatibility will serve as the couple’s hamartia.

However, the strength of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship falls into a rapid downward spiral in the subsequent scenes, as a struggle for power within the marriage ensues. This is evidenced when Macbeth, in act 1 scene 7, uses the declarative statement ‘we will proceed no further in this business’. Here, Macbeth seems to exude masculinity, embracing his gender role and dictating both his and his wife’s decisions. The negation ‘no’ clearly indicates his alleged definitive attitude. However, Lady Macbeth refuses to accept her husband’s rule, stating ‘when you durst do it, then you were a man’. She attempts to emasculate him to see their plan through. The verb ‘durst’ illustrates the risk taking behaviour that Lady Macbeth is encouraging; implying an element of toxicity within their relationship, and her harsh speech makes the cracks in their relationship further visible to the audience. It is also probable that a contemporary audience would be made severely uncomfortable in the presence of Lady Macbeth’s unapologetic display of power, and it is possible that Shakespeare attempts to paint Lady Macbeth as the villain of the play, playing upon the audience’s pre-determined fears of feminine power. Though Lady Macbeth appears to be acting entirely out of self-interest, another reader may argue that she influences her husband so heavily to commit the heinous act of regicide, as she believes that he crown may as a substitute for the child or children that Shakespeare suggests she and Macbeth have lost previously, and in turn better Macbeth’s life and bring him to the same happiness that came with the child, except in another form.

As the play progresses, Shakespeare creates more and more distance between the characters, portraying the breakdown of their relationship as gradual within the play but rapid in the overall sense of time on stage. For example, Lady Macbeth requests a servant ‘say to the king’ Lady Macbeth ‘would attend his leisure/ for a few words’. Here she is reduced to the status of someone far lesser than the king, having to request to speak to her own husband. It could be interpreted that, now as king, Macbeth holds himself above all else, even his wife, perhaps due to the belief of the divine right of kings. The use of the title rather than his name plainly indicated the lack of closeness Lady Macbeth now feels with Macbeth and intensely emotionally separates them. This same idea is referenced as Shakespeare develops the characters to almost juxtapose each other in their experiences after the murder of Duncan. For example, Macbeth seems to be trapped in a permanent day, after ‘Macbeth does murder sleep’ and his guilt and paranoia render him unable to rest. In contrast, Lady Macbeth takes on an oppositional path, suffering sleepwalking and unable to wake from her nightmare; repeating the phrase ‘to bed. To bed’ as if trapped in a never-ending night. This illustrates to the audience the extreme transformation Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship undergoes, and how differently they end up experiencing the aftermath of regicide.

In conclusion, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin the play almost too comfortable within their marriage, which seems to invite the presence of chaos and tragedy into their relationship. Their moral compositions are opposing one another, which leads to the distancing and total breakdown of their once successful marriage and thus serves as a warning to the audience about the effects of murder, and what the deadly sin of greed can do to a person and a marriage.

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gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

Secondary English teacher in Herts. View all posts by gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

9 thoughts on “‘Macbeth’ Grade 9 Example Response”

wheres the context

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It is also probable that a contemporary audience would be made severely uncomfortable in the presence of Lady Macbeth’s unapologetic display of power, and it is possible that Shakespeare attempts to paint Lady Macbeth as the villain of the play, playing upon the audience’s pre-determined fears of feminine power.

Also ref to ‘divine right of kings’

Thank you! This is a brilliant response. Just what I needed. Could you also please include the extract in the question.

We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon.

—> until end of scene

She did (Act 1 Scene 7)

Another great resource for grade 9 Macbeth analysis https://youtu.be/bGzLDRX71bs

In order to get a grade 9 for a piece like this would you need to include a wide range of vocabulary or could you write the same thing ‘dumbed down’ and get a 9.

If the ideas were as strong then yes, but your writing must AT LEAST be ‘clear’ for a grade 6 or above.

This is really great, I’m in Year 10 doing my Mock on Thursday, a great point that i have found (because I also take history) Is the depiction of women throughout the play, during the Elizabethan era, (before the Jacobean era) many people had a changed view of women as Queen Elizabeth was such a powerful woman, glimpses of this have been shown in Jacobean plays, in this case Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is depicted as powerful although she had to be killed of to please King James (as he was a misogynist) women are also depicted as evil in the play, such as the three witches, I also found that the Witches are in three which could be a mockery to the Holy Trinity.

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Mr Salles Teaches English

Kingship in Macbeth

(a grade 8 essay, improved to grade 9).

Hi again Mr Salles - I hope you are well,

Here is an essay I have written on the theme of kingship, tyranny and natural order.

If you have a spare few minutes, please let me know what mark this would get and how I can improve it to get full marks :)

Shakespeare cleverly crafts the themes of kingship/tyranny/natural order through the devolution of Macbeth. By contrasting morality and corruption within Macbeth and Banquo, Shakespeare cautions against ambition and associates it with the supernatural - a very disturbing idea for the contemporary audience, contributing to Shakespeare’s overall purpose of trying to flatter King James I and warn the nobility against rebellion.

Shakespeare constructs Banquo as a foil to Macbeth by illustrating their contrasting reactions to the same evil force - the supernatural and temptation. Banquo represents the route that Macbeth chose not to take: the path where ambition does not lead to betrayal and murder. Thus, it is Banquo’s ghost, rather than Duncan’s, that haunts Macbeth and conveys to the contemporary audience that restraint will lead to a fruition of power as Banquo’s lineage stays on the throne for the longest.

The witches’ equivocation: “ Lesser than Macbeth, and greater ” paradoxically suggests the drastic difference between Banquo and Macbeth, foreshadowing character development as the witches' prophecies come true. Banquo will never be king, but he does father a line of kings. Macbeth, on the other hand, will become the King of Scotland which is commendable in terms of the Divine Order; Macbeth’s reign of power will be one of selfishness and greed as he fulfils his cruel desire for power, eliminating all obstacles that stand in the way of his kingship.

As a result, Macbeth holds the shorter end of the stick in this paradox, facing paranoia, insomnia, guilt, and a tragic demise, therefore proving its accuracy. Here, Shakespeare is flattering King James I, as he was descendant of Banquo and Fleance, in order to gain his trust and potentially patronage for his theatre. This also helps Shakespeare later in the play when he subtly warns James I not to be repressive and tyrannical in his rule.

Shakespeare ensures Banquo isn’t perfect as he is tempted on some level by the Witches’ prophecy, but his ability to reject evil is what makes him a moral character and an antithesis to Macbeth. He is less able to resist temptation when he sleeps “ I dream’d of the three weird sisters last night ”, but instead of trying to hide this, he confesses to God and asks for help in remaining moral and virtuous.

This references the Bible as Jesus was tempted three times by the devil and resisted: perhaps Shakespeare is attempting to draw parallels between Banquo and Jesus which would have been largely impactful to a Christian contemporary audience, further warning about the devastating consequences of temptation and tyranny by contrasting this with the holy and biblical ideas associated with resistance to temptation and ambition.

Shakespeare demonstrates how the acquisition of power invokes an irreversible change in character, subverting the audience’s expectations as he implies that a person’s poor qualities are amplified by the crown and personal desire - Macbeth becomes paranoid.

In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is conveyed as the epitome of a loyal and quintessential Scottish soldier when the captain recalls Macbeth’s noble actions as he “ carv’d the passage ” of the traitor Macdonwald. Specifically, the emotive verb “ carv’d ” carries strong connotations of combative expertise and nobility. Alternatively, it could allude to him carving his name famously in the beginning of the play and eventually notoriously at the end of the play, foreshadowing his drastic moral decline. The stark contrast between Macbeth murdering an enemy of the king (which would be seen as an enemy to God due to the Divine Right of Kings believed by the contemporary audience) and when he commits regicide - the ultimate sin.

Shakespeare explores the consequences of usurpation - for the nation it is a nightmare; an illegitimate king can only become a tyrant, using ever greater acts of violence to maintain his rule. However, Shakespeare is careful to emphasise how the tyrant himself suffers at his own hands - violence traumatises the violent person as well as the victims. Macbeth ‘ fixed [Macdonwald’s] head upon our battlements ’. The head is symbolic as a motif of Macbeth’s declining heroism. First he is at his moral peak as he beheads the King’s enemy, effectively God’s enemy in the eyes of the contemporary audience, then after having his moral endurance tested in the form of ‘ supernatural soliciting ’ he goes out to commit regicide, losing all virtue. Finally, Shakespeare uses this motif to highlight the negative consequences to his audience as the ‘head’ foreshadows Macbeth’s later disgrace as his own head becomes described as ‘ the usurper’s cursed head’ that is reminiscent of his previous morality before he was corrupted by ambition and the witches’ prophecies.

Supernatural

Shakespeare forces his audience to question whether the unlawful act of treason has a supernatural urge, whether there are malign witches and demonic forces working against the moral bonds of mankind. Macbeth’s growing inclination towards ‘supernatural soliciting’ leaves him in a perplexed self-questioning state " why hath it given me earnestness of success/commencing in a truth ?” Linguistically, the sibilance of ‘ supernatural soliciting’ is deliberately used by Shakespeare to raise his audience’s alarm, given the satanic connotations and reference to devastating sorcery in the form of ‘soliciting’.

Likewise, Macbeth’s rhetorical question is used by Shakespeare to create a self-doubting, unstable and malevolent fallacy created by the engagement with the ‘agents of the dark’.

This repeated motif of the supernatural was especially significant to a contemporary Christian audience as witches were believed to be women who made a pact with the Devil, but it also would have especially attracted the interests of King James I - Macbeth was first performed to him and his courtiers. James I hated witchcraft and wrote Daemonologie - a book about the supernatural. Here, Shakespeare is flattering the king by incorporating his interests into his play and is also warning the nobility who were unhappy with James as king at the time by suggesting their desire to overthrow James I was manipulated into existence by the supernatural and witches.

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This is a very ambitious title – normally you would have just kingship or tyranny set as the question. And then you are going to make it even more ambitious by introducing the supernatural!

This has led to a very convoluted thesis – having at least 3 ideas is excellent, but it has to make sense. You could simplify this:

Shakespeare contrasts the characters of Macbeth and Banquo to caution against ambition. Unchecked ambition is associated with the supernatural, which allows Shakespeare characterise ambition as inherently evil. Macbeth becomes a tyrannical king because he welcomes “supernatural soliciting.” The focus on the supernatural also contributes to Shakespeare’s overall purpose of trying to flatter King James I and warn the nobility against rebellion.

Notice how I have structured this differently in order to make one point at a time.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Macbeth — Macbeth And Banquo Analysis

Macbeth and Banquo Analysis

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Published: Mar 14, 2024

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Essay on Banquo

Banquo is an often misunderstood and forgotten character in the play Macbeth. His fleeting appearances and premature murder at the request of Macbeth, have led many to label him as a mere victim of the ambition and cruelty of others. However, in reality he is not only a victim of Macbeth’s state sanctioned terror but a victim of the witches and ultimately his own implicit thirst for power.

Our initial impressions of Banquo is one of a man who’s moral status is clearly noble and virtuous. He shares with Macbeth the traits of bravery, courage and loyalty. Banquo’s physical prowess on the battlefield is acknowledged and celebrated among his peers and superiors. Duncan refers to his captain as “Noble Banquo” and proclaims that “hast no less deserved” the accolades which are bestowed upon Macbeth. Banquo, a warrior “so valiant” is initially skeptical when he first encounters the witches. He is intrigued, but not entranced by the witches and is primarily concerned with their validity rather than their prophecies. He scorns the creatures who are “so withered and so wild in their attire” and who “should be women” but yet are warped messengers of evil.

Banquo’s psyche, while far from being transformed into that of a callous murderer such as Macbeth, does undergo ever so subtle changes as he listens to the witches poisonous promises. Recognising that his “partners rapt”, Banquo urges the witches to speak to him as he does “neither beg nor fear” their power. After hearing the witches claim that he will be “lesser than Macbeth and greater”, Banquo questions himself whether he had “eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner”. Through his simple curiosity and inquisitive nature, Banquo has at this early stage allowed the “three weird sisters” to plant the seeds of ambition in his mind. Despite the fact no major change in Banquo is visible at this stage, the influence of the witches; a catalyst for evil, has entered his mind.

The first signs of legitimate change in Banquo occur as the witches prophecy begins to come to fruition for his contemporary, Macbeth. Seeing Macbeth being granted the title “Thane of Cawdor”, Banquo begins to question “can the devil speak true?”. Despite his warning to Macbeth that “oftentimes to win us to our harm the instruments of darkness tell us truths”, Banquo himself is no longer a neutral skeptic. The allure of possibly being able to “beget kings”, is taking it’s toll on Banquo. The fantasy of lavish power, glory and ultimately selfish indulgence prove far too tantalising to ignore.

The subtle, implicit alteration heightens as he ponders his future further. While speaking to Macbeth a naive Banquo, unaware of his friends future duplicity, confesses that a “heavy summons lies like lead upon” him. He recalls how he “dreamt last night” about the three witches. This gives us, as the audience an appreciation of the inner turmoil Banquo is suffering from as he attempts to counterbalance his loyalty with his ambition. The most blatant evidence of his inner struggle is where he admits that the witches “have shown some truth” to Macbeth and dares to imagine whether he shall be so lucky.

The malign influence of the witches and therefore moral decay through ambiguity are complete in the aftermath of the vicious murder of Duncan. Despite scolding Lady Macbeth for her self-absorbed reaction to the murder, saying it would be “too cruel anywhere”, Banquo feels no real remorse at the regicide. He may claim to be fully against “treasonous malice” and having his “bosom franchised” but he allows the coup d’état to occur right before his eyes. The ultimate betrayal of his former values are saved for the coronation of Macbeth. He knows Macbeth “playd’st most foully” for the kingship. Yet, the promise that he “should be the root and father of many kings” proves too much to resist. Rather then speak the truth he merely resigns himself to ignore the facts that lie obviously before him and simply “hush” himself. This cold and calculated strategy of benign subservience shows how much the once carefree warrior has become a power-hungry political tactician.

Unlike Macbeth, it can be argued that Banquo was corrupted first and foremost by the witches. Macbeth used the witches as a means to legitimise his craving for power. Conversely, Banquo was fooled and deceived by the witches to create his own downfall. The skill of Shakespeare as a writer shines through as his choice to Banquo a lengthy period of little or no dialogue, symbolises the inner struggles that occurring in Banquo’s mind. Banquo’s lack of cunning and savvy highlight how originally he was once an exemplar art warrior. He fails to see the paranoia of Macbeth who believes the witches have helped him place a “fruitless crown” upon his head. Macbeth fears the prophecy given to Banquo as it may mean that his descendants will directly usurp the throne from him. His “fears in Banquo stick deep” and in turn leads to his prearranged murder. Perhaps Banquo who “hast no less deserved” acclaim and honour, deserved to be king rather then Macbeth?

In summation, it is evident that Banquo underwent rapid and wholesale changes in personality due to the prophetic observations of the witches. In a play where “fair is foul and foul is fair”, a “good and virtuous nature” truly did “recoil under an imperial charge”. This is what happened to Banquo, his clarity of mind and his virtue became clouded and obscured. Courage and loyalty were replaced by silence and scheming.

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Macbeth Essay Question Model Answer - GCSE English Literature

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

7 June 2022

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GCSE (9-1) AQA English Literature Macbeth grade 8/9 model answer on the question:

Explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural?

Perfect for reviewing what a high level response possesses, and allows students to understand what is required of them to achieve a top grade. (or to at least improve their current grade).

2 paragraphs, each half a page long.

454 words total

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Banquo - Distrusts the Supernatural

Banquo distrusts the witches and doesn't try to tempt fate.

Distrusts witches

• After hearing the witches' prophecies in Act 1, Scene 3, Banquo doesn’t know whether they should trust the witches or not.
• He fears that they may have made the prophecies (predictions) to hurt Macbeth: ‘Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths’ (1,3).
• As someone who distrusts and fears the witches throughout the whole play, Banquo is shown to be a good, God-fearing character in the play.
• Jacobean audiences feared the supernatural, and Banquo echoes this fear. He does not allow them to manipulate him and does not show a lot of interest in the prophecies.

Doesn't challenge fate

• Although Banquo hopes that the witches’ prophecies (predictions) will come true for him - ‘May they not be my oracles as well / And set me up in hope?’ (3,1) - he does not show any desire to force them.
• He does not really engage in the supernatural.

Banquo's Ghost

In Act 3, Scene 4 Banquo’s ghost appears to Macbeth. We don’t know whether this is real or something Macbeth imagines. The ghost appears in the seat where Macbeth should be sitting.

Accuses Macbeth

• From Macbeth’s words, we can work out that the ghost is shaking his head at Macbeth: ‘Thou canst not say I did it; never shake / Thy gory locks at me!’
• The ghost seems to be accusing him.
• We could suggest that Banquo’s ghost shakes his head at Macbeth because he knows that Macbeth will not secure his position as king by murdering him.

Macbeth's conscience?

• After being friends with Banquo, and holding his trust for a long time, Banquo's murder seems to be the death that affects Macbeth the most.
• Banquo almost acts as Macbeth’s conscience – Macbeth arguably feels the most guilt for betraying his friend and murdering him, just to make sure that he has power.

Macbeth and Banquo's Friendship

Banquo is Macbeth's close friend and ally at the start. But by Act 2, Macbeth and Banquo’s friendship is already questionable. They begin to have opposing views about the witches, and Macbeth shows a willingness to lie to Banquo with very little thought.

Macbeth's lie

• Banquo tells Macbeth that he has dreamed about the witches. Macbeth says he has given them no thought.
• This shows he is now lying to his friend. Macbeth tells him they will speak about it at a later time. (2,1)

Banquo's suspicions

• After Macbeth has been crowned king, Banquo suspects that he has gained the title through doing something bad.
• This suggests that he suspects him of murdering King Duncan: ‘Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, / As the weird women promis’d, and I fear / Thou played’st most foully for’t’ (3,1).

Macbeth's false appearance

• Macbeth gives Banquo lots of praise. He welcomes him as ‘chief guest’ to the celebrations (3,1).
• Macbeth is putting on a false appearance. He actually plans to have Banquo murdered.
• Although Banquo suspects that Macbeth has done something bad in order to gain the throne, he still seems to trust his friend. He does not seem to suspect that his own life is at stake.

Fear and murder

• Macbeth wishes Banquo a good ride (3,1). Then, after the guests have left him, meets the murderers to plan his murder.
• Macbeth fears Banquo. He says that Banquo is a good and clever man. This suggests he will see him as a real threat to his crown later on.
• He says Banquo has, 'royalty of nature' and 'wisdom' (3,1). He doesn’t want Banquo’s sons to benefit from his crimes (by becoming kings).
• The murderers attack Banquo in the woods. A third man arrives to do the same job – Macbeth must be making sure that Banquo will definitely die.
• They attack him and kill him, but Fleance (his son) manages to escape.

1 Literary & Cultural Context

1.1 Context

1.1.1 Tragedy

1.1.2 The Supernatural & Gender

1.1.3 Politics & Monarchy

1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Context

2 Plot Summary

2.1.1 Scenes 1 & 2

2.1.2 Scene 3

2.1.3 Scenes 4-5

2.1.4 Scenes 6-7

2.1.5 End of Topic Test - Act 1

2.2 Acts 2-4

2.2.1 Act 2

2.2.2 Act 3

2.2.3 Act 4

2.3.1 Scenes 1-3

2.3.2 Scenes 4-9

2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Acts 2-5

3 Characters

3.1 Macbeth

3.1.1 Hero vs Villain

3.1.2 Ambition & Fate

3.1.3 Relationship

3.1.4 Unstable

3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Macbeth

3.2 Lady Macbeth

3.2.1 Masculine & Ruthless

3.2.2 Manipulative & Disturbed

3.3 Other Characters

3.3.1 Banquo

3.3.2 The Witches

3.3.3 Exam-Style Questions - The Witches

3.3.4 King Duncan

3.3.5 Macduff

3.3.6 End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo

3.3.7 End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff

3.4 Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1 Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions

4.1.1 Power & Ambition

4.1.2 Power & Ambition HyperLearning

4.1.3 Violence

4.1.4 The Supernatural

4.1.5 Masculinity

4.1.6 Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order

4.1.7 Appearances & Deception

4.1.8 Madness & Blood

4.1.9 Women, Children & Sleep

4.1.10 End of Topic Test - Themes

4.1.11 End of Topic Test - Themes 2

4.2 Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1 Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.2 Extract Analysis

5 Writer's Techniques

5.1 Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1 Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony

5.1.2 Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism

5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques

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Manipulative & Disturbed

The Witches