Question

1. analyze the following quote from banquo:

\that, trusted home,
might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
besides the thane of cawdor. but tis strange.
and oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
the instruments of darkness tell us truths,
win us with honest trifles, to betrays
in deepest consequence\

a. how does banquo feel about the witches’ prophecies?

b. analyze what banquo means by the \instruments of darkness\ and how they might impact people.

1. analyze macbeths following monologue:

\two truths are told.
as happy prologues to the swelling act
of the imperial theme…
this supernatural soliciting
cannot be ill, cannot be good. if ill,
why hath it given me earnest of success,
commencing in a truth? i am the thane of cawdor.
if good, why do i yield to the suggestion
whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
and make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
against the use of nature?\

a. why does macbeth argue that the witches’ prophecy cannot be \ill\?
b. why does macbeth argue that the prophecy cannot be good?

Explanation:

Question 12a

Banquo is skeptical of the Witches’ prophecies. He acknowledges they might seem to offer good (like Macbeth’s titles), but he believes “instruments of darkness” (the Witches) use partial truths/honest trifles to trick people into harm. He finds the prophecies strange and suspects deception behind their seemingly positive predictions.

“instruments of darkness” refers to the Witches (supernatural, evil - aligned forces). Banquo means they use truth - like or appealing details (honest trifles) to gain trust. Their impact: they lure people (e.g., Macbeth) with small, true - seeming promises to make them act in ways that lead to their downfall (betray’s in deepest consequence), manipulating them into immoral or self - destructive actions.

Macbeth argues the prophecy can’t be “ill” because it gave him an “earnest of success” that came true: he became Thane of Cawdor, matching the Witches’ prediction. If the prophecy were evil, he reasons, it wouldn’t have provided a true, positive outcome (his new title).

Answer:

Banquo feels skeptical and wary. He thinks the Witches (instruments of darkness) use partial truths (honest trifles) to deceive people, even if their prophecies seem to offer good (like Macbeth’s rise), as they aim to lead people to harm. He finds the prophecies strange and distrusts their motives.

Question 12b