Character Reference for Loyalty: Banquo
I think that the character that most represents loyalty is Banquo. He was very loyal to Macbeth in the first parts of the play up until his death. He is Macbeth's friend and they had fought many battles together and shared many journeys together before the three witches prophecies started to corrupt Macbeth and stimulate his greed and desire for power which made him betray Banquo. Banquo was loyal to Macbeth and one example of this was how he stayed loyal and did not betray him to try to seek justice or help the heirs to the throne after he suspected that Macbeth was the one who betrayed King Duncan and his sons just to rise to the throne. Banquo could have easily told the others that it was Macbeth and of the prophecies that had corrupted him but instead he decided to be a loyal friend and not tell anyone about his suspicions. Macbeth however did not return the favor and had him killed by assassins.
Pop Culture Reference to Loyalty
One reference that I think represents loyalty from pop culture is the three protagonists from the Harry Potter books and Movies. I think that they represent loyalty because even though they fought and sometimes had disagreements they always stayed loyal to each other in the end. They had many hardships and they had some distrust in each other and each others motives but they still stayed loyal and were loyal friends from the beginning of the series to the end of the series. I relate this to the play Macbeth and its theme of loyalty because Banquo stayed loyal to Macbeth even after he suspected him of betraying King Duncan.
Current Event that Represents Loyalty
http://www.examiner.com/article/loyal-dog-attends-mass-every-day-after-owner-s-funeral-waits-by-the-altar
This article is about a dog who stays loyal to its owner even after the owner has passed away. The dog was rescued by the owner and one of their daily activities together was to walk to the local church every day and attend mass. The dog would accompany the owner and even now after the owner has passed away the dog continues to attend the daily mass staying loyal to the owner and waiting for him to return. This made me think about the loyalty of some people in the play Macbeth. One thing that I found related to this article is the loyalty that Macduff has for King Duncan. It is similar because even after King Duncan was murdered Macduff still stayed loyal to him and tried to find his killer, this eventually led to Macduff defeating Macbeth (The killer) and helped restore someone who King Duncan wanted to be on throne after he died, king Duncan's hier to the throne.
This article is about a dog who stays loyal to its owner even after the owner has passed away. The dog was rescued by the owner and one of their daily activities together was to walk to the local church every day and attend mass. The dog would accompany the owner and even now after the owner has passed away the dog continues to attend the daily mass staying loyal to the owner and waiting for him to return. This made me think about the loyalty of some people in the play Macbeth. One thing that I found related to this article is the loyalty that Macduff has for King Duncan. It is similar because even after King Duncan was murdered Macduff still stayed loyal to him and tried to find his killer, this eventually led to Macduff defeating Macbeth (The killer) and helped restore someone who King Duncan wanted to be on throne after he died, king Duncan's hier to the throne.
Quote #1: "Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all..."
Theme: Loyalty
Quote:"Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear, thou play'dst most foully for't; yer it was said, it should not stand in thy posterity;but that myself should be the root and father of many kings. If there come truth from them, -- as upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine, --why, by the verities on thee made, may they not be my oracles as well, and set me up in hope? But hush; no more." (Act three, Scene 1)
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote is a thought by Banquo during act three after Macbeth becomes king. He is thinking this quote to himself and is suspecting that Macbeth murdered king Duncan to become king. He suspects Macbeth is a bad person but he stays loyal to him and doesn't try to stop him or get him dethroned because he thinks that Macbeth is his loyal friend and would do the same to him. Banquo was very loyal to Macbeth even though Macbeth was a murderer and a traitor to fulfil his own greed, and ended up being disloyal to Banquo and having him killed. In the quote at first he is saying that he should do something and is saying that Macbeth is bad and he knows it, but at the end he says that he will stay loyal.
Quote:"Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear, thou play'dst most foully for't; yer it was said, it should not stand in thy posterity;but that myself should be the root and father of many kings. If there come truth from them, -- as upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine, --why, by the verities on thee made, may they not be my oracles as well, and set me up in hope? But hush; no more." (Act three, Scene 1)
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote is a thought by Banquo during act three after Macbeth becomes king. He is thinking this quote to himself and is suspecting that Macbeth murdered king Duncan to become king. He suspects Macbeth is a bad person but he stays loyal to him and doesn't try to stop him or get him dethroned because he thinks that Macbeth is his loyal friend and would do the same to him. Banquo was very loyal to Macbeth even though Macbeth was a murderer and a traitor to fulfil his own greed, and ended up being disloyal to Banquo and having him killed. In the quote at first he is saying that he should do something and is saying that Macbeth is bad and he knows it, but at the end he says that he will stay loyal.
Quote #2: "The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part is to receive our duties..."
Theme: Loyalty
Quote:"The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part is to receive our duties; and our duties are to your throne and state, children and servants; which do but what they should, by doing everything safe toward your love and honour." (Act 1, Scene 4)
Explanation and Analysis:
In the play this quote is said by Macbeth to King Duncan. Macbeth says this before he starts to get corrupted and before hu starts to plot against King Duncan and try to get the throne for himself. At this point he is still loyal to King Duncan and proves his Loyalty by fighting bravely and winning a battle in which his army was outnumbered to begin with. He risks his life for the king, I think this shows tremendous loyalty because he is risking his life for King Duncan's ideas and motives. Even though later in the play he is sort of corrupted and becomes disloyal he started loyal to King Duncan. I think that this quote shows his loyalty and that he proved his loyalty to King Duncan enough for Duncan to trust him.
Quote:"The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part is to receive our duties; and our duties are to your throne and state, children and servants; which do but what they should, by doing everything safe toward your love and honour." (Act 1, Scene 4)
Explanation and Analysis:
In the play this quote is said by Macbeth to King Duncan. Macbeth says this before he starts to get corrupted and before hu starts to plot against King Duncan and try to get the throne for himself. At this point he is still loyal to King Duncan and proves his Loyalty by fighting bravely and winning a battle in which his army was outnumbered to begin with. He risks his life for the king, I think this shows tremendous loyalty because he is risking his life for King Duncan's ideas and motives. Even though later in the play he is sort of corrupted and becomes disloyal he started loyal to King Duncan. I think that this quote shows his loyalty and that he proved his loyalty to King Duncan enough for Duncan to trust him.
Quote #3: “For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name...
"
Theme: Loyalty
Quote:“For the brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-Disdained fortune with his bradish'd steel. Which smoked with the bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage, Till he faced the slave: Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade him farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from nave to chaps. And fix'd his head upon our battlements." (Act 1, Scene 2)
Explanation and Analysis: This quote was said by the Sergeant in Act 1 Scene 1 when he was attesting to how loyal and brave Macbeth was to King Duncan. This was said before Macbeth returned from the battle with the traitor that he fought and won on behalf of King Duncan. This was the last time he was truly loyal to King Duncan and he was fiercely loyal before the three witches corrupted him with thoughts that he could be king and before they planted the spark of greed inside his mind. The fact that he fought this battle is a statement of how loyal he was to King Duncan because Macbeth's army was heavily out numbered and even though his chances were slim he fought with honor and won the battle for King Duncan.
Quote:“For the brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-Disdained fortune with his bradish'd steel. Which smoked with the bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage, Till he faced the slave: Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade him farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from nave to chaps. And fix'd his head upon our battlements." (Act 1, Scene 2)
Explanation and Analysis: This quote was said by the Sergeant in Act 1 Scene 1 when he was attesting to how loyal and brave Macbeth was to King Duncan. This was said before Macbeth returned from the battle with the traitor that he fought and won on behalf of King Duncan. This was the last time he was truly loyal to King Duncan and he was fiercely loyal before the three witches corrupted him with thoughts that he could be king and before they planted the spark of greed inside his mind. The fact that he fought this battle is a statement of how loyal he was to King Duncan because Macbeth's army was heavily out numbered and even though his chances were slim he fought with honor and won the battle for King Duncan.
Quote #4:"My father is not dead, For all your saying"
Theme: Loyalty
Quote: "My father is not dead, for all your saying." (Act 4, Scene 2)
Explanation and analysis: This quote is said by Macduff's son. It is said in act 4 right before he and his mother are both murdered by Macbeths men in an act of rage and revenge against Macduff for going to help Malcolm. The mother and some others are saying that Macduff is dead and are trying to convince him that his father is dead. He is loyal to his father and knows that he is, in fact alive and well and he argues this to his mother and the servants. This shows his loyalty to his father and it shows that he believes in his father strongly and that he is not willing to believe that he is dead.
Quote: "My father is not dead, for all your saying." (Act 4, Scene 2)
Explanation and analysis: This quote is said by Macduff's son. It is said in act 4 right before he and his mother are both murdered by Macbeths men in an act of rage and revenge against Macduff for going to help Malcolm. The mother and some others are saying that Macduff is dead and are trying to convince him that his father is dead. He is loyal to his father and knows that he is, in fact alive and well and he argues this to his mother and the servants. This shows his loyalty to his father and it shows that he believes in his father strongly and that he is not willing to believe that he is dead.