If there come truth from them / (As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine) / Why, by the verities on thee made good, / May they not be my oracles as well, / And set me up in hope?
Act III, Scene 1 · Banquo
Context
Still in soliloquy, Banquo reasons that if the witches' prophecies proved true for Macbeth, they might also prove true for him—that he will father a line of kings.
Analysis
Banquo frames the witches as 'oracles,' a term that elevates them to divine truth-tellers, yet he phrases his hope as a question ('May they not…?') rather than a declaration. This tentative syntax reveals his internal conflict: he wants to believe but restrains himself from fully committing, aware of the moral danger Macbeth's belief has unleashed. The conditional 'if' and questioning structure make Banquo's ambition seem cautious and self-aware, contrasting sharply with Macbeth's absolute certainty.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that Banquo represents the path Macbeth could have taken—ambition tempered by doubt. His questioning mode shows he hasn't surrendered his free will to the prophecy the way Macbeth has.