What does it mean when the three witches in Macbeth say this? (click here please.)?

Question

What does it mean when they tell Banquo "[you are] Lessr than Macbeth, but greater. Not as happy, but happier." what do they mean? i am a little confused and i have to write about it. I think it might mean that Banquo has a smaller status than Macbeth in a way, but higher than him in another way. And the two are happy and unhappy because of different things. my teacher is really critical. please help. i take all answers into consideration.. Thank You!

Answer 1

i just went over this in class and it means that Mcbeth is lesser than Banquo because his son's will become king but Mcbeth is greater then Banquo because Banquo will never be king but Mcbeth is. Only Banquo's son's will be kings. And he is not as happy as Banquo because Banquo has a family and is loyal and doesn't have a huge problem to hide. McBeth is happier then Banquo because he is king at the moment.

Answer 2

lesser in certain ways, but in others greater. like maybe Macbeth is greater like a king and pesant, but the person is a greater person. On the happy thing, same theory. LIke Macbeth has more thing to be happy about, but Banquo has better things to be happy about like a great family or something.

Answer 3

Well, Macbeth is taken over by greed and kills someone, doesn't he?  

Maybe they mean he is lesser than Macbeth in a social hierarchy (He's not a king), however, he's is greater than Macbeth for he did not succumb to greed and desire. (Things gods don't like.)

As for the second part, they're pretty much saying he's happier than Macbeth.

Answer 4

He's lesser in status, but more of a man because he doesn't resort to murder etc. He's not as happy because he doesn't get all the status and glory, but happier because he has his son and his life is not tainted like Macbeth's.

or that was my analysis of it, I could be wrong.

Answer 5

i had a really tough teacher on that same thing but he said it has to do with the witches speaking in parodoxes.  In the beginning scene they speak this way as well.  It also can mean that although Macbeth is the hero now(for killing Macdonwald) they are still equal.

Answer 6

im pretty sure you got it down what class are you in it seemss really hard

Answer 7

well i already finished the book..it means that banquo will be much greater than macbeth will be...i dont wanna spoit it..but macbeth becomes so different then what he is now...like the opposite..and banquo..well he just stays the same..i guess...i know its probably not helping

Answer 8

Yes. Banquo has a lower status - he won't end up as king - but Macbeth ends up searing his conscience and becoming an inhuman monster to achieve this (and thus less than Banquo). Banquo is not as happy, because he doesn't get all the good things that Macbeth gets - and yet he doesn't die in the same despair that Macbeth does. The words are prophecies.