Do I need to have read Macbeth?

Today I spent a lovely few hours at East Otago High School just 40 mins north of Dunedin. I spoke to a range of students from Years 7 to Years 10 and one girl asked the following:

'Do I have to have read Macbeth to understand Banquo's Son?' she asked.

'Nooo!' says I. 'Though, those who have read Shakespeare's Macbeth will be in the know more than Fleance.'

'Cool,' she says.

'It's a cool book,' I say.

So, no. Not knowing or understanding William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth will in no way diminish your enjoyment of Banquo's Son. Promise!