Significance Of Banquo In Macbeth

Seeing Banquo had to be a sign of his guilt because he misses him and they were best friends that fought battles together. Macbeth wishes he could take back what he has done to Banquo, but he knows he can't because his ambition is telling him to continue and fight for becoming king. By showing how guilty he is, and it tells us that this is one way ambition can impact on

Macbeth's fears about Banquo run deep, and he sees him as a threat to his position as king. He describes Banquo's "royalty of nature," which he sees as something to be feared. Macbeth acknowledges

In fact, Macbeth becomes fascinated by them, "would they had stayed." Banquo serves as his conscience, perhaps representing the period audience who would have also thought the witches to be evil and unnatural, and warns him of the dangers of trusting such supernatural messengers; a warning that goes unheeded. After hearing the prophecy, Macbeth already thinks about, "murder," and becomes preoccupied with thoughts of becoming king showing the powerful hold they have over him with only one meeting, scaring the audience who would have believed in Witches. Macbeth believes the Witches as there first prophecy came true and ignores the fact that they’re evil beings whereas Banquo recognizes them for what they are. He even informs his most beloved, Lady Macbeth, who also shares his ambition.

Following this, he plans and goes through with a plan to kill Duncan in the hope of ensuring his fate. Irony can be seen in this quote through the way that his knowledge of the prophecies only leads him and his wife to their demise. Furthermore, the Witches are portrayed as manipulative and malevolent characters who find delight in causing chaos. In act 1 scene 3 Banquo and Macbeth discuss what the Witches had said about their future. Banqou expresses to Macbeth, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/ In deepest consequence” (1.3 124-126).

(3.1.9-10). This means that Banquo will not act upon what the witches are telling him. What the witches are telling Macbeth would also never be coming true if he hadn’t acted upon it. As Banquo puts it in the play, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s/ In deepest consequence.”

Throughout William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, envy plays a key role in the development and eventual downfall of the main character, Macbeth. It is what leads him down the dark path of committing unthinkables acts of murder and betrayal and what eventually will lead to his demise. Upon further examination into this subject, it can be shown just how Macbeth’s envy did nothing but leave him exposed and shorten his time on the throne. One of the main characters that Macbeth envies throughout the play is Banquo, a noble warrior to Scotland. Banquo is the character foil to Macbeth, he is honourable, noble and smart while Macbeth is deceptive and immoral.

Banquo says, “I fear thou play’ds most foully for’t” (Act 3 sc 1 lines 2-3). I feel that Banquo is seeing that Macbeth is getting everything that he wants and Banquo is noticing that it’s out of the ordinary and he ends up getting suspicious of Macbeth. Macbeth notices that Banquo is getting suspicious of him. Also, the weird sister told Macbeth that one of Banquo sons is going to be king one day. Macbeth doesn’t like the idea of both of these, so Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance.

With Macbeth being a general in the Scottish military, he had major influences on people and their daily lives. After the murder of King Duncan, Banquo’s suspicion of who committed the murders arose around a single suspect, Macbeth. Knowing that Banquo most likely knew the truth that Macbeth killed King Duncan, Macbeth went back to his evil ways with ease. Through his attendant, Macbeth summons three murderers. Shakespeare introduces the murders with stage direction “[Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers]” (Shakespeare, 363), in which Macbeth he uses Banquo as bait in order to gain their graces and loyalty “That it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self: this I made good to you in our last conference, pass'd in probation with you, how you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments, who wrought with them, and all things else that might, so half a soul and to a notion crazed, Say 'Thus did Banquo.'”

In Macbeth’s soliloquy, he talks about Banquo’s “hath of wisdom” and how Banquo acts safely(58). This illustrates that Macbeth is afraid of what Banquo might do. This illustrates Macbeth’s ambition because he is not going to give up until he finds what he is looking for if he gets suspicious with Macbeth. This makes Macbeth very scared of Banquo because if Banquo finds out that Macbeth killed Duncan, Macbeth’s life is going to be hell and Banquo is immediately going to tell everybody in Scotland. Macbeth fears Banquo so much that he will “champion his utterance” and will battle anybody to keep his crown(77).

Undoubtedly Banquo deep down knew Macbeth's intentions since his prophecy from the wyrd sisters. Furthermore, Banquo has to make it well known to Macbeth that his loyalty stands to Duncan. Even so, Banquo does not tell anyone what happened with the witches even after Duncan is discovered dead in his chambers and he does not discuss it with Macbeth. It is almost as if he is trying to remind himself where his allegiance lies. Given Banquo doesn’t tell anyone, but also will not let Macbeth know he will cover for him, his allegiance lies within himself.

By Macbeth wanting to take the easy road of not having any competitor's, his moral compass is questioned. By including Banquo in Macbeth, Shakespeare makes it possible for Macbeth’s flaws to be illustrated. It is from these flaws, that one can understand his interaction with those around

Macbeth is effortlessly susceptible to evil where Banquo takes a more cautious approach to almost everything that he encounters and ponders about what may come next. Banquo plays it safe and never is hasty when it comes to making decisions while Macbeth is quick to act and believes everything that he is told; “Shakespeare's Banquo is the antithesis of Macbeth -- his pure, moral character foil. Banquo has no 'vaulting ambition' and thus can easily escape the trap of the Witches' prophesies.” (Mabillard, “Introduction to the Characters in Macbeth”). Banquo stays untainted by the witches prophesy while Macbeth allows and calls upon evil spirits to help him on his malevolent pursuit.

Additionally, it also accentuates the unjust nature of Banquo’s murder later on. This is due to the fact that unlike Macbeth, he remained true to his reputation until his death. The night that King Duncan is scheduled to visit Macbeth’s, Lady Macbeth warns him to act normal to avoid suspicion and

Macbeth’s first ever words in the book are, “foul and fair” and being that the witches repeat it, it must represent who he will be forced to become. In Act 1, sc. 3 The witches reveal Baquo’s fortune to have a longer impact on the world being that his sons will rule. This in which they are establishing a clear difference between Macbeth (who has no children) and Banquo (who has more than one). Making Macbeth seem inferior to Banquo even though he will be king himself.

Unlike Macbeth, Banquo, from the beginning of this encounter, continues to doubt the witches, “I’th’name of truth are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show?” (1.3.51-52) Banquo didn’t believe what the witches were saying, he questions their intentions and accuses them of raising Macbeth’s hope. Throughout this whole encounter, Banquo continues to protect Macbeth while staying loyal. He never once acted on his prophecies, he simply disregarded what the witches were saying and remained the noble man he is. Even to his death, Banquo has not once acted without honour and