Banquo

Banquo

1. Loyalty

   • Never challenged King Duncan's rule; suspected MacBeth of treachery.
     • "Thou hast it now-- King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,/ As the Weird Women promised, and i fear/ Thou play'dst most foully for it." -3.1.1
   • Accepted his own death in order to allow Fleance to escape.
     • "O, treachery!/ Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!/ Thou mayst revenge. O slave!" -3.3.25
   • Conflicted about his loyalty to his king and his loyalty to a friend
     • "We have scorched the snake, not killed it." -3.2.5

2. Suspicious

   • Sharply aware of the reasoning behind words
     • "If you can look into the seeds of time/ And say which grain will grow and which will not,/ Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear, Your favours or your hate."
   • Skeptical of the witches' intentions
     • "Oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray us/ In deepest consequence" -1.3.133

3. Bold

   • Macbeth admires Banquo's bravery while contemplating how to kill him
     • "'Tis much he dares,/ and to that dauntless temper of his mind,/ He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour." -3.1.56
   • Not afraid to speak his mind.
     • "Why, by the verities on thee made good,/ May they not be my oracles as well/ And set me up in hope?" -3.1.10
   • Even the King applauds his bravery
     • "True, worthy Banquo! He is full so valiant,/ And in his commendations I am fed." -1.4.62

4. Wise

5. Wise

   • Macbeth fears his wisdom
     • "There is none but he / Whose being I do fear. And under him/ My Genius is rebuked." -3.1.61