Banquo Character Analysis

Banquo Character Analysis

1. Characteristics

   • Suspicious
     • He is suspicious of Macbeth after Duncan's murder due to the witches' prophecy
       • Unfortunately this leads to Banquo being assassinated at Macbeth's orders.
       • "Thou has it no king, Cawdor, Glamis, all. As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ‘t."
   • Loyal
     • Like Macbeth, he is loyal to the king, although his ambition doesn't take over and doesn't betray the king like Macbeth.
     • He followed what was morally right, unlike Macbeth.
   • Realistic
     • He tries convincing Macbeth about not trusting the witches' prophecy
       • "Win us with honest trifles, to betray's / In deepest consequence"
     • Unlike Macbeth, Banquo doesn't trust the witches and stays loyal to the king, his ambition doesn't get the better of him.

2. Relationships

   • Duncan
     • Banquo is loyal to Duncan and stays that way throughout the entire play
   • Macbeth
     • He is always on Macbeth's side, they fought together in battle and trusted each other, although after Macbeth became evil and betrayed the king, Banquo was morally right and didn't betray the king

3. Comparison with Macbeth

   • Similarities
     • Loyal
       • Although Macbeth doesn't stay loyal
       • "Let your highness command upon me, to which my duties are with a most indissoluble tie forever knit."
     • Powerful
   • Differences (what Banquo isn't)
     • (too) Ambitious
     • trusting the supernatural
     • Treachorous