Discuss the character of Banquo and his role in ‘Macbeth’ Essay

Banquo was one of Duncans brave generals. He was a man of honour and integrity. He held the same rank as Macbeth and they were re entirelyy closely linked characters. They were courageous and loyal warriors. They both witnessed the Witches prophesies and their future successes were foretold end-to-end the look. Banquo had a generous spirit and a rational view of the terra firma and had the attributes required by a good King, however, Banquo was an ambiguous character, in that he was sceptical of Macbeths manner following their encounter with the Witches. Macbeths beliefs worried Banquo, as he was a good man and he believed deeply in upholding Gods rule of order. Banquo sensed that the Witches prophesies prompted new reactions in Macbeth elevate encouraging his ambitions towards kingship.Banquos first encounter with the Witches was quite unbelievable to him and he remarked to Macbeth,What are these,So withered, and so wild in their attire,That look non like thinhabitants oth ea rth,And yet are on,t?,Banquos words describe Macbeths startled and uneasy reaction to the Witches prophesies, touch modality moral confusion in Macbeth by saying to him,Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fearThings that do non sound so upright?The half rhyme fear and fair echoes the Witches previous fair and foul. Although Banquo was not afraid of the Witches, he still wanted them to utter to him but at the same time he wished to remain marooned from them. He addressed the Witches, saying,Speak to me, who neither beg, nor fearYour favours nor your hate.The Witches in maneuver replied,Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.The Witches directed roughly of their prophesies towards Macbeth and Banquo noticed how lost in thought his companion was because of this experience and remarked, understand how our partners rapt.When the Witches vanished, Banquo and Macbeth were astounded, wondering if what they had just witnessed was indeed real or just fantasy.When Banquo heard th at Macbeth was to become Thane of Cawdor, in contrast to Macbeths excitement, he showed wariness and sensed that the Witches words might be deceitful by telling Macbeth,And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,The instruments of darkness tell us truths, pull in us with honest trifles, to betraysIn deepest consequence.Banquo is get-sighted in his summary of the way of temptation. However, resisting the prophecies was a struggle, even for Banquo. He said to his tidings Fleance,Merciful powers,Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that natureGives way to in reposeBanquo was clearly disturbed by alone the strange events that had interpreted place. He was afraid to sleep and the Witches words returned to him in his dreams when he did so.after King Duncan was murdered, Banquo became very suspicious of Macbeth and was becoming concerned to the highest degree his destiny. He spoke of this to the Kings son Malcolm,In the great fall of God I stand, and thenceAgainst the undivulged pretence I f ightOf treasonable malice.However, I criticize Banquo because of his passivity when he says, soon afterwards,Thou hast it all now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, allAs the weird women promised, and I fearThou playdst most foully fortIt was obvious that Banquo suspected Macbeths mesh in Duncans death, yet he took no steps against Macbeth. I suspect this was because Banquo had ambition too, like Macbeth when he says,May they not be my oracles as well,And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.Macbeths prophecy had come true, so he hoped, perhaps it would all happen for him and he would father a line of Kings.Banquos inertia and suspicions of Macbeth attracted Macbethsattention as his soliloquy in Act 3 denotes,Our fears in BanquoStick deep, and in his royalty of natureReigns that which would be feared. indeed at the end of his soliloquy he really expresses his innermost thoughts by saying,Only for them, and mine eternal jewelGiven to the common adversary of man,To make them Kings, the seed o f Banquo KingsThis showed that he was determined that no- one would interfere with his kingship. Macbeth dictum Banquo as simply too strong and honourable a cope with to be left alive. Here again, we see that Macbeth and Banquo were closely linked. They were both tragical and doomed with flaws within themselves.Macbeth became obsessed by irrational passions, then irritability and fear took hold, resulting in Macbeth having Banquo murdered. Macbeth held a banquet to celebrate his kingship which Banquo had agreed to front as chief guest. He was indeed chief guest, but tho visible to Macbeth as a ghost, taunting him, driving him insane with guilt. Macbeth mat this ghost was real, but it was only an extension of the evil in Macbeths troubled mind. This hysterical reaction in Macbeths vision horny the suspicions of the lords attending. All this behaviour exhibited Macbeth as totally deranged, however, it was Banquo who finally exposed Macbeths deceptiveness by appearing to him as an avenging angel and deeply play up Macbeths guilt.There were contrasts in Banquos character. He was honourable to the King, yet, he was pathetic, unable to act when his suspicions of Macbeths evil were obvious. There is also designate of contrast between Macbeth and Banquo in Act 2. I, when neither of them can sleep. Banquo was torment by the Witches predictions and Macbeth was driven by them. Banquo really wanted what the Witches predicted, but at the same time he wanted to keep a clear conscience. He also observed how Macbeth changed from a loyal warrior into a expedience tyrant, but with everything happening so hastily he might not have had the time to act upon his suspicions and maybe he thought about the fact that his suspicions may have been wrong. Banquo clearly displays signs of ambiguity throughout the play.