Banquo Character Analysis in Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth’s Banquo is a perfect foil to Macbeth. Banquo is the complete opposite of Macbeth. Macbeth is greedy, untrustworthy, a backstabber, and not loyal while Banquo is seen as nice and trustworthy. Banquo represents what Macbeth looked like before hearing the prophecies of the weird sisters. Banquo has the thoughts and wants, yet Macbeth listens to these prophecies. At the first look at Macbeth and Banquo, you would think that they were a lot alike, but their morals differ in so many ways.

Banquo shows loyalty to his King, temptation does not rise upon him by the witches, and yet he has no desire for the throne. This makes Macbeth’s thoughts drawn more out in the story, because Banquo does not want the throne; Macbeth is greedy for the throne. Macbeth is tortured from the second he meets the witches, only because Macbeth’s conscience is not clear at this time. As the play goes on, Banquo begins to find it harder to resist the witches' prophecy, but the idea of killing someone does not overthrow his mind, Banquo has his own thoughts and wants. After Macbeth does eventually kill the king, Banquo begins to sense that Macbeth is up to evil and deceiving things. Banquo being the loyal man he is, becomes a threat to Macbeth and Macbeth does decide to kill Banquo after all, so he could never be King, nor have more sons to be a threat to overtaking the throne, like the witches prophecy said.

Banquo has many thoughts of his own, but actions speak louder than words. Macbeth tells Banquo that if he stays loyal to his wants and needs, he will be rewarded in the future. Banquo does not take up Macbeth’s offer and ends up staying loyal to Duncan, because his morals are higher up than Macbeth’s. He still stays loyal to Macbeth and the King, telling Macbeth that he will help him, but does nothing to The King in the process. Banquo makes the actions of Macbeth sound bad, because he’s trying so hard not to fall into temptation that it makes Macbeth’s actions louder than they are.

Although Macbeth claims to have loyalty, his actions towards King Duncan and Banquo prove otherwise. Macbeth betrays both of these men, losing a great friendship and his morals. Macbeth kills King Duncan, his own king. He bases his homicide off the witches/Weird sisters prophecy, these witches claim that if he does so, in the future he will be the King of Scotland. Macbeth puts aside the punishments that could be done to him, he lets this prophecy become an obsession. Driving him to kill and betray his own King.

All and all, Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth being completely opposite of each other. Macbeth’s actions bring out the good in Banquo, and vice versa. Throughout the story, you can tell how loyal Banquo is to just about everyone.