Approaches to Macbeth
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Banquo presented himself to Macbeth as a stong and constant person I know this because it says "thou o'st play'd most foully for it" this gives me the impression that Banquo is saying it wasn't fair game or very plesent. Banquo is very confident to Macbeth.The three sisters had already told Banquo things but he didn't believe anything they said. Banquo suspects Macbeth to have murdered King Duncan and that he smeared the blood on the guards also Lady Macbeth drugged them so that she could get the daggers and for them not to see Macbeth kill Duncan. Banquo suspects Macbeth because he keep saying he can see the dagger covered in blood. Also when they sit down to have the meal Lady Macbeth has to say that its just normal for him to hallucinate and cover up the tracks I think Banquo suspects something here but he had no proof. He also suspects that when they are at the castle Macbeth starts talking about that night when Duncan was murdered but when he starts going into detail Lady Macbeth distracts them by fainting then everyone sees to Lady Macbeth and doesnt question Macbeth.
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Shakespeare presents Banquo as a character who is loyal to all of his people and mainly his king, and cares about people more than himself, for example, 'Fly, Fleance, fly,’ shows us that in danger, he puts his son's life before his own, showing kindness and loyalty to his friends and family.
Banquo is also known for his extreme valour and bravery when in battle, when he is said to be as powerful 'as cannons over charg'd with double cracks' which presents Banquo's valour as grand because the quote tells us that he has double power and can destroy anything in his path.
Extending on this, Banquo is described as a powerful valour man from the quote as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion' stating to the reader that he is ruthless, powerful, and unstoppable as he is compared to animals at the highest rank in the food chain, showing he is superior.
Linking in to this, Banquo doesn’t really bother about all the blood he comes across, as he is said to 'bathe in reeking wounds' stating the he may as well relax and washing blood and guts and wounds, implying that he is used to all of the killing and stabbing of other soldiers, making him sound merciless and bloodthirsty.
However, looking past all of the killing and gruesome battles, he seems to be very loyal to anyone that he encounters, especially king Duncan. We know this as when he was in Macbeth's castle, and Macbeth asked him about the prophercies, he says 'keep my bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear' in other words keep him clear from all of the information, as he wants to stay loyal to his king, and this shows his loyalth as even if the prophercies are true, he wants to look past them and stay 'clear' from it all, stating that his loyalty is very strong for his leader and that he doesn’t want to get involved in the murky mess.
However, after having this chat with Macbeth, he becomes very uneasy in his castle, as at one point, he grabs his sword and shouts 'who's there' and this shows his uneasiness as he is grabbing for a sword when he hears footsteps. His uneasiness becomes even more clear to us as he is staying in a good friend's castle, which states that he is highly uneasy, as he is staying in a castle that belongs to his partner in battle.
Later on in the play, after the murder of Duncan, Banquo seems to get a clear image that Macbeth has done the deed, 'thou play'd most foully for it' showing that Macbeth has listened to the prophercies by the death of Duncan in his own castle.
Banquo seems to know that Macbeth has done it by the fact that he told Macbeth to ignore them, and he also uses the oxymoron, 'the instruments of darkness tell us truths, stating that the 'instruments of darkness' are the witches that are associated with being evil and dark, but are telling them things that are likely to be 'truths' stating that they most likely cannot be trusted and need to be ignored – this shows the reader that Banquo is being wise and is doing the right thing.
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When the audience first hears of Banquo he seems almost interchangeable with Macbeth. They are both praised by the bleeding Captain who reports to Duncan how they “were/As cannons over-charged with double cracks” in defeating the Norwegians in battle, the imagery of warfare suggesting their fighting skills. However, the fact that it is Macbeth who is singled out for promotion to Thane of Cawdor by Duncan, and promised kingship by the witches, sets Banquo on a different path. When Banquo challenges the witches:
“If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak then to me”
they cryptically tell him “Thou shalt get kings, thou though be none.” It is this that seals his fate later in the play. When Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor, Banquo says, “What! Can the devil speak true?” which may suggest he is suspicious of the witches’ power, and he warns Macbeth how:
“The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence.”
The next time we see Banquo is when he arrives at the palace at Forres. Duncan welcomes both Macbeth and Banquo equally, but while Macbeth sees Malcolm being named as Duncan’s heir as “a step on which [he] must o’erleap”, Banquo expresses his loyalty to Duncan: “...if I grow, The harvest is your own.” Banquo is presented as a contrast to Macbeth in his loyalty.
We see this again when Duncan and his party arrive at Dunsinane, Banquo admires the peaceful, beautiful setting, “heaven’s breath/Smells wooingly here”, whilst Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin planning the murder of Duncan. So Banquo is presented as the opposite to Macbeth, being associated with health and wholesomeness.
The night before the murder, Banquo and his son Fleance are together, and we learn that Banquo is having difficulty sleeping. Perhaps he is worried about Macbeth, or perhaps “the cursed thoughts” he is having are his own temptations. He tries to talk to Macbeth about “the three weird sisters”, and Macbeth suggests they should talk later. When Banquo stresses that he will only do so if he can keep his “allegiance clear” we again see a clear contrast between the two characters.
When we next see Banquo he speaks in soliloquy of how he fears Macbeth “played most foully” for all he has gained, yet is still wondering about what the witches promised him. This is clearly lingering on his mind, but Macbeth has already decided that he must die, as “in his royalty of nature/Reigns that which would be feared.” Thus Macbeth sends hired killers to assassinate Banquo and Fleance, in order to defeat the witches‘ predictions. However, Banquo, although dying, saves his son’s life, by urging him to “flee” and this sets in motion the next stage in the disintegration of Macbeth.
At the celebratory banquet, Macbeth may overplay his “concern” about Banquo’s absence, as each time he mentions his name, he, and only he, sees Banquo’s ghost: “Never shake thy gory locks at me.” This marks the separation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who both fall into a type of madness. Macbeth becomes a despot, slaughtering anyone who seems in his way, whilst Lady Macbeth later sleepwalks, when she reveals her guilty conscience to the watching doctor and gentlewoman, “Banquo’s buried: he cannot come out on’s grave.”
The last time there is mention of Banquo is when Macbeth goes back to visit the witches, and they put on a sort of show, which includes the “blood boltered Banquo” pointing at the visions of Kings of the future, suggesting that they are his descendants. This is perhaps Shakespeare flattering King James, his king, who was a descendant of Banquo.
Thus, overall, Banquo is presented as a brave soldier, loyal subject, father and friend, who resisted the temptations laid before him, unlike Macbeth.
We first meet Banquo alongside Macbeth whilst in battle. Banquo (and Macbeth) is described as "cannons overcharged with double cracks.” This shows that Banquo is twice as brave and powerful in battle. It also shows that he is loyal towards his country.
Banquo is then seen with Macbeth meeting the 3 witches. However, Banquo knows not to trust what the witches say as he knows that they are "instruments of darkness" and pure evil. Banquo also thinks that he is hallucinating or has taken a magic mushroom as the witches look extremely unusual and disfigured. "Insane root".
Although the witches state that Banquo's children will be heirs to the throne, Banquo shows that he will not do anything to harm the king as he is loyal towards Duncan "alligience clear".
On the night of the murder Banquo notices that naure is acting rather unusual and weird "their candles are all out". This shows how there are no starts in the sky which is very suspicious. Also on the night of the murder Banquo feels as if something is forcing him to stay awake. "lies like lead upon me". This quote shows that Banquo is afraid that something terrible is about to happen.
After the murder, Banquo knew that Macbeth was the murderer and that it is unfair and wrong of him to become king. "Foully for't". This states how Banquo knows Macbeth is in the wrong and that he doesn’t deserve to become king.
We last see Banquo alive when he was out spending quality time with his son, Fliance, on their horses. As Macbeth is extremely suspicious of him and that his son is heir to the throne, Macbeth orders assassins to assassinate Banquo and Fliance. Banquo shows his love for his son as he tells him to run and not to look back "fly Fliance fly". This shows that Banquo gave up his life to protect his son.
Banquo is then seen for the last time in Macbeths eyes as a ghost. ~This shows how guilty Macbeth feels in killing his own best friend and that Banquo will now haunt him for the rest of his life.