Character Analysis: Banquo

Banquo

I would like to talk about Banquo and his role in the play, and what I know about him so far. Banquo is a Scottish general in the king’s army and Macbeth’s friend. With Macbeth, Banquo helps Duncan’s forces claim victory over the king of Norway and the thane of Cawdor. Following the battle, Banquo and Macbeth encounter the witches, who make a several prophesies about Macbeth. They then speak to Banquo about his own future, saying that Banquo’s descendants will be king. (www.enotes.com/macbeth/banquo-character-analysis) In addition, Banquo is very intelligent and trustful man, and also he is up front. Him and his friend Macbeth, both meet the witches while they coming back from the battle and heading home. He saw the witches first, even though he didn’t believe what they said. He said: ‘Tie strange: and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betrays.(act.1.3-120-125) But Macbeth believe on the witches and he said: This supernatural soliciting  cannot be ill; cannot be good if ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. (Act.1.3-130-132.) when Banquo realized that Macbeth believes on witches and he is preparing to the kingdom and want to kill Duncan. He said to him if what they were saying is true that means you stand in the way of my children. He afraid for his son because the witches told him that his  son will be a future  king, so when Macbeth murder king Duncan and take the throne that means he is going to protect his kingdom and kill Banquo’s son.  Banquo promise him if he becomes a king he will not kill him, if he doesn’t kill his son.  Macbeth promise him and they decided to not talk about it again. Therefore, I like Banquo’s personality and I learn a lot of things from him.  He is aware of what is going on. He believe in god rather than witches, he is very respectful and doesn’t like to do evil things.                                  

Witches & Destiny

The witches are the most important characters in the play, even though there are horrible, and they greatly affected Macbeth. Macbeth was a good man who had a lot of good thing in his life. When they told him he will become a king, a terrible ideas come to his mind, then he end up thinking about murdering the king just so he could make their prophesy come true, and he can become a king. 

They said:

First witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee thane, Thane of Glamis!

Second witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!

Third witch. All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter (1.3-48-49)

At first Macbeth didn’t believe them, and he told them that the words that they said doesn’t make sense, and he asked them to explain themselves. “He said. By sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman; and to be king,   Stand not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence, you owe this strange intelligence? Or why, upon this blasted heath you stop our way, with such prophetic greeting  Speals I charge you, Witches vanish.” (act.1-71-77). Later when Ross told him that he was going to be the thane of Cawdor, he changed his mind and started to think about what they said, and he said, “This supernatural soliciting cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am Cawdor.”(act.1.2-130-132) and his friend Banquo didn’t believe on them at all, he said’ “What! Can the devil speak true?”(Act.1.2-106)

The witches have a very strong role in this play. Even though don’t know anything about the future, they didn’t control others destiny.  They add temptation, and influence to Macbeth. He create his own misery when is driven by his own sense of guilt. This causes him to commit more murder. The witches gave him the idea, but in the end it is each individual’s decision to either fall for the temptation, or to be strong enough to resist it.

Every individual influences their own future. We can plan our lives and our days, and how hard we work, or how lazy we are will affect the rest of our lives in the long run.

First Thoughts

The play is very interesting and everything is changing very quickly.  So far I have read and watched Act 1, and  I think the three witches were controlling Macbeth's future.   

In the beginning of the play, the three witches meet in the desert and they discussed when they are going to meet again. They decided to meet again when the war is over and Macbeth comes back from battle. They meet again with Macbeth and Banquo at the forest while the two were coming back from battle and going back home. At that time there was a war between the Scottish and Norwegians. When they returned from battle, Duncan the king of Scotland found out that Macbeth and Banquo were the leaders of the army's victory. 

When Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches they predicted their futures. They told Macbeth that he will be thane of Cawdor and then the king. Macbeth didn't respond immediately, but Banquo ask them if the witches can into his future too. They said to him, “less or than Macbeth and greater and not so happy, yet much happier, Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3- 63-67) Macbeth couldn't imagine being the thane of Cawdor because the current thane was alive. He wanted to know where the witches got this information, but they wouldn't explain it to him, and they suddenly disappeared. Then Macbeth said to Banquo "your children shall be kings,” Banquo respond, “You shall be king.”(1.3- 84) 

Then Ross and Angus enter and Ross said to Macbeth, “the king hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success. He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor.”(1.3-92-104) Macbeth was surprised to find out that what the witches were saying was true and then he ask Banquo if he hope his children will be king. Banquo replies, can Devil speak true! Macbeth didn't pay attention to him,  and  started  thinking about  the throne.     

Overall I like this play and I am interested in finding out how the witches prophesies will affect Macbeth and Banquo. So far, all of Shakespeare's plays that I have read have been very interesting,