BANQUO
A brave warrior and Macbeth’s good friend. Banquo is an honourable man and a good father. He meets the witches with Macbeth but doesn’t fall under their spell. He is loyal to Scotland and his king where Macbeth is not.
He receives a prophecy from the witches that his children will become kings. In the eyes of Macbeth that is enough to try and kill him and his son.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS
-Meeting the witches with Macbeth
-Warning Macbeth to beware of the witches' prophecies
-His murder at the hands of assassins sent by Macbeth
PURPOSE
Banquo, like Macduff, acts as a foil (an opposite) for Macbeth. He shows that in a brutal warrior society like Scotland’s, you don’t have to turn completely evil like Macbeth.
Before his death, Banquo acts as the voice of reason, warning Macbeth about the witches. He shows us his honour right until the end where he protects his son Fleance, allowing him to escape.
STRETCH VOCAB
Valiant
Heroic
Unfaltering
Trustworthy
Faithful
Dependable
Devoted
Key Quotation Analysis
LINKS WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
MACBETH
Macbeth is his loyal friend; they meet the witches together. Macbeth does not listen to the dangers of the witches that Banquo warns him about. Macbeth becomes paranoid with fear that Banquo knows too much. He is also angered by the idea that the witches have predicted that Banquo’s children will be kings and not his own. This leads him to killing Banquo and attempting to kill his son, Fleance.
THE WITCHES
The Witches are at first interesting for Banquo but he realises their dangers. He warns Macbeth that they will lead him to harm, but he does not listen. Ultimately it is the witches prophecy that his sons will be kings that cause his death and the attempted murder of his son Fleance.