Who is Banquo?
Banquo is a Scottish general who fights alongside Macbeth at the start of the play, and the two are close friends and equals. When the witches appear, they prophesy to both men: Macbeth will be king, and Banquo, though 'lesser' and 'greater', will 'get kings' without being one himself. From that moment, the two men take completely different paths.
Banquo is a foil to Macbeth. While he is tempted by the prophecies, he rejects the Witches and refuses to follow through with their implications. He is thoughtful, cautious, and morally aware: he is, initially, the play's moral compass. Through this integrity, Shakespeare seems to suggest the possibility that Macbeth had a genuine choice.
Banquo's role in the play
Students often make the mistake of dismissing Banquo entirely. Although he is murdered in Act 3, Banquo is central to understanding Macbeth's character, and has come up in previous AQA questions.
The key aspect of Banquo's role is that he is a foil to Macbeth. His integrity, honesty, and refusal to act upon the Witches' prophecies illustrate, by stark contrast, Macbeth's dangerous ambitions. Where Macbeth acts at once, Banquo waits and warns that 'instruments of darkness' often tell us truths only 'to betray's / In deepest consequence'. His character would have likely been favoured by Jacobean audiences, due to his nobility and his respect for the Divine Right of Kings. When he remarks that 'There's husbandry in heaven', Banquo's strong morals and sharp intuition are made clear.
His second role is to threaten Macbeth's stolen crown. Because Banquo is prophesied to father a line of kings, Macbeth sees him as a rival whose children will inherit everything Macbeth murdered to gain. Even after his murder, Banquo's character does not fade from the play. By coming back to haunt Macbeth, Banquo seems to act as a reminder of Macbeth's decisions. Should Macbeth have rejected the Witches' prophecies, content with his current position, the tragedy as we see it now would have been prevented.
How Banquo changes
Banquo does not have a dramatic arc in the way the Macbeths do. Instead, he stays morally steady while Macbeth falls. Where change could be tracked, however, is in his suspicions. In Act 1 he is wary but open, curious about the Witches and their prophecies. By Act 3, however, his suspicions become certain: "Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all... / and I fear / Thou play'dst most foully for't".
This development again illustrates Banquo's virtue and high moral ground. Jacobean audiences would have rooted for his success, and deflated at his demise.
Key Banquo quotes
“What, can the devil speak true?”
Where: Act 1 Scene 3Banquo's immediate suspicion of the Witches when part of their prophecy proves true. He calls them devilish, sensing danger where Macbeth senses opportunity. Use it to establish him as the cautious foil from the very first meeting.
“The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray's / In deepest consequence”
Where: Act 1 Scene 3Banquo's cautious wisdom. His thoughtfulness causes him to reject the Witches, yet his attempt to warn Macbeth falls on deaf ears.
“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”
Where: Act 1 Scene 3The witches' prophecy to Banquo: his descendants will be kings, although he will not. This is why Macbeth later fears and murders him. A key quote for the theme of fate, or in discussions surrounding their opposed characters.
“In the great hand of God I stand”
Where: Act 2 Scene 3After Duncan's murder, Banquo places himself on the side of God and justice, vowing to fight 'treasonous malice'. Use it to show his integrity and faith, and to contrast him with Macbeth, who has just aligned himself with his 'black and deep desires'.
“and I fear / Thou play'dst most foully for't”
Where: Act 3 Scene 1Banquo's suspicions become reality. Perfect for exploring his character arc, or for questions on fate, leadership, or appearance versus reality.
“Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!”
Where: Act 3 Scene 3Banquo's dying words: a plea, for his youngest son to flee from Macbeth's tyranny. His death marks the true beginning of Macbeth's descent into paranoia and eventual divine punishment.
Banquo and the play's themes
As a foil to Macbeth, Banquo fits neatly into any question on the supernatural, appearance versus reality, guilt, or kingship. His reactions to the supernatural contradict Macbeth's, and his ability to suspect Macbeth's true intentions illustrates him as a paragon of integrity and moral strength.
Amongst others, Banquo is a key figure in discussions of fate versus free will. His ability to reject the Witches' prophecies seems to imply that Macbeth held a similar choice. Discussions surrounding his ghost fit perfectly into essays on guilt and its effects.
Use the Macbeth themes page to see how he encompasses each theme, how they manifest, and how you can write the perfect essay for any theme.
Context: what Banquo represents
Banquo's nobility and morals have their own political reasons. King James I, England's contemporary monarch, believed himself to be descended from the historical Banquo. It can be deduced, therefore, that Shakespeare used Banquo to flatter King James: presenting him as honourable, intelligent, and God-favoured.
A great way of proving this flattery is to (briefly) mention Shakespeare's source material. In Holinshed's Chronicles, Shakespeare's inspiration for many of his plays, Banquo is actually an accomplice to the murder of King Duncan. But, in Shakespeare's play, he is innocent. Understanding this artistic change helps you to write about Banquo with real insight: his goodness is partly a piece of political flattery, and his prophesied royal line reassures the audience that the rightful order, and James's own dynasty, will ultimately triumph over tyranny.
How to write about Banquo in the exam
In AQA's history, Banquo has been asked alongside Macbeth. Therefore, it is necessary that you structure your answer around their relationship and their contradictions. Contrasting their reactions to the Witches' prophecies, drawing upon Banquo as Macbeth's moral foil, is by far the most effective method to write about Banquo. If you're feeling particularly ambitious, talk about the significance of his ghost.
Map these points onto the Macbeth themes page and secure his quotes with the key quotes page.