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Give the character sketch of Banquo.

Banquo’s character sketch- The character of Banquo is presented as dramatic foil to the principle protagonists, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It’s main purpose is to heighten the effect of the character that others are introduced. Banquo is sometimes dismissed as a humdrum half times, honest fellow, contrasted with the greatness of Macbeth’s character. This is true is a sense but Banquo is more than that. He is one of many good characters of the play. His goodness is shown in the incorruptible loyalty and integrity of his character. He is tempted like Macbeth but remains unchanged. He is visited by dreads of future greatness as the founder of a royal line but his will is not vitiated by it. He is human enough to indulge in these dreams by foul means. His recourse in these temptation is to prayer. He prays to be delivered from temptation of sin. When he hears the prophecy of the witches he is surprised for a while but soon dismisses them as evil beings and deluding agents of the devil. He regards them as instrument of darkness which lead to destruction.

It is not that he is a saintly or supremely rational man. He has his share of the superstition of the age in which he lived. But he fights against them with all his rational self his prayer is characterstic of his goodness.

“Merciful powers,

Restrain in me, the cursed thoughts that nature.

Gives way to in repose!”

Incorruptibility is the strongest trait in Banquo’s character. Neither man nor evil can tempt him to evil. As he remains uninfluenced by the witches, he is equally strong against human temptations. Macbeth tries to corrupt him by offering all sorts of promise of political advantages. Macbeth is afraid of Banquo’s honesty which might well expose his own villainy. So he wants to make him a partner in crime. But Banquo roundly refuses to have anything to do with deeds that smack of disloyalty. This refusal leads to his murder at Macbeth’s instigation for Macbeth is mightly afraid of Banquo’s royal nature and he confesses that under him genius is rebuked. Banquo’s moral stability is something which Macbeth with a guilty mind cannot endure and cannot but envy.

Banquo’s open-mindedness is contrasted with Macbeth’s hide and seek behaviour and hypocrisy. Banquo confesses to having dreamt of the witches before Macbeth who, however, clearly denies that he had any thoughts throughout the play. Banquo has a refined taste and poctic appreciation of nature’s calm and beauty which he expresses when he stands for a moment admiring.

But all the same Banquo exposes himself to the wickedness of Macbeth whose villainy he more than half suspects but does nothing to face it. In this he is contrasted to Macduff who is quick to expose. Macbeth’s villainy and organise opposition to it. Banquo keeps his knowledge to himself, never, suspecting the depth of his courage in arms treachery. His tragedy therefore arises out of his error of judgment. He is too good to survive the wickedness and which surrounds him. We are shocked at his murder and pity his unwanted fate.