Sample: Banquo as Foil

(Plot1)

Alice Wong, student in English L315, Spring 95

Banquo has a very similar background to Macbeth's and is initially faced with the same dilemma--whether or not to act on his private desires and thoughts. The similarities of these men's lives provide a good platform to discuss their behaviors. The differences between their choices of how to act illuminate the extremeness of Macbeth's actions to the norm of a Scottish warrior.

When the two warriors meet the three Weird sisters, they both receive prophecies of a promising future. Macbeth, who is already Thane of Glamis, is to be Thane of Cawdor and then King. Banquo is promised a line of kings from his family. They are somewhat skeptical at the witches' prophecies, thinking they might have been hallucinations caused by eating an "insane root/That takes the reason prisoner" (1.3.87-88). However, one of Macbeth's prophecies immediately becomes true: He becomes Thane of Cawdor. This acts as a verification of the Weird sisters' soothsaying powers. Banquo ponders for a bit on their words while Macbeth rushes back to his wife and begins to imagine how the other prophecies might come true. In this way, Banquo chooses a path guided by reasoning, while Macbeth's guiding force seems to be his own greed and excitement. Also, while Lady Macbeth plays an integral role in swaying Macbeth's rationale, Banquo does not have a similar counterpart.

This difference perhaps demonstrates the impact two people conspiring together can have compared to one person thinking about conspiring. While the latter is imagining, the former is stimulating the other's desires for their common goal/

Banquo is also far less devious than Macbeth. In Act 2, scene1, Banquo openly admits to Macbeth he had dreamed and thought about the Weird sisters' prophecies. Macbeth, already in the midst of preparations for Duncan's murder, denies thinking about them at all,

Banquo: All's well

I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters.

To you they have showed some truth.

Macbeth: I think not of them

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

We would spend it in some words upon that business,

If you would grant me the time. (2.1.24-32)

Banquo is just as curious as the next man about good prphecies coming true, but he does not go beyond the point of dreaming and pondering. The overall difference in Banquo and Macbeth is that Banquo remains an honorable and loyal nobleman, although intrigued by the thought of his sons becoming kings. Whether the prophecies will become true or not for him, he takes no aggressive actions to aid the prophecy.

Macbeth's weak explanation for killing the guards would have garnered deep suspicion and a beginning look of distrust from Banquo. Macbeth had ceased performing as a loyal warrior should. Instead, he is concerned with his own ambitions solely and is willing to kill others, his closest allies, to guarantee his throne's security,

For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered,

Put rancors in the vessel of my peace

Only for them, and mine eternal jewel

Given to the common enemy of man

To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings.

Rather than so , come fate into the list,

And champion me to th' utterance. (3.1.71-77)