Contrast the character of Macbeth with that of Banquo.

Ans.

Banquo like Macduff, is shown as a foil to Macbeth. He, like Macbeth, is a brave general of the Scottish army and a respectable nobleman under Duncan. But, unlike Macbeth Banquo is seen deeply loyal to king and country. This is the main contrast between the two. Banquo remain loyal throughout despite the temptations to which he is frequently exposed. This witches prophesy for him to be the founder of a royal dynasty. But this hope does not tempt him to commit deeds of disloyalty and treason. Banquo is thought to have a ‘kingly nature’ though not a king yet. Macbeth recognizes this when he exclaims: My genius is rebuked under him.

Banquo is morally as well as politically incorruptible, Macbeth tempts him to cooperate with him in his treachery and usurpation. But Banquo politely and firmly tells him that he will do all except anything that compromises his honesty and honour. It is this firmness to loyalty and honesty which cades to his murder at the hands of Macbeth, who is afraid of him as a powerful political rival who knows many things about his unworthy rather criminal past.

It has sometimes been suggested that Banquo has a humdrum, half timid morality in contrast with the daring immorality of Macbeth. This is an uncharitable view of Banquo of moral integrity. To say that Banquo had not the courage to act according to his ambition and that he left Macbeth to do all the crime which had the effect of bringing royalty to him is to misunderstand his reticence and silence. That Banquo knew Macbeth’s crime but that he kept silent over it is, of course, true. But silence in this respect was dictated not by moral cowardice. It was the result of political prudence. Macduff suffered for his challenge against Macbeth’s usurpation. He was too precipitate in his opposition to Macbeth. Banquo is caution. He has nothing definite to prove in evidence of Macbeth’s crime, As such there was no point of creating a situation in which he (Banquo) would be held a traitor. Macbeth had become the king, and Banquo’s loyalty is continued under the new king. The witches had foretold Macbeth’s kingship. Banquo’s did not know the manner in which Macbeth had become the king. His own nature is such as he could not imagine Macbeth would be a murderer of his own king for the defence of whose realm he had fought for with such unmistakable valour and loyalty. Under these circumstances Banquo could not have acted otherwise than as he did.

A yet further damaging estimate of Banquo has been made by some of his critics. It is said that he too, acquiesced in Macbeth’s treason and become his chief adviser in Macbeth’s coronation. All this is beside the point. The point is that Banquo is convinced that he should be loyal to all kings. Macbeth had succeeded Duncan but he does noy know that the former has murdered the latter.

He like the rest believes that Malcolm and Donalbain had suborned the murderers of Duncan-the grooms. We cannot blame him because he was not gifted with prophetic insight which alone would have known later both by Macbeth’s own tyranny and Lady Macbeth’s unconscious confession during her sleep-walking. Hence Banquo was not aware of Macbeth’s crime and so there is no point in saying that he ought to have been aware of it.

Again, Banquo admitted that he was also visited by the witches in his dreams. According to Bradley, this would reflect that Banquo had yielded to “evil”. But this is stretching the point too far in accusing Banquo. One the other hand, this confession on the part is intended to show the contrast between him and Macbeth who openly tells a lie in saying that he never thinks of them’ (the witches). Banquo is honest, direct straightforward. He is not afraid of saying because he is innocent that he saw and dreamed of the witches. The witches might visit him but he does not yield to them. He fights against the temptation and remains unaffected by any attraction. What Banquo says is nothings, what he does is everything. In this it is that he becomes psychologically contrasted with Macbeth who says many fine things but does many crimes. All the same, the one is a hypocrite, the other, a plain blunt man.