Banquo is used to represent the growing paranoia and corruption of Macbeth. Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth as he thinks that Macbeth did not inherit the throne fairly and is the first character in this play to suggest this but he does so to himself: “Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou play’dst most foully for’t”. Banquo feels as if Macbeth has cheated his way to the crown. He tries to flatter Macbeth and pledges his allegiance to him when Macbeth requests his presence at supper time: “Let your Highness Command upon me, to witch my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit”. He tries to seem loyal and trustworthy to Macbeth and doesn’t want any trouble. Macbeth on the other hand has grown very suspicious about Banquo because he thinks Banquo knows that he didn’t take the throne fairly and does not approve of the prophecy that was given to him. Macbeth fears Banquo is an obstacle in his way that must be removed: “Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in is royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared”. Macbeth feels very threatened by Banquo and starts a conspiracy to kill him.
Shakespeare depicts Banquo as an innocent victim that Macbeth has unjustly killed. Banquo is a man with morals just like how Macbeth used to be before he was tainted by the witches prophecy. Banquo was the same man he was before in the play when Macbeth had him killed. Macbeth had become a more corrupt and dark version of his earlier self. Macbeth himself did not kill Banquo personally but hired murderers to end his life: “Know Banquo was your enemy”. Macbeth wants to get rid of Banquo once and for all and when he does, he killed the figure that represented the loyal and honest man that Macbeth used to be. By killing Banquo, Macbeth destroys the last surviving scrap of goodness he had in him. The death of Banquo has made Macbeth worse than he was before. He is on his way to becoming a tyrant.
After Banquo’s death, Macbeth is having a feast with his nobles and knights where he proclaims that he wishes Banquo were present and that he was safe, even though he knows Banquo is already dead. When asked to sit down he sees the ghost of Banquo sitting in his place. “The Ghost of Banquo enters and sits in Macbeth’s seat”. Macbeth is shocked and stunned by this and makes a fool of himself in front of his nobles because he is the only one who can actually see the ghost. Lady Macbeth has to try and divert attention from Macbeth: “Sit worthy friends. My Lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth. Pray you keep a seat, The fit is momentary, upon a thought He will again be well”. Banquo’s ghost makes Macbeth seem crazy and delirious in front of his men. He is seen as week and scared in front of this ghost. In Roman Polanski’s film adaptation of this play, the ghost is seen pacing towards Macbeth slowly and Macbeth is walking backwards like a coward away from this ghost.
Banquo plays an important role for the first half of this play. Shakespeare has used him to contrast and emphasise the conversion of Macbeth from loyal to treacherous. He is a character with whom the character of Macbeth from various parts of the play can be compared with. Banquo is a neutral and innocent character whom Shakespeare has to kill Banquo off in order to show the great extent of Macbeth’s corruption and tyranny. Despite being one of Macbeth’s closest allies, his death is not even regretted by Macbeth. Before and after killing Duncan, Macbeth was having second thoughts on whether he should do the deed or if he shouldn’t have done it. Macbeth not having any mixed feelings for Banquo’s death shows too what limits of human nature Macbeth had reached. Banquo was there to show the audience how once the character of Macbeth was and when Macbeth killed him, Macbeth was a totally different man then the one he was before.
