Banquos Purpose in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- essays research pap

Banquo's purpose in the play is the quintessential foil of Macbeth, both in acting, as well as in meaning. Shakespeare utilizes Banquo in order to create opposite moods to what is the drive of the play, which is Macbeth and his wife plotting, scheming, and murdering, by offering great solid blocks of integrity, passion, and goodness, that slightly descend into questioning. In contrast to Macbeth's ambitious state, his transformation into an immoral form of such a state, and his acting on such, Shakespeare creates Banquo in order to give the reader a feeling for contrasting points in order to augment, and practically create, the play. When confronted by the Weà ¯rd Sisters for the first time, both Macbeth and Banquo are given prophesies, however, the wiser Banquo is able to qualm his curiosity. Banquo attempts to share his knowledge with Macbeth by explaining ?to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths to betray?s in deepest consequence (I.iii). Banquo immediately questions the prophecies and their potential, wisely tempering his ambition without further ...