Essay Writing on Shakespeare: Banquo Serves as a Foil to Macbeth Essay

Macbeth was written by Shakespeare between 1603 and 1606, during James Is reign. It is considered one and only(a) of his darkest and some powerful tragedies. The story begins as one of a loyal and worthy hero of Scotland. However, Macbeths grammatical case changes gradually during the play. A powerful ambition for power causes him to make sinister decisions that bring him only despair, wrong-doing and madness. One of these decisions is to kill his friend Banquo because the witches that appeared at the tooth root of the story said in their prophesy special K shalt get kings, tough thou be none (I, iii, line 67).They mean to say that even though Banquo will not be a king himself, he will be the father of future tense kings. By taking this into account, I am going to analyse how Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth in terms of honour. Foil, in literature, is a portion that is compared or contrasted to a second character so as to highlight the characteristics of the other. I consi der honour in terms of loyalty, allegiance to moral principles and the ability of crafty and doing what is morally right. I am going to explore this hypothesis by taking account of the beginning of the play up to Banquos death, in Act III, scene iii.Macbeth is the epitome of the Prince described by Maquiavelli who takes it for apt(p) that man is incapable of good action, since he is morally evil. Maquiavelli stated that all men are rugged and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it (Spencer, 1961, p.117). The Renaissance is characterised by a basic conflict between mans dignity and his misery.Each one of the interrelated orders that rank up the frame of the Elizabethans stylus of thinking is being gradually destroyed primarily by three philosophers of that time (Maquiavelli was one of them) who has questioned the cosmological, natural and political orders. Macbeth eagerly accepts the witches prophecy, that he will live on king, as t rue, gives in to his evil side and does what he thinks is required to fulfil the prophesy, no matter the risks. That is wherefore he decides to kill the king, Dun sens, who represents a great danger to his ambitions.Banquo, however, represents the opposite to Macbeth because he questionsthe prophecies and the intentions of these evil creatures. He says And oftentimes, to get ahead us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to sell s in deepest consequence. (I, iii, lines 123-125). He argues that evil only offers gifts that lead to destruction, that the witches win people with what is unimportant, though true, in order to betray them in most important things.Banquo hears the prophecy involving him still he does not attempt to influence his fate, plain chooses to let life take its course and let his future develop by itself. The fact that Banquo does not react from greed shows that he is entirely good, resists the temptations of evil and remains loyal to his good values and dreadful character.Just before Duncans murder, Macbeth meets Banquo and they agree to talk about the witches prophesy when they have time. Banquos honourable treats increases Macbeths capacity of treason. So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised, and allegiance clear, I shall be counselled (II, i, lines 25-29). This quotation suggests that, as long as he does not lose honour in trying to make it greater, always keeps his heart bump from sin and his faithfulness to one man only, the king, he will listen to Macbeths advice. Banquos grandness of character highlights Macbeths evilness.After Macbeth became king, he realizes that, in fact, his friend is a danger to him because of his honourable character and also because the witches have seen he will be father of future kings. By saying our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which be feared i is much he dares and he hath learning that doth guide his valour to act in safety. (III, i, lines 48-52), Macbeth reveals that he fears everything that he does not have but Banquo real does his natural nobility, his bravery and his wisdom. Macbeth feels that his position in the throne will be safe if Banquo is dead, so he hires two murderers to kill his friend and his son, Fleance. They partially succeed, Banquo dies but his son manages to get away safely.As we can see through this analysis, Banquo serves as a foil to Macbethin terms of nobility. Banquo and Macbeth are opposite characters, one has honourable values that he maintains during the play and does not give in to personal desires, and the other is lento being tempted by his evil side and will get what he wants by any way that is necessary. Macbeth is morally evil and cares nothing about honour and loyalty, he becomes power hungry after comprehend the witches prophesies and does anything to fulfil them, even killing his good king, Duncan, and his br ave friend, Banquo.REFERENCES Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Third edition. England. Longman. 1965. Spencer, Theodore. Shakespeare and the Nature of Man. Second edition. New York. Macmillan. 1961.