Banquo: The Tragic Hero Of Shakespeare's Macbeth

Macbeth is a tragic story about how ambition and power in the wrong hands will only lead to chaos. Macbeth is the main character of the story, being the tragic hero and having his unchecked ambition slowly drag him down. His best friend Banquo is also an important but more minor character in the story, leading Macbeth into his sprawl of madness. Then Macduff, being the one to slay Macbeth and being the ending to Macbeth's horrid reign. Banquo and Macduff are two characters who have a stronghold on the story of Macbeth, leading Macbeth to his downfall and his fall into madness. Banquo is one of the only other characters who knows of Macbeth’s prophecy to become king. Banquo is with Macbeth during his first encounter with the witches, where he is told, “that shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare 1.3.53). This scene is one of the most pivotal in what leads to Macbeth’s choices later in the book. Macbeth knows Banquo heard his prophecy which led to Macbeth realizing that he could be a threat to his throne and having him murdered. This simple moment where Banquo hears his prophecy is the one thing that collapsed everything and led to

During Macbeth's dinner when becoming king, the ghost of Banquo takes his place at the table and only Macbeth can see him blurting out, “Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that which might appall the devil.” (Shakespeare 3.4.71-72). Banquo’s ghost completely ruins the mental state of Macbeth. He is continuously plagued by his choice to kill Banquo throughout the entire story. Banquo’s ghost follows Macbeth throughout everything, this ruins Macbeth to the point of his ravenous attitude later in the book. Every choice he makes to kill after his murder of Banquo is all caused because of this sequence with the Ghost of Banquo. This small moment where Macbeth is haunted by his choices is once again a way this minor character impacted the story