Stephanie+and+Amber-+Banquo

If there was one person we had to compare Banquo to in Shakespeare's //Macbeth//, we would compare him to Julius Cesar. A high positioning man, too trusting of everyone. Both having a simple story, and ultimately a tragic ending.

[|Banquo] is the good trusted friend of Macbeth, a noble man who was told, like Macbeth, tempting things about his future, that he would father kings. Although unlike Macbeth, he chooses not to go about it in a devious way, and decides that if it's meant to happen then it will. Banquo, with his pure ways reminds Macbeth of what he lost. His character is an important one for the plot, he is the exact opposite of Macbeth, and in the end, he is betrayed and killed. Banquo warns Macbeth about believing the witches words, in Act 1; Scene 3 Banquo said,

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray's In deepest consequence (135-138). Eventually Banquo suspects that Macbeth has something to do with Duncan's murder, yet to protect his friend, even as the lead investigator, he does not tell anyone his suspicion. Either his courage or foolishness got him betrayed and killed in the end. But we also have to think that if Banquo himself knew that this would happen, would he have tried to kill Macbeth to ensure his prophecy came true also? Banquo did say "Merciful powers, Restrain in me the curced thoughts that nature gives way to in repose" (2.1.9-11). We don't know exactly how pure his thoughs are, only how he seems. If he was obviously thinking these thoughts then it's open to interpretation that he planned on killing Macbeth after Macbeth killed the king, so both prophecies could come true.

Julius [|Caesar] came in control of a strong army, too strong for the senate to stop. He conquered many countries, getting more land for Rome. Caesar was noted as one of the most successful rulers back then. He worked hard for his position, not betraying anyone. He did go against Romes orders, but he did not go about getting his power in a violent way. After some years of conquering countries, he returned to Rome, and assumed absolute power as a dictator. To keep peace though, he let the senate keep their jobs. They were the people who made all the major decisions for Rome. Caesar could have taken away all their wealth and power, but he did not. He did receive total power, but he didn't use it in a malicious way that would change life for everyone in Rome. Still the people he let stay in power, the people he felt to be loyal friends to him, betrayed him and stabbed him 23 times.

Both Caesar and Banquo were betrayed by people they thought they could trust. And the betrayal hurt more since in both cases, their best friend was the one to plot against them and kill them, which is worse than any physical wound. Not only that, but they were both murdered because of their powerful position and out of jealousy. Also, their characters and motives are open to interpretation. Julius Caesar could have just been a power hungry dictator only caring about securing his position and running Rome into the ground. Banquo could have been plotting in secret to kill Macbeth after the king was already dead, since it's normal for humans to be tempted by power from the evil tools of the devil. Either way they both appear to be the people in power who are betrayed and killed, and in the end their suffering is atoned for.