Banquo

Banquo is a fictional nobleman in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. He is Thane of Lochaber and a general in the Scottish army, serving under King Duncan. Banquo is Macbeth's ally and friend, noted for his prudence and integrity, and is generally portrayed as loyal to Scotland rather than driven by personal ambition.

At the outset, the Weird Sisters prophesy to Macbeth and Banquo: Macbeth will become king, but Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne. The witches also say that Banquo will be less than Macbeth, yet greater, and that he will not be king but will father a line of kings. After Duncan's murder, Macbeth ascends to the throne, and Banquo becomes a threat in the eyes of the new king. Macbeth arranges Banquo's murder to thwart the prophecy; however Banquo's son Fleance escapes.

Banquo's death serves as a turning point and a contrast to Macbeth's moral decline. His murder heightens Macbeth's paranoia and guilt, and his ghost haunts Macbeth at the banquet, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality and the consequences of regicide. Banquo is often interpreted as the moral foil to Macbeth, embodying loyalty and legitimate rule.

In adaptations, Banquo's character is portrayed with varying emphasis—from a stoic loyalist to a spectral presence—that underscores themes of fate, power, and legitimacy in the play. Banquo's legacy, through Fleance, is invoked as a renewed line of kings in the witches' prophecy, linking his memory to the stability of Scotland in the narrative world.