Like his father, King Duncan, Malcolm values bravery 'this is the sergeant who like a good and handy soldier......fought against my captivity'. Although we do not know much about his proven combat ability, we are almost sure that he could be an outstanding warrior, one day. As a King's son and rightful heir to the throne, he is in the line with the forces of natural order.
Not only does Malcolm value bravery, he values loyalty too. He is shrewd, intelligent and confident about what he has to do. We detect his political intelligence when he manipulates Macduff, testing his loyalty until Macduff declares that he (Malcolm) is not fit to be King at all. When they both receive the news of the massacre of Macduff's family, Malcolm encourages Macduff to allow his grief convert into anger against Macbeth, and in the end, Malcolm wins a loyal comrade in battle.
Lady Macbeth by George Cattermole.
English: Poster of Thos. W. Keene in William Shake...
Macbeth and Banquo with the Witches by Henry Fusel...Like most brave and generous-minded people, Banquo has an honest and trusting nature. He seems to have little suspicion of the dangers hovering around him as he rides out to Macbeth's castle A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,/ And yet I would not sleep; ...'. Later when he suspects that Macbeth killed the King, Banquo does not seem to consider himself, is in any danger, nor does he test Macbeth in any way to find out the truth. He is loyal, honourable and brave but not particularly intelligent; he dies innocent; in spite of his remaining believes for the witches prophecies, a victim of Macbeth's blind ambition.
In spite of Banquo's very busy schedule, he still manages to find time to take his son riding. When attacked by the murderers, his instincts tells him to protect his son by calling to him 'Fly, good Fleance, fly,