Banquo And Macbeth Comparison Essay

From the beginning of the story, as two essential soldiers in the Scotland army, Macbeth and Banquo both illustrate their characteristics as loyal, brave, and devoted. However, Macbeth’s ambition and obsession with kingship, which is predicted by the witches, lead their relationship from trustful to infinitely doubtful, and finally, to a hostile state that inflicts blood and death. In addition to Macbeth’s own desire, his wife’s incisive agitation also plays a pivotal role on the shift of their relationship.

At first, Macbeth and Banquo see each other as close friends. Both being the critical and faithful warriors in the army who have rendered meritorious service to the victory of the battle, like cannons loaded with double ammunition, “so they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe”(1.2) At this point, Macbeth’s loyalty toward the king and his dedication to the victory make him honorable, so everyone, including Banquo, treats him as a respectful figure. Then, the appearance of the three witches

After given the title of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth starts believing the prophecies made by the witches and “yield[s] to that suggestion [of killing the king] with horrid image.”(1.3) In addition to that, when Macbeth vacillates if he should “proceed no further in this business” because King Duncan “hath honored him of late,”(1.7) Lady Macbeth’s impact begins to show up; her agitation and goad consolidate Macbeth’s selfishness and desire of kingship that needs to be frantically achieved. Therefore, Macbeth murders King Duncan, which directly raises Banquo’s suspicion that he “played’st most foully for ’t.”(3.1) Banquo’s “wisdom that doth guide his valor to act in safety” makes Macbeth afraid of him and his son. Infinite suspicions between them suggest an obvious shift of their