Comparison Between Macbeth And Banquo

While both Macbeth and Banquo fought valiantly together during the war to ensure a victory for Scotland, Banquo remains a loyal supporter of King Duncan during the play, while Macbeth turns on the king and anyone that he perceives as an enemy, due to his ambitious desire to become Scotland’s ruler. This will lead to his plans to murder Duncan and eventually Banquo, to ensure his place on the throne. For Macbeth, his ambition to become king intensifies when the three witches declare “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (I.3.50), knowing of his ambition and desires. To Macbeth, the witches revealed his destiny, and so his newly founded quest to achieve this destiny leads to him planning to kill Duncan so that he may take the throne for himself. However, the three witches also reveal to Banquo that a line of kings will come from his family, describing to him that “thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (I.3.67). To Banquo, his family and his friends and allies mean everything to him, and he acts in their best interest. However, because his family is included in the witches’ prophecy of the future rulers, Macbeth considers him an immediate enemy because his children are a threat to his future title as King of Scotland. While Banquo focuses on his family, Macbeth does not have any children with his wife. Instead, he and Lady Macbeth focus solely on themselves and their ambitions, including a desire to achieve the kingship. While Banquo also shows surprise at