Macbeth And Banquo Comparison

In Act 1 Scene 3, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis...Thane of Cawdor...king thereafter.” This witch’s prophecy foreshadows that Macbeth is going to be king. Desperately wanting to be king, this motive drives him to killing his closest friends, King Duncan and Banquo, thus developing the central idea. The prophecy gave Macbeth assurance he’d be king, and it drove his ambition even more. However, he went to far and ended up killing his friend and making himself a murderer. In Act 1 Scene 3,”Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” The first witch’s prophecy foreshadows that Macbeth will become king, making Banquo lesser than Macbeth. Eventually Banquo becomes gets the upper hand because Macbeth loses the support of those who were once close to him. The second witch’s prophecy predicts that Banquo will not be happy due to the death of King Duncan, but would be happy later on since Macbeth will feel remorse for the cause of King Duncan and Banquo’s death. The third witch's prediction states the fact that although Banquo would not be a king himself, this heirs would

This desire forces Macbeth to make decisions that lead him to his own downfall. After meeting the witches Banquo starts to become suspicious and asks if Macbeth has been thinking of them and Macbeth quickly responds "I think not of them." In this statement there is dramatic irony as the audience knows he has been contemplating murder. This demonstrates another situation where his downfall could have been avoided. Another example of a situation where Macbeth could have avoided the situation is when Macbeth saw the dagger floating right before he killed Duncan. This was a representation of how this was the final chance for Macbeth to change his fate. Meaning Macbeth always had the choice to change his fate. Therefore, Macbeth always had the choice to

As In a close reading from, Macbeth, William Shakespeare reveals to the reader, the staggering character development of the Thane of Cawdor and Glamis, and soon to be future King Macbeth. The author illustrates Macbeth as a man known to everyone as “Valour’s Minion” , and an honorable person to becoming a sadistic and cold-blooded king. As we progress in the story we see that Macbeth first taste with Murder starts with him doubting himself , and his ability in killing an innocent soul. As Macbeth’s persona begins to change, the murdering of Banquo becomes so effortless and easy, than that of King Duncan’s was , because Macbeth saw the “light” in Banquo and realized how far Banquo could threaten his kingship. As a result Jealousy and regret filled his mind when he reasoned that Banquo’s Children would inherit the throne and not his own.

Power and prosperity are two things that all people desire. Whether they be wealthy seeking more wealth, or impoverished looking for a way out, many people will do whatever they need in order to achieve their goals. However, the danger behind this, is that if determination or ambition goes along unchecked, then it can result in a pathway of destruction. In William Shakespeare’s, Macbeth, there is a lesson to be learned about how one should go about achieving goals, and then how one should be cognizant of his or her actions along the way.

As the play progresses, the audience sees that Macbeth is losing the little control he thought he had. His paranoia and fear of losing his control cause him to take his fate into his own hands and do whatever necessary to keep these things. He becomes king but remembers that Banquo was told his sons would be kings as well. Macbeth's increased paranoia leads him to think that Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth and that he may try and kill him in order for his son to gain the throne, insert quote. He makes the decision to have Banquo and his son, Fleance, murdered to ensure his own safety. Macbeth is successful in the assassination of Banquo, but Fleance escapes. With Fleance still alive, Banquo's prophecy is still possible and will most likely

Macbeth is effortlessly susceptible to evil where Banquo takes a more cautious approach to almost everything that he encounters and ponders about what may come next. Banquo plays it safe and never is hasty when it comes to making decisions while Macbeth is quick to act and believes everything that he is told; “Shakespeare's Banquo is the antithesis of Macbeth -- his pure, moral character foil. Banquo has no 'vaulting ambition' and thus can easily escape the trap of the Witches' prophesies.” (Mabillard, “Introduction to the Characters in Macbeth”). Banquo stays untainted by the witches prophesy while Macbeth allows and calls upon evil spirits to help him on his malevolent pursuit. Banquo, in act two scene one tells his son, Fleance, to take both his dagger and sword, “Hold, take my sword. There’s husbandry in heaven. / Their candles are all out. Take thee that too,” because Banquo has been having dreams of taking matters into his own hands and claiming the throne for his sons and he was moral enough to resist temptation unlike Macbeth. (2.1.4-5). Banquo, although experiencing the same things as Macbeth and generally possessing the same characteristics of Macbeth has more control and restriction on his mind and actions than Macbeth does. Macbeth, being Banquo’s friend, eventually sees him as a threat to his mission and kills him off.

Macbeth wrongly convinced two men that Banquo was responsible for all of Scotland’s poverty. Macbeth is seen to be a very greedy man, and through these actions, he shows that he will go to any length to maintain his power as a king. “Know that it was he, in the times past, which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self. This I made good to you in our last conference,” (III, I, 79-83) in the lines Macbeth is talking to the two murderers making it seem like Banquo was the heart and root of all the problems they had. Macbeth not only manipulated the two men but lied, not telling them the real reason he wanted Banquo dead. Macbeth figured that since Banquo was with him when the witches were telling him the prophecies he would soon be able to figure out that Macbeth took the chance to kill Duncan and become king. “Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear thou play'dst most foully for't”(III, I, 1-3) In this quote Banquo goes to explain that he has it all, and that Macbeth had cheated to get into the position he was in. As Banquo says “Thou played’st most foully for’t” Macebth started to plot his plan so that no one else can know about the real way he became king. Macbeths worry that Banquo’s blood line would rein one day, based on the prophecies told by the witches, made Macbeth act further on his plan to

Banquo is a brave, noble and loyal general, who fights beside his fellow general, Macbeth, to protect his King, Duncan, and his people. He is a man who keeps his promise and does not betray trust given to him. His close relationship with Macbeth and King Duncan and his encounter with the three witches prove to be important in the course of the play and gives us insight on how he is important dead as he is alive.

The difficulty humans experience when trying to resist resorting to violence is remarkable. From noble disputes to trivia night bar fights, violence is an alluring tool. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the titular Macbeth is unable to resist the seductive nature of darker impulses. Spurred on by a trio of witches and his wife, Macbeth murders his liege, King Duncan, and becomes King of Scotland. He rules as a tyrant and his paranoia and bloodlust lead him further into evil. Eventually, the lords of Scotland rise up against him and he is deposed by the deceased king’s son, Malcolm. Macbeth refuses to yield and is killed in battle. The blame for Macbeth’s demise rests entirely on his own shoulders,

How can society advance peace when one tyrant wants to use pure evil as persuasion? In the play Macbeth (written by Shakespeare) and the acts of Osama Bin Laden, one statement that is heard from everyone is that “one must fall, for others to progress”. Macbeth and Osama Bin Laden both rose to power through intimidation and pure violence. Both political leaders had no limits to how far they’d use violence in order to obtain a certain status or objective. In this analysis, the reader will able to see how history repeats itself through the actions that take place before/during their rise to power, the influence they had on other people, and most of all, how they’re downfall saved society. Many people say that a person’s past is what defines their

The once powerful Lady Macbeth that takes advantage of her husband’s free will lost authority over his mental state. When Macbeth decides in killing Banquo he decides on not telling his wife, Lady Macbeth, who gives him advice and support. Lady Macbeth tells him what to do, but this time, he arranges the plan with no guidance from her. Such as when Macbeth tells his wife to not worry because soon she will praise his achievement (Shakespeare 3.2 45-46). When Macbeth suggests killing Banquo to quicken the witches’ prophecies, he decides to not include Lady Macbeth in the plan yet she urges him to. He hopes that she is proud of his courage and individuality since this

Macbeth feels his destiny is to murder King Duncan and become the King of Scotland, which is why Macbeth promises Lady Macbeth achieve his destiny. Therefore, Macbeth’s ambition for power leads to the death of King Duncan. Moreover, Macbeth’s ambition for power triggers the massacre the ones who impede him from his pathway to the Scottish Throne. First, Macbeth has murderers kill Banquo to avoid obstructions in his plan to become the King of Scotland. Macbeth tells the three murderers hired: “…And though I could / With barefaced power sweep him from my sight / And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, / For certain friends that are both his and mine, / Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall / Who I myself struck down…always thought / That I require a clearness…” (III. i. 121-126, 137-138). Macbeth tells the murderers that since him and Banquo have the same friends Macbeth cannot use his powers to execute Banquo, because people will overthrow Macbeth if they find out Macbeth to be the

Moreover, it is shown that Macbeth is not just a character that the witches try to control, but that he has enough choice to create his own path in life. Macbeth lets the witches’ prediction, that he “...shalt be king hereafter” (Shakespeare I.iii.53), influence the decisions he makes. Macbeth blindly listens to the witches’ prophecy without any proof, so he “... is not only a tyrant, but also his unselfconscious superstition causes him to be an incompetent one” (McGrail 32). Macbeth chooses to believe in the witches rather than dismissing their words like Banquo does. Therefore, it is this choice that leads him to his doomed fate. To continue, although Macbeth believes in the prophecies this does not mean he has to listen to them or even act on them. However, “The complete self-confidence inspired in him by the witches causes him to act in contempt of popular opinion” (McGrail 32). In particular, the witches’ predictions have some influence on Macbeth’s thoughts and plans, but they do not suggest him to murder the king. The witches also do not suggest him to order the murderers to kill Banquo, Fleance, and Macduff’s family. He makes this decision without being manipulated or influenced to do so at all. So, Macbeth allows his choice to believe in the witches influence the decisions and actions he makes. Therefore, it is his choice to act accordingly to the witches’ prophecies that lead him to his doomed

As human beings, there are occasions where we choose between right or wrong. Certainly, It can materialize into effect on how other people judge you based on their glimpse of moral senses. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare displayed a dark and erroneous side of humankind. The three preeminent characters accordingly demonstrate identical attributes of greediness. For instance, Banquo who appears to be noble fails to resist his desires, and in relation to Lady Macbeth, she overrules herself with greed to a fate of anguish, and thus, Macbeth becomes engulfed with greed that leads to horrendous deeds. In general, Shakespeare emphasizes that ambition for power and wealth can invalidate morality in human nature.

In the play Macbeth, the story and characters are largely affected by the concept of self-fulfilling prophecies. One way the story is changed through this is when a person hears of his fate, and choosing not to do anything about it. Out of all the people, this only happens with Banquo. He is told that his descendents will become Kings, and then moves on, not twisting his actions in any way to force the events to come true. While it isn’t quite as expected, it provides an interesting comparison against an individual who does try to fulfill the prediction. In contrast, hearing the revelation and trying to fulfill it is the more common reaction and affects the story of Macbeth the most. Lady Macbeth is a great example of this, as she latches on