Preview

Macbeth Compare And Contrast Banquo And Macduff

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
133 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Macbeth Compare And Contrast Banquo And Macduff
He starts off as a great warrior, high in both status and reputation. But he has a deep desire inside his heart. When he is tempted by the prophecies, he is tested for his own inner strength and ability to fight the dark side of himself. Banquo and Macduff have both shown that they are strong and do not yield to temptation, providing a contrast to the weak-willed Macbeth, whose dark side is revealed by the three witches throughout the play. It is this flaw, his over-vaulting ambition, that made him take his first step towards his downfall “ murdering King Duncan.His change of character from the mighty and loyal warrior to the treacherous and savage King, who ultimately, dies, can be revealed through his interactions with the three witches,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Once the exposition is established by the witches’ famous dialogue, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I. i. 10), the reversal moral order is introduced as the theme of the play. This incident precedes the introduction of the diverse belief of both Macbeth and Banquo concerning the witches. Although Macbeth questions the witches’ prophecies in the beginning, he still maintains a flicker of hope that the prophecies are true. Macbeth’s belief in the witches’ predictions reveals to the audience that Macbeth is a credulous character. It only takes favourable prophecies for him to become convinced. During the first encounter between the witches, Macbeth and Banquo, Macbeth displays his anticipation to understand completely the words of the women,…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    After Macbeth has successfully gained the throne, he goes to the witches for another prophecy because he wants his sons to gain the throne instead of Banquo’s. Macbeth found out his prophecy in the form of apparitions which were ‘cooked up’ by the witches in a cauldron. one witch shows him a crowned child which means beware Macduff, the second which shows him a bloody child which means no man born of a woman can harm him, and the third which shows an armed head which means nothing shall overcome Macbeth until the Great Birnam Woods move. Macbeth’s interpretation of these prophecies leave him unworried. “That will never happen. Who can command the forest and make the trees pull their roots out of the earth?” (4.1.98-99). The audience notices…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth vs macduff

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the play of Macbeth, Shakespeare adds similar themes to each of the characters; Macduff and Macbeth are no exception. Even though Macbeth and Macduff may have very similar qualities such as; bravery, hunger of power, and many more, as the play develops, these characters slowly start to change, revealing that both characters are as different as fire and ice. They are each viewed differently from each other and by others. Even though they both murder, they both do it for different very different reasons, Macbeth kills for greed and selfishness whereas Macduff kills Macbeth to avenge his slaughtered family and to protect the country.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Banquo In Macbeth

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages

    B: How is your night going, boy? He was asking how the night was going.…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Banquo In Macbeth Act 2

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages

    1) In the play, Duncan is seen as representing order, and his murder produces chaos. However this was most likely a response to the then current political situation rather than an attempt to represent history as Macbeth was actually an admired and stable king. The then King for whom the play was performed (James I and VI) was believed to be a descendant of Banquo and consequently Banquo is represented as being on the side of good. The murder of Duncan is almost disused given the scene that comes first has many bloody images. In addition, there are certainly an excess of images of blood and mangled bodies that have been in the first act as well.…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How has someone or something been so influential in life that it causes certain decisions or choices to be made? In Shakespeare’s drama, Macbeth is endlessly being influenced by the characters in the play. Towards the beginning, Macbeth and his friend Banquo have just returned from war as hero’s. Suddenly three witches appear giving both of them predictions about what will happen to them and what they will achieve. From then on Macbeth is different, he is willing to do anything no matter how cruel it is to fulfill what the witches have said and take the crown. Although the witches prophesies drive Macbeth to conquering the crown, he is most influenced by Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare drama Macbeth Our Tragic Hero by her ability to name call/embarrass…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth and Macduff

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages

    thoughts” (1:5:40). Lady Macbeths uses the harsh “t” expresses her self loathing toward her self and her weakness. “Nor keep peace between” (1:5:45). There is an eerie “e” sound portrayed in this line.…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth, after hearing the prophecies the three witches gave him, becomes conflicted within himself, ‘If chance shall have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir’. Ultimately, Macbeth chooses ambition over morality, but not without pressure from his wife ‘Are you a man?’ and severe inner turmoil ‘My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical’. To contrast the devious character of Macbeth, Shakespeare included Banquo, a fellow noblemen and Macbeth’s closest friend, to act as Macbeths foil. He immediately chooses morality over ambition without question and forewarns Macbeth of the Weird Sisters and their ability to twist the truth: ‘instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence’. Banquo’s undying allegiance to King Duncan demonstrations the difference between Macbeth and Banquo, and how the upkeep of morals keep us in check. After choosing power, Macbeth’s suspicion of Banquo and his role in the prophecy leads to Banquo’s murder. After killing his friend, Macbeth is plagued with guilt, and hallucinations become recurrent for both Macbeth; ‘our graves must send those we bury back’ and his wife; ‘will these hands ne’er be clean?’ This shows that ambition can lead to immoral acts when overcome by desire.…

    • 615 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth Banquo's Murder

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In this third stage, Macbeth is driven by power and getting more nervous by the second, and vows to kill as much as necessary to keep the throne saftly. After Banquo's kill, Lady Macbeth starts having second thoughts and begins to RECEDE from center stage and Macbeth takes her place as the most COMPELLING character in the play. Macbeth's newly confident ambition and lack of sympathy is shown in his conversation with Lennox about the troublesome night of Banquo's murder. In this conversation, Lennox is upset and talks about Banquo's death and the BAD weather of the previous night, to which Macbeth can say nothing but, yes, " Twas a rough night" (act 2. Sc. 3. Ln. 57) . Because of Macbeths newfound confidence, he fails to notice right away that MacDuff is casting suspician on him. Then later, at the banquet, which ends up being the beginning of his DOWNFALL- Macbeth finds that Banquo has been killed, he sees his ghost sitting at the table, showing that his paranoia has been taken to a new level; hallucinations. At this point, he starts to backtrack and get nervous, admitting that he may have to kill more to keep the throne.Macbeth realizes that he can no longer go back, knowing that he is "in blood, stepped in so far that, (he) should wade no more" (Act 3. Sc. 4 Ln 135-136). Macbeths confidence is boosted once again when the witches tell him that no man born of a woman can harm him.…

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Lady Macbeth Selfish

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages

    To Macbeth, this means he killed Duncan which will cost him his sanity and conscience, and Banquo will become the father to many kings without cost. Macbeth also sees Banquo as a threat to his throne due to his wiseness and values, and for being everything Macbeth is not. Since he will no longer receive benefit and it will all go to Banquo and his children, he plots a murder against Banquo and his children. Banquo’s children flee, but Banquo isn’t so lucky. Macbeth demonstrates his insecurity and weakness by plotting to get rid of anyone who might get in his…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Vs Banquo

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Both Macbeth and Banquo have unique reactions illustrated in their conversation to the news from Ross and Angus. Macbeth, while originally cautious yet interested, begins to believe what the witches foretold after part of their prophecy is fulfilled when the news is brought that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor. Once this occurs, Macbeth gives great value to what the witches said and hopes that greater things await him in the future. Contemplating these great possibilities, he asks Banquo, “Do you not hope your children shall be kings, when those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me promised no less to them?” He asks this considering that Banquo too, was promised much by the witches. However, contrasting the faith Macbeth begins to put in…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth’s new position as king, gives him the power to delegate his needs to other people which he uses to hire murderers to slaughter Banquo. This proves that Banquo’s life means nothing to him anymore now that Banquo’s knows about Macbeth’s involvement in Duncan’s death. Banquo’s statement of “thou hast it now-king, Cawdor, Glamis, as the Weïrd women promised, and I fear thou played’st most foully for ‘t” shows Banquo’s realization of Macbeth’s involvement in Duncan’s murder but by the time he does it is too late for salvation. This worries Macbeth because his lies are catching up to him and they threaten to take his crown. The thought of killing Banquo once a never come to plight now seems as the only solution to an ever growing problem. Banquo’s ending set forth Macbeth’s notion of the crown leading to happiness. This murderous action, even though not directly taken by Macbeth, even more so painted Macbeth in a murderous light that will follow him on his path to…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Essay

    • 636 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Macbeth executes his plan perfectly, and he is now the King of Scotland. Macbeth is now fraught with insecurities, and his ambition is now motivated by it. For example, the third act opens with a soliloquy from Macbeth. He is not satisfied that he is king, for "To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus." (3.1.50–51) Banquo's sons are destined to be Kings, and Macbeth simply cannot accept this. In the end of the soliloquy, Macbeth firmly states that he will defy the witches’ prophecy. Later on, Macbeth also starts to worry about another old friend, Macduff. Macbeth hears from a servant-spy that Macduff is in England, which to Macbeth is a…

    • 636 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macduff and Malcom have fled to England to seek help King Edward, to rid the tyrant Macbeth. Ignorant of the severity of his actions, Macbeth is unable to realize his faults. As a result of Macbeth’s own interpretations, he becomes so obsessed with taking the crown and fulfilling the prophecy that Macbeth will do anything, even if the actions are mortifying. His actions later fill him with unprepared guilt as evidenced with his confrontation with the ghost of Banquo. Upon first sight of the ghost Macbeth is in disbelief as he asks his other diners “which of you has done this?” (3.4.59). As Macbeth has been dismissing his actions to be just something influenced by the supernatural, he is unprepared to face a figure of someone he’s murdered. Banquo’s ghost being a symbol of Macbeth’s guilt shocks Macbeth, but Macbeth is unable to respond as he is finally realizing the consequences of his actions. This is exhibited in Macbeth’s talk to Lady Macbeth, claiming he is “in blood/ stepped in so far that, should I wade no more/ returning were as tedious as go o’er” (3.4.168-170). Finally realizing the severity of his actions, Macbeth is overwhelmed by guilt as he reviews his malevolent…

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare is one of Shakespeare’s most powerful and emotionally intense plays. Shakespeare created several interesting characters, and Macbeth and Macduff are two of those characters. Though Macbeth and Macduff seem very different, they actually have several things in common. Macbeth is very power hungry to where Macduff is as well, but isn’t a heathen about it and puts the people of his sovereign first.…

    • 376 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays