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Similarities Between Macbeth And Banquo

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During the early scenes of Macbeth, a group of witches give prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo. These prophecies lay the groundwork for the rest of the play. It is by the reactions of these prophecies that set up the tragic events that follow. The reactions also help the reader notice the true ambitions of Macbeth and what his willingness to do whatever must be done to make the prophecies come true. On the other hand, Banquo’s reaction shows that he more concerned with the witch’s motives on giving them such great prophecies. These two character’s reactions when told the prophecies are totally different and based on their reactions the reader can tell the differences in character between Macbeth and Banquo. When Macbeth and Banquo are on their …show more content…

After the witches give Macbeth his prophecies, he asks Macbeth if the witches are just figments of their imagination. Banquo believes they are suffering from battle fatigue and questions the witch’s existence. Banquo than asked if they have anything they can say about him. He notices how Macbeth’s prophecies where so great that he wonders if they have any great news for him also. The witches then tell Banquo that he will be the father of kings, but he himself will never be king. Banquo, unlike Macbeth, is excited about his prophecies. Banquo’s reactions to the prophecies show that he does not worry as much as Macbeth does. Macbeth knows that the only way his prophecies will come true is if he commits horrible crimes because he has already thought about committing these crimes. Banquo, on the other hand, is not worrying as much as Macbeth because is not thinking of the bad he must do for his prophecies to come true. This shows that Banquo is truly a noble warrior who remains loyal to his king and country. This is different from Macbeth because he will now have to commit crimes against the crown to become king, something that Banquo would never

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793 Words | 4 Pages

In the first meeting with the witches; where Macbeth is prophesied to become the Thane of Cawdor and finally king. Banquo, whom had also been prophesized to become the father of many kings, comes to a realisation that “the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray in deepest consequence”. By saying this, Banquo believes that the witches will earn Banquo and Macbeth’s trust by telling them truth about little things, but if the witches decide to betray the two men, it may leave a devastating effect. Nevertheless, in contrast to Banquo’s skepticism regarding the witches, Macbeth desires to know more, “stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more”, and the idea of becoming king now occurs to him as a possibility. This suggests that Macbeth already has a deep desire for power and status; although, at this point, Macbeth is “too full o’th’milk of human kindness”, to commit himself to this immoral act of murdering the innocent

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959 Words | 4 Pages

In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare the key relationship between Macbeth and Banquo is explored. By exploring the relationship it helped me understand these characters better. Specifically, Shakespeare wrote about friendship, loss of trust and betrayal which further helped me understand the characters. At the start of the play, Macbeth and Banquo’s relationship is genuine and friend-like. When introduced, they both are shown as noblemen and brave soldiers that fought side by side for King Duncan, as shown when he states, ‘Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo.”

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150 Words | 1 Pages

He is more comparable to characters when the play first starts and he isn’t so crazy. Macbeth and Banquo are very similar characters. Both characters really like having power and being in charge. Macbeth and Banquo both get readings from the witches.

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1536 Words | 7 Pages

Furthermore, the stage direction here, of the ‘drum within,’ which signals Macbeth’s arrival, is not just building suspense: it is the reverberation of guilt, a foreshadowing of the events to come, a reflection of Shakespeare’s insurmountable lexical ability. A juxtaposition is constructed between Macbeth and Banquo, inventing them into two dissimilar archetypes of human belief. Banquo is more sceptical, believing that they have “eaten the insane root,” rather than believing the mystic, that the witches are there. He is not so easily convinced by the prophecy as Macbeth is, despite the grand predictions for him. This allows Shakespeare to convey the two branching paths of human nature, offering a choice to the reader, that we can choose our own beliefs.

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516 Words | 3 Pages

Banquo did not express any interest in making his prophecy come true, though it came true anyway. In the text Banquo states “And oftentimes to win us to our harm,/ The instruments of darkness tell us half truths,/ Win us with honest trifles to betray’s/ In deepest consequence” (I.iii.123-126) Banquo from the very beginning mistrusted the witches but what they had told Macbeth intrigued him though he still did not believe them. When Shakespeare had Banquo say “To me you speak not./

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2055 Words | 9 Pages

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.

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459 Words | 2 Pages

MacBeth and Banquo are similar in status and skills. They have both served their king well, and come from good families. The difference is in their reactions and choices. They both heard the prophecy of the witches, which said Macbeth would be king, but Banquo's descendants would be kings. MacBeth is different from Banquo because.

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736 Words | 3 Pages

By Macbeth wanting to take the easy road of not having any competitor's, his moral compass is questioned. By including Banquo in Macbeth, Shakespeare makes it possible for Macbeth’s flaws to be illustrated. It is from these flaws, that one can understand his interaction with those around

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(3.1.9-10). This means that Banquo will not act upon what the witches are telling him. What the witches are telling Macbeth would also never be coming true if he hadn’t acted upon it. As Banquo puts it in the play, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s/ In deepest consequence.”

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771 Words | 4 Pages

The distinction is apparent between Banquo and Macbeth, because unlike Macbeth, Banquo is cautious of what the witches have to say, though Macbeth simply commands to hear more. Furthermore, Banquo neither fears nor begs for the predictions the witches may have, whereas Macbeth’s concern is evident during this encounter, as well as when the witches bring about the apparitions to him. Macbeth acts in relation to the prophecies; killing to fulfill the prophecy, or eliminating threats to his throne. Banquo neither fears nor begs for the predictions the witches have in store for him, displaying his cautious attitude in regards of the deceiving sisters. Banquo’s lack of belief is evident once more as he says to Macbeth, “Were such things here, as we do speak about? /

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527 Words | 3 Pages

In the soliloquy in Act three Scene 1 of Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth talks to himself about the problems of being a king and he is afraid of what might happen to him. Macbeth also talks about how Banquo was his friend and how Banquo is the only person he fears. Macbeth’s predicament in the soliloquy is that he is afraid of losing his crown and that Banquo will get in his way. This is important because Macbeth does not trust anyone anyone because he does not feel safe and is convinced that the wrong thing are actually good. Through the literary devices of metaphor and personification, it will help us demonstrate Macbeth’s predicament.

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1931 Words | 8 Pages

After killing Banquo Macbeth evokes fear from the audience. Yet at a banquet thrown in honor of Macbeth’s new title of King, Macbeth begins hallucinating about the ghost of Banquo haunting him, this not only ruins the evening, but causes the audience to question the mental deterioration of Macbeth. Yes he is to be feared for his actions taken against Banquo, but the audience is left to question if Macbeth’s actions are not still reactions from the prophecies the witches gave him. They played on his ambitious tendencies and clearly manipulated him, which draws pity, although Macbeth is acting on his own, not under the constructs of any direction which causes fear of what he is capable of. In this moment with the apparition of Banquo the audience has to question the confounds of Macbeth’s sanity, it is easy to fear Macbeth because of what he is doing, but circumstances such as these and the encounters with the Weird Sisters make it difficult for the audience to despise Macbeth, instead they take pity on what they view as a delusional mind.

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835 Words | 4 Pages

Even so, both characters’ actions are exceedingly different. Each character make a choice. Macbeth makes a choice to achieve his prophecy by force while Banquo chooses the passive approach.

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653 Words | 3 Pages

Compare and Contrast Macbeth and Banquo Once one elicits a promise of power, the question is what one should do with it. Should one enforce it and see it through, or should one simply let fate run its course? A prophecy presents itself to both Banquo and Macbeth that foretells a rise to power in their futures. When power presents itself to Macbeth, he becomes corrupt.

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525 Words | 3 Pages

Macbeth and Banquo were seen as relatively similar individuals who acted with nobility. At the beginning, they both were loyal military leaders who fought hard for their king and their country. However, after their encounter with the Three Weird Sisters, they began to show their differences through the actions they make in regards to prophecies they were given. Macbeth and Banquo were both heroic, noble and brave leaders who led their armies to victory numerous of times. They were loyal subjects to the king, and they lived their lives continuously fighting for him as well as the country.

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