Macbeth: a Comparison and Contrast of Characters - Research Paper Example

? Macbeth; a Comparison and Contrast of Characters al affiliation Introduction: Macbeth or The Tragedy of the Macbeth is a famous play by William Shakespeare. The story of this play revolves around different key elements such as friendship, love, power, authority, kingdom and brutality. The play revolves around the tragic journey of Macbeth as a King. This play explains how he kills his King and his best friend to fulfill his ambitions, his prophecy and the fortune as he was told by the witches. However, Macbeth met the witches along with Banquo; witches told the glorious future to both of them. Banquo ignored the fortune but Macbeth strictly followed what he was being told by the witches (Roland Mushat). It was the beginning of tragic journey. The Similarity and Dissimilarity among the Characters: Macbeth, Macduff and Banquo: Macbeth, Macduff and Banquo are the important characters in this drama. Sometimes, these three characters are somewhat alike and sometimes they differ from each other due to various reasons. Macbeth is courageous and noble. He is the bravest soldier among his friends. Macbeth holds the title of Thane of Glamis. On the other hand, Macduff is the honorable Thane of a City. Macduff is a noble Scottish courageous soldier who is known for his sincerity and loyalty. Banquo is somewhat very much like Macbeth. He is ambitious, courageous and a noble soul in all his manners. He holds the title of general because of his bravery. Macduff and Banquo have shown their high regard, respect and loyalty to the King of Duncan. After the King of Duncan was murdered brutally, both of them tried hard to find and punish the murderer of their King. Macbeth is ambitious and enjoys a higher status and rank as compared to Macduff and Banquo. He has a lust for power and authority. Macbeth is opposite to Macduff and Banquo in nature, character and qualities. He is dishonest, full of greed and holds a deceiving nature. Macbeth’s goal was to gain the accession of the throne. He was loyal to King Duncan but eventually he killed the King to fulfill his dream of becoming the King of Scotland. Before murdering the King of Duncan, Macbeth had met the three witches along with Banquo who told them about their awaiting future. Before his plans of killing the King of Duncan, Macbeth thought “If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me, without my stir.”(p.336) Although, he was the next in the kin to be the King of Scotland but he was impatient; he didn’t want his fate to come in between his long awaited dream and aim of becoming the next King. On the other hand, unlike Macbeth; both Macduff and Banquo showed high respect and regard to the Late King of Duncan. However, even after the death of their King; both of them were in quest to find out the answers about their King’s secret murder and the hands after his brutal death. After becoming the King, Macbeth has started treating his people more unfairly. He is trying his level best to hide his guilt from his friends. Macbeth sees visions that haunt him in his dreams; he hears the unknown voices saying him “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (p.352) Somehow, Banquo gets to know that Macbeth is the real face behind the King’s murder. Macbeth in order to cover his crime kills his friend, Banquo. Macbeth is neither to his Kingdom nor is he faithful to his friends. He worships authority, power, and money and in the entire world, he is faithful to his wife. With the passage of time, Banquo’s ghost has started haunting him which made Macbeth more suspicious and guilty in the eyes of his people. As compared to Macbeth; Macduff has shown immense loyalty and devotion to his King. Macduff is a brave soldier. He is happy in his life with his children and cherishes every moment of his life with his children. Unlike Macbeth, Macduff is highly a trust worthy man without any lust or greed for either power or money. He is a noble man who doesn’t aim high. Macduff has his own doubts and suspicions after the brutal murder of his King of Duncan. He is the only man who has shown enough courage to raise his voice against Macbeth. As a result, he faces stern opposition from Macbeth. His wife and son are brutally murdered by Macbeth. Banquo is also loyal to his King and is a brave general in his King’s army. He is a noble man who holds high stature in the eyes of his King. He is little greedy but not as much as Macbeth is. Banquo loved his children and cherished his moments being with them. Banquo and Macbeth enjoyed a close friendly relationship. When he met the three witches along with Macbeth, they told him that Banquo is “lesser than Macbeth, and greater,” and “not so happy, yet much happier”, the witches also told him that later in life his children will rule over the throne. This made him felt “That, trusted home, might yet enkindle you unto the crown, besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.”(P.335) and this made him think that whatever the witches have explained to him might not be true. Ever since, Banquo found out that Macbeth is the real killer behind the King’s murder; he became a living threat to the reputation of Macbeth. He feared that Banquo would tell the people about the truth so Macbeth plans on murdering him. However, Macbeth was much relieved after murdering Banquo but he didn’t know that one of his sons has escaped safely. Key Similarities and Difference Among them: It is not difficult to analyze that all of these three characters have the similarities that helped them to become friends before the death of the King and to share their responsibilities with the help of each other. Three of them were good friends until Macbeth gains power, authority and money which made him lustful and selfish. The key difference between the three of them varied on the basis of their personal commitments and priorities. Macbeth was greedy and deceitful. He wanted to gain the control over reign. His ambition was to have authority and money by hook or by crook. On the other hand, Macduff and Banquo cherished being fathers and having children. Both of them showed high devotion and loyalty to their families and to the King. Macbeth, Macduff and Banquo: Villain or Hero? In this play, Macbeth has played the role of a villain that is selfish, mean and greedy. To fulfill his means he can murder anyone. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is represented as an individual who is interested and devoted in his work. But later he becomes evil, selfish and kills people. His heart knows no mercy for anyone. His wife has played an important role in transforming him from good to evil. It was because of Lady Macbeth that Macbeth’ heart was turned into a real stone, cold and merciless (Stephanie Chamberlain). However, in the play Macduff and Banquo have been shown as the most innocent characters. Macduff is much more simple and straight as compare to Banquo. He respects every one equally. He had no lust or greed for anything. On the other hand, Banquo paid the same respect and devotion to his King and other people but he was greedy and little mean at the same time. He could have been another villain in the play but he was pushed to pick the right direction by his friend Macduff. Unlike Macbeth, he was sincere with his friends. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Literary Cavalcade 54.7 (2002): 21. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. Chamberlain, Stephanie. "Fantasizing Infanticide: Lady Macbeth And The Murdering Mother In Early Modern England." College Literature 32.3 (2005): 72-91. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. Frye, Roland Mushat. "Launching the Tragedy of Macbeth: Temptation, Deliberation, and Consent in Act I." The Huntington Library Quarterly. (1987) 50.3 pp. 249–261 Read More