William Shakespeare play Macbeth is a tragedy. Macbeth=s ambition and greed for power is his eventual undoing. Macbeth being motivated by his dominating wife will stop at nothing for power. In William Shakespeare=s play Macbeth strong character contrasts develop within the play between Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff and Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth and Banquo, are the same in some ways, but different in many others. Banquo possessing some of the same character traits as Macbeth, yet he clearly uses them for different purposes. Both Macbeth and Banquo are ambitious, yet their ambition sets them on different paths. Macbeth=s ambition brings him down a path of brutality, murder and betrayal. Banquo=s ambition is not as pressing brutal, or as selfish as Macbeth=s. As soon as Macbeth is greeted as the thane Of Cawdor his ambition is instantly compelling him to murder Duncan.
I am thane of Cawdor: If good why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image does unfix my hair...
My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical.
Banquo is content to let fate play out. He has been promised a line of kings and he will not temp fate.
Macbeth and Banquo are greeted by three witches on their journey. The three witches greet Macbeth as the Athan of Glamis@, Athane of Cawdor@ Ahail Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter.@ Banquo being a more patient man states
My noble partner you greet with present grace, and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope,... to me you speak not:
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear your favors nor your hate.
Macbeth welcomes this news, and demands to know more.
"Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more." (Act 1,Sc 3,70) Banquo can see that no good will come of the news that the witches bring.
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
To betray's in deepest consequence.
Macbeth fears Banquo...