Tanicka Kimble

DiFulvio
3rd block
Compare and contrast Macbeth, Macduff, and Banquo. How are they alike? How are the
different? Is it possible to argue that Macbeth is the plays villain and Macduff or Banquo
its hero, or is the matter more complicated than that?
In this play the characters Macbeth, Macduff, and
Banquo were somewhat alike and somewhat different from each
other, but they all played important roles. Some of the
characters played a villain role and some played a more
heroic role.
Macbeths prophecy was that he was to become king of
Scotland.

Macbeth is friends with Banquo and he has a high

status, rank, and respect for others. Macbeth and Banquo met
the three witches together and they told them both about
their futures. Before Macbeth killed the king he thought If
chance will have me King, why chance may crown me, without
my stir.(p.336) He takes a noble action on his prophecy and
doesnt let fate take its roll. Once Macbeth became king he
let his power control himself, and treats everyone unfair
but his wife. When Macbeth found out that Banquo thought
that the witches had told some things, Macbeth started to
have visions of the daggers floating in the air before him
with the tip of the dagger aiming toward Duncan. He thought
he heard a voice cry Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder
sleep (p.352) Macbeth tried to grasp the imaginary dagger
and failed. After Banquos ghost came to haunt him it

Tanicka Kimble
DiFulvio
3rd block
started to make him suspicious and show that he is the one
that killed him.
Macduff is loyal to the king and the brave soldier. He
is a father who cherishes his children and he is happy with
his life. He was always a trustworthy person he never had
disloyal or greed within himself. He became a noble man but
he does not take any action on his prophecy. Macduff started
to take suspicion into the death of Duncan. He became the
main opposition to Macbeth and as the result of that his
household became slaughtered, and he lost his wife and his
son.
Banquo is loyal to the king and also is a brave soldier
and highly regarded as the kings men. He is another father
that cherished his children, but he was much as a greedy
person. When he met with the three witches they told him
that he is lesser than Macbeth, and greater, and not so
happy, yet much happier, and then she told him that his
children will become kings. Banquo 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 betrays In deepest
consequence.(P.335) and it had him thinking that what the
witches said might not of been so true. He and Macbeth were

Tanicka Kimble
DiFulvio
3rd block
close friends. Macbeth became an untrue friend to Banquo. By
that he had his servants kill Banquo because he was a threat
to him and he thought that he would tell people that he
killed the king and after he got him killed one of Banquos
children escaped.
All of these characters in the play have similarities
because before the king was killed and they all had
responsibilities that they each had to handle. Macbeth,
Macduff, and Banquo were all friends until Macbeth had power
an authority over the kingdom.
The difference between each character revolves around
their own personal loyalty. Macbeth has the devotion to
become king and take power. Macduff had the loyalty of his
family and the king and so did Banquo.
The innocent characters into this play are Macduff and
Banquo. More of Macduff because he wasnt a really type of
greedy person, nor did he want more of things his way. He
obeyed his king and nobles. Banquo is loyal to his king and
nobles but he was greedy at the same time so his greediness
could have had him playing a villain role but he didnt let
it get into the way of some things.
Macbeth is the most villain character in this play. He
was at once an individual that was doing his job, now he is
the character that is taking over peoples lives and started

Tanicka Kimble
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to kill innocent people. Right before Macbeth started to
begin to kill the harmless people and gain power he was just
as innocent as the citizens in his country. Once he found
out that he was gone to have power and he told his wife she
thought of him as to ambitious and kind to be king.