'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare is a play in which great contrasts exist between its main characters. “Macbeth” is a tragic play, set in 11th century Scotland, that explores the psychological and political effects of the eponymous character, who commits regicide in order to fulfill his own ambition and is ultimately killed because of his tyrannical actions. Macbeth is a deep and exceptional character; in itself, its place at the heart of Shakespeare's play guarantees this. The strength of his nature, both positive and negative, is emphasized by Shakespeare's comparison of him with other key characters: primarily his co-commander, Banquo and his wife, Lady Macbeth. Where the relationship with Banquo reveals the weakness of his mortality, the comparison with his own wife and his own reflection on his evil actions make him thoughtful and profound. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay From the beginning of the play, Shakespeare illustrates the contrast between the character and conscience of Macbeth and Banquo. This initial difference in reaction is very important, because it marks the beginning of the different paths taken by the two characters throughout the play. It is an encounter with three witches that arouses in Macbeth a desire for royalty, after they tell him that he will obtain the crown. Enchanted by the words they speak, Macbeth urges the prophesying witches to speak more: “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.” The strength of Macbeth's ambition is evident from the very moments the witches utter their prophecy in Act 1, Scene 3. The repetitive use of imperatives here, again evident when he asks them, "Speak , I charge you,” shows Macbeth’s immense interest in what the witches have to say to him. In direct contrast to Macbeth's intense intrigue and his desire to '...let them have remained', Banquo immediately sees the danger in the witches' words. Upon hearing that their predictions that Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor are true, Banquo's caution is very evident, stating, "What, can the devil speak the truth?" » Through his description of witches as "devils", Banquo reveals his distrust; the use of the word "devil" can only imply one thing: the evil of those who made the predictions, and in turn the evil that will result. Banquo knows that the witches and their prophecies can mean no good and, more importantly, is willing to recognize this as a reason to reject them, despite the tempting rewards they have also predicted for him. Banquo's initial recognition of the evil in the witches' prophecies allows him to break away from the crushing hold they have on Macbeth. Macbeth's state of rapture is emphasized in the following words, where Banquo comments on it: “Look like the rapture of our partner. » These words serve two purposes: the fact that it is Banquo who speaks them underlines how he has managed to avoid the allure of prophecies. , and they also reiterate Macbeth's intense fascination. Banquo has managed to detach himself so much from the captivating nature of the witches' predictions – the sense of possibility – that he is actually able to comment on the contrasting state of his companion. The contrast between the initial reactions of Macbeth and Banquo suggests that, despite their similar situations, there must be a fundamental difference in the characters of the two men. It is Macbeth's incredibly strong ambition - manifested in his immediate enthusiasm for the witches' words - that leads him to defy his king, his God and his ownreason. It is not that Banquo lacks ambition, but that a main strength of his character counterbalances it; his morality. Macbeth and Banquo are by no means at opposite ends of the moral spectrum; Banquo's treacherous dreams indicate that he is not immune to the force of temptation, nor does Macbeth lack a conscience altogether. Macbeth's conscience is revealed through his reaction to his own murderous thoughts, illustrated in the following lines: "Whose horrible image undoes my hair and makes my heart thump as it sits on my ribs." » The physicality of Shakespeare's description here is incredibly vivid in the depiction of his horror, his self-loathing at the regicidal thoughts he contemplates. The imagery of his hair standing on end and his heart beating in his chest makes the existence of his consciousness undeniable; he is clearly and largely affected by the prospect of the evil act he will inevitably commit. The witches' description of Banquo as "less than Macbeth and greater" in Act 1, Scene 3, perfectly captures the distinction between the two men. Banquo is “less than Macbeth” in terms of the burning ambition that consumes Macbeth, but he is far “greater” in terms of the force of his conscience. The inevitability of Duncan's murder by Macbeth's hand is the result of his much greater sense of ambition than Banquo's and his much weaker conscience than Banquo. The strength of Banquo's conscience means that he can control his ambition, but only consciously. Banquo's reaction to his treacherous dreams is illustrated in the following words: "Hold within me the cursed thoughts which nature gives place to rest!" » In his sleep, Banquo's immoral and evil dreams mirror those of Macbeth; in the subconscious, without consciousness to control Banquo, the meaningful contrast between the characters is non-existent. The use of the exclamation point in this line emphasizes Banquo's horror at his own ambition. In comparison to Banquo and examining his flawed morality, Macbeth appears to be a weak character. However, it is only through his immoral actions that the audience can witness his true depth; as a thoughtful, insightful and honest man. As the sole co-conspirator in Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth is the only character to whom Macbeth can truly be compared in terms of her attitude towards the act. This is how Shakespeare emphasizes his true strength. Macbeth has a depth of thought and foresight that his wife lacks, as evidenced by his recognition of the dire consequences of murder. Before and after Duncan's murder, Macbeth recognizes the evil and immorality of what he is doing; At no point does he attempt to justify his actions. This recognition is evident in the following words: "We leap into the life to come...A bloody instruction which, once taught, returns to torment the inventor." » As someone living in intensely religious medieval Scotland, Macbeth would believe in the afterlife and be certain of the power of God. As God's representative on Earth, the killing of the king is by definition a bad deed, and Macbeth – and the society around him – knows that it will lose his chances of reaching heaven and resign him to eternal damnation . Therefore, the mere fact that Macbeth accepts and openly admits this frankly terrifying conclusion in the words "We skip the life to come" is surely incredibly courageous. At no time does Macbeth lose sight of the pure ambition and selfishness that drive him, nor the pure evil that will surround his kingship; these lines convey his acceptance that he is doing nothing for his country, simply setting a bad example. The words “return/Pester the inventor”highlight another achievement of Macbeth; his own regicide in order to seize the crown is likely to lead to his own assassination by another thanks to the example he has set. Macbeth knows that he is destroying not only his own chances of eternal life, but also his chances of living a long life on Earth. Unlike Macbeth's recognition and consideration of what the act will mean to him, Lady Macbeth focuses only on its practicalities. . This is especially evident in the aftermath of the murder, when Macbeth returns after killing Duncan, horrified by his own actions. Lady Macbethr, unlike her husband, refuses to think deeply about the immorality of this act and tries to reject it. Her attitude is illustrated in the following words, in relation to the blood which covers her hands and those of her husband: “A little water purifies us from this act. » The practical side of Lady Macbeth's thinking here highlights her superficial nature, as well as her lack of will. to consider the deeper truths, the deeper implications of murder. Through this line, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as an incredibly shallow character, and it is through the contrast of Macbeth's own comments regarding her bloody hands that he shows the depth of the main character. The following words convey his contrasting feelings: “No; this, my hand goes rather / The innumerable incarnadine seas. » The idea of ​​the blood on his hands turning entire seas red confirms that Macbeth is not only talking about the tangible substance that envelops him, but also the immense guilt that engulfs him. The word “abundance” particularly highlights the extent of this guilt. The depth of the main character's thoughts is emphasized here, with his deep consideration of their immorality, unable to inhibit his actions but present nonetheless. The directly contrasting lines of the two characters are effective in emphasizing the fundamental differences between husband and wife; Macbeth considers the impact on the soul, while Lady Macbeth only considers the real and physical. Perhaps the most telling evidence that Macbeth is, in fact, an exceptional character is not his acceptance of his dire state, but his foresight. Despite the fear his thoughts arouse, Macbeth only foresees what he sincerely believes will be the result of his actions, and never allows falsehoods to obscure the clarity of those facts - a rationality of thought which, despite the inexcusable act that he commits, is truly admirable. “I dare to do everything that can become a man; he who dares to do more is no one” Macbeth’s personal perception of masculinity is a thought-provoking concept, and is also rather revealing; he does not believe that a man is defined only by his physical strength, but also – and perhaps more – by his moral strength. The revelation of such a fundamental belief before Duncan's murder therefore implies that after murdering him, Macbeth will no longer be able to see himself as a true man – a self-contempt that could only lead to ruin. This notion is realized throughout the rest of the play, in turn demonstrating the way in which Macbeth predicts his own demise. The context of Act 1, Scene 7, in which these lines are spoken, is particularly important here. Having recently fought bravely in battle, he has won "golden opinions from all kinds of people"; It is obvious to Macbeth that his reputation as a loyal subject and respectable man is at its peak, and that new aspirations can only mean decline. It is in Macbeth's ability to predict his destiny that the difference between husband and wife is most evident. Where his wife embraces the strength that evil can bring,..