Macbeth

            In the tragic drama Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare in 1606 during the English Renaissance, the hero, Macbeth, constantly descends in his level of morality until his death at the end of the play. Macbeth's decisions between good and evil were greatly influenced by other characters, specifically Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and the three witches.
             The first of the three characters whom influenced Macbeth is Banquo. Before he murders Duncan, Macbeth is a very close friend to Banquo, and they are almost always together. After the Murder of Duncan, Macbeth feels unsafe around Banquo, he feels that Banquo will turn him in for his crime. Macbeth knows he must also get rid of Banquo since, according to the prophecy, the throne will pass to Banquo's sons otherwise. The killing of Banquo by Macbeth shows extreme selfishness; he cannot bear to see even his best friend's sons succeed him on the throne. However, a more important reason that Macbeth kills Banquo is because of Banquo's suspicion of him, and what Banquo will do to him once he finds out for sure that Macbeth has commited the murder of Duncan. One can see that Macbeth becomes extremely harsh if he wants his way. He will go to horrid extremes just so that he does not have to live his kingship in fear.
             Lady Macbeth, the second character, interacts with Macbeth a considerable amount, and influences him greatly. Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into killing Duncan, even though Macbeth didn't feel it was right, she started him on his decline from good to evil. Macbeth used to love his wife, in Macbeth's letter to his wife, he calls her "my dearest partner of greatness" (I, v, 8), and later, when he is talking to her in person, he calls her "My dearest love" (I, v, 54b). He feels so little towards her that when he is informed that she has just died, he remarks that "She should have died hereafter" (17), meaning that she would have died anyway.