Question

Select a “secondary” character (Banquo, Macduff, Malcolm) and analyze the way in which he or she serves as a foil to a central character and thus help to expand your understanding by contrast. (A foil is a character who enhances another through contrast). You could also theoretically use Lady Macbeth as a secondary character to Macbeth.

Answer 1

Like the problem says, all the characters mentioned in this prompt serve as a foil to Macbeth in some way. Pick a character from the list and think about how they are *different* to Macbeth and how those differences enhance Macbeth's character.

For example, if you were to pick Lady Macbeth (you don't have to, this is just an example) you could talk about how Lady Macbeth's confident, conniving, and cruel nature contrasts Macbeth's uncertain and cowardly personality. Lady Macbeth is the one who strongly urges Macbeth to fulfill the prophecy and kill the other kings, while Macbeth himself is hesitant and torn up about it. Putting these two very different personalities next to each other shows the dual nature of greedy ambition (how it inspires the confidence needed to obtain power and the insecurity of losing said power.)

I'm a little fuzzier on the other characters, but I can help you find ideas/passages for those characters if given some time.