William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, was based on the life of Macbeth. However, Shakespeare invented or changed many things in his play to make the idea of ​​Macbeth more interesting. Many of Shakespeare's characters, settings, and events differ from Macbeth's facts in the story. Macbeth, Banquo, and Macduff are three examples of characters in the play who differ from what they were and how they were in the story. In the play Macbeth was a cruel and greedy leader: "I will call on you directly... Banquo, flight of your soul, if he finds heaven, he must find it tonight" (III, i, 140-142). In the story Macbeth was not as harsh as he was thought to be in the play: "Macbeth seems to have ruled with equanimity, imposing law and order and encouraging Christianity" (Macbeth). Another of Shakespeare's characters who contrasts with the story is Banquo. Banquo is portrayed as a friend of Macbeth who knows too much about him and his secrets, so he is murdered by people hired by Macbeth to make sure his secrets were kept safe and Banquo was not in the way: “Then Banquo… My Lord, his throat has been cut; this I have done" (III, iv, 14-17). If you look at history, there is no evidence that Banquo existed: (Catherine Wells). Macduff was different from his character in Macbeth. Macduff was a nobleman of King Duncan and he is the one who discovers King Duncan dead after being murdered by Macbeth: “Banquo! Our royal masters murdered" (II, iii, 88-89). Like Banquo, there is no evidence that Macduff exists in the story (Wells). Macbeth, Banquo and Macduff all differ from their characters in Macbeth. There are settings in the Macbeth's tragedies that didn't actually happen as they were told in the play. An example of this is the scene where M...... middle of paper ......hanged man made the play more interesting for i readers. The tragedy of Macbeth and the story contrast in many different ways. There are many characters, settings and events that differ in his play cited Works cited Biography of Macbeth." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 1996-2013. Web. 10 November 2013. . Taylor, Doreen. “Real Story of the Three Witches Immortalized by William Shakespeare.” Suite 101. Np, 23 October 2013. Web. 10 November 2013. .Wells, Catherine. "Will the Real Macbeth Please Stand Up?" Sff.net. SFF, 2007. Web. 10 November 2013. Wiggins, Literature Grant P. Prentice ed.