Macbeth – Characters

Main Characters
Macbeth shows he's still feeling around for the best course of action. He
Thane of Glamis, later King of Scotland seems to lack the experience to make him confident or capable.
Macbeth is a beloved Scottish general who bravely defends his Malcolm's words at the end, praising and gifting his allies and
king and country in battle. After hearing the three weird sisters' damning his enemies, make it seem like he'll follow right in the
prophesy that he will one day rule Scotland, Macbeth commits footsteps of his dad: gracious and, for the most part, harmless.
heinous murder and other tyrannous acts in order secure his Even if Malcolm isn't going to be a tough warrior anytime soon,
position as king. he has folks like Macduff to help out, so long as Malcolm can
continue to make the speeches and be pure of heart, which we
Lady Macbeth are sure he is.
Macbeth’s wife and supporter of her husband’s quest for power
At the play's beginning, Lady Macbeth is a powerful figure: she's Banquo
charming, attractive, ambitious, and seems to be completely Banquo is a general in the King's army (same as Macbeth) and is
devoted to her husband. (We might think of the pair as the often seen in contrast to Macbeth. Banquo is the only one with
original power couple.) She's also a teensy bit worried that her Macbeth when he hears the first prophecy of the weird sisters;
man isn't quite "man enough" to do what it takes to be king. during the same prophecy, Banquo is told that his children will
According to Lady Macbeth, her husband is "too full o' the milk be kings, though he will not be. How Macbeth plays his part in
of human kindness" (1.5.1). If her husband's going to be the fulfilling the prophecy makes the play – how Banquo does not
powerful figure she wants him to be, Lady Macbeth's got to creates a nice contrast to our main character.
take things into her own hands.
It's important to note that King James I of England (a.k.a. King
Duncan James VI of Scotland), the guy who was monarch when
Duncan is the King of Scotland. While spending the night as a Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, traced his lineage back to Banquo
guest at Inverness, he's murdered by Macbeth, who has so it's important that Shakespeare portrays Banquo as a noble
aspirations to rule the country. In the play, Duncan is a figure.
benevolent old man. We never see him out on the battlefield,
and he is always full of kindly words. He's also generous when Macduff
bestowing honors on the soldiers and thanes that protect him Macduff is a loyal Scottish nobleman and the Thane of Fife.
and his kingdom. Duncan is so sympathetic and likable a After Macbeth murders Macduff's family, Macduff grieves for
character that murdering him seems horrifying. his loved ones and then resolves to kill Macbeth in man-to-man
combat. At the play's end, he triumphantly carries Macbeth's
Malcolm severed head to Malcolm, the future king.
Malcolm is elder son of King Duncan and newly appointed as
Prince of Cumberland, known to be the holding place for the Weird Sisters (the Witches)
next King of Scotland. When we first meet Malcolm, he seems The three weird sisters set the action of the play in motion
rather weak – he's standing around praising a brave and when they confront Macbeth and prophesize that he will be
bloodied Captain for saving his life and rescuing him from King of Scotland. We never see them apart and they often
capture. In other words, Malcolm's the kind of guy who seems speak and act in unison so it's worth considering them here as a
to need rescuing. Malcolm's reaction to news of his father's single unit.
death doesn't recommend him to be king yet, either; it only

Minor Characters
Donalbain — Duncan’s younger son Apparitions — Visions conjured up by the Witches to inform
Lady Macduff — Macduff’s wife Macbeth of what he should fear for the future
Lennox and Ross — Noblemen of Scotland that support Malcolm’s Doctor and Gentlewoman — Servants that witness Lady
fight against Macbeth Macbeth’s sleepwalking
Son — Macduff’s son Seyton — An Officer in Macbeth’s Army
Angus — Nobleman of Scotland and supporter against Macbeth Siward — General in the English army fighting with Malcolm
Menteith and Caithness — Noblemen of Scotland in Malcolm’s Young Siward — Siward’s son in the English army with Malcolm
English Army Captain — Soldier in Duncan’s military that reports on Macbeth’s
Porter — servant at Macbeth’s castle success in the battle against Macdonwald
Murderers — Macbeth’s hired killers Hecate — Goddess of the Witches
Fleance — Banquo’s son who is seen as a threat by Macbeth