Macbeth
Macbeth is a tragic protagonist in Shakespeare's play. Initially he is a loyal and courageous warrior, respected by his peers and admired by his king. However, after encountering the three witches who prophesy his ascent to the throne, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition and a thirst for power. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make the prophecy come true, including murdering his own king and best friend. As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid, ruthless and guilty, leading to his ultimate downfall and death.
Key events for Macbeth
- Receives a prophecy from the witches that he will become king
- Plots with Lady Macbeth to murder King Duncan
- Kills King Duncan and becomes king
- Becomes increasingly paranoid; murders Banquo and attempts to murder Banquo's son Fleance
- Is haunted by the ghost of Banquo; becomes increasingly tormented
- Seeks the witches' advice again
- Has Macduff's wife and children killed
- Killed by Macduff in the final battle
Key quotes for Macbeth
"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other."
Act 1, Scene 7
"Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?"
Act 2, Scene 1
"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more."
Act 5, Scene 5
Context link for Macbeth
The idea of the Great Chain of Being — a hierarchical order of the universe — was prevalent in Shakespeare's time and reveals the depth of Macbeth’s ambition, as he was willing to break it to become King. See: Macbeth context.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is one of the most complex and fascinating characters in Shakespeare's play. She is the wife of the protagonist and plays a key role in his downfall. Initially presented as a strong and ambitious woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to make her husband king, her character begins to unravel as the play progresses. She is consumed by guilt and madness.
Key events for Lady Macbeth
- Receives Macbeth's letter about the witches' prophecy
- Encourages Macbeth to murder King Duncan and take the throne
- Helps Macbeth carry out the murder of Duncan
- Tries to control Macbeth when he sees Banquo's ghost at the feast
- Becomes increasingly haunted by guilt, leading to her breakdown in the sleepwalking scene
- Dies offstage, by suicide
Key quotes for Lady Macbeth
"Unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty."
Act 1, Scene 5
"Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't."
Act 1, Scene 5
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!"
Act 5, Scene 1
Context link for Lady Macbeth
Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth challenges traditional gender roles, as she is a strong and ambitious woman who defies the expectations of her time. This links directly to the role of women in Jacobean society.
Macduff
Macduff is a Scottish nobleman and a prominent character in Macbeth. He is depicted as a brave, loyal and honourable man who is deeply committed to his country and his family.
Key events for Macduff
- Introduced in Act 2, Scene 3 — expresses suspicion of Macbeth
- Leaves Scotland to join Malcolm in England
- Learns his family has been brutally murdered; vows revenge
- Goes with Malcolm and the army to take back Scotland
- Confronts Macbeth in single combat and kills him
Key quotes for Macduff
"Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!"
Act 2, Scene 4
"Oh, Scotland, Scotland!"
Act 4, Scene 3
"All my pretty ones? Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?"
Act 4, Scene 3
"Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripped."
Act 5, Scene 8
Context link for Macduff
Macduff fulfils the contextual expectations placed on men at the time — loyal to the rightful heir, with a loyal wife and many children, unlike Macbeth. This can be linked to Jacobean beliefs about leadership and morality.
Duncan
Duncan is the King of Scotland. He is a gracious and benevolent ruler, widely respected by his subjects. He is portrayed as a just and honourable leader who values loyalty and bravery. However, he is also somewhat naive and overly trusting, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Key events for Duncan
- Receives news that the battle has been won
- Awards the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth for his bravery
- Arrives at Macbeth's castle, is warmly welcomed, and is subsequently murdered in his sleep
Key quotes for Duncan
"What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won."
Act 1, Scene 2
"This castle hath a pleasant seat."
Act 1, Scene 6
Context link for Duncan
Duncan's portrayal as a virtuous king reflects the ideal of kingship during the Renaissance. His murder can also be linked to the Gunpowder Plot, which nearly led to the death of James I. See: Macbeth context.
Malcolm
Malcolm is the son of King Duncan and the rightful heir to the throne. Initially inexperienced and naive, he proves himself a wise and strategic leader as the play progresses.
Key events for Malcolm
- Named Prince of Cumberland — heir to the throne
- Flees to England after his father's murder
- Tests Macduff's loyalty by pretending to be a tyrant
- Returns to Scotland with an army to overthrow Macbeth
Key quotes for Malcolm
"Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell."
Act 4, Scene 3
"What I am truly, is thine and my poor country's to command."
Act 4, Scene 3
Context link for Malcolm
Malcolm represents the Divine Right of Kings — the legitimate, God-appointed heir, in contrast to Macbeth the usurper. See: The Divine Right of Kings.
Banquo
Banquo is a Scottish general and friend of Macbeth. He is initially loyal but becomes suspicious of Macbeth's rise to power.
Key events for Banquo
- Returns from battle alongside Macbeth and encounters the witches
- Receives a prophecy that his descendants will become kings; is initially sceptical
- Begins to suspect Macbeth was involved in Duncan's murder
- Murdered by Macbeth's hired assassins; his son Fleance escapes
Key quotes for Banquo
"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray us in deepest consequence."
Act 1, Scene 3
"Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear thou play'dst most foully for't."
Act 3, Scene 1
Context link for Banquo
Banquo was a real historical figure believed to be an ancestor of King James I. Including him in the play may have been intended to flatter James, who was a patron of Shakespeare's acting company. See: Is Macbeth based on real life?
The Witches
The witches, also known as the Weird Sisters, are a group of supernatural beings who prophecy the future and manipulate the actions of the play's characters.
Key events for the witches
- Appear in Act 1, Scene 1 — plan to meet Macbeth after battle
- Prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then king; that Banquo's descendants will be kings
- Meet Macbeth again with further predictions: to fear Macduff; that no one born of a woman can harm him; that he is safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane
Key quotes for the witches
"Fair is foul and foul is fair."
Act 1, Scene 1
"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."
Act 4, Scene 1
Context link for the witches
James I wrote Daemonologie (1597) and believed witches were real and dangerous. His beliefs made the witches in Macbeth especially significant for Shakespeare's original audience. See: James I's interest in witches.
Minor Characters
Ross
A Scottish nobleman who acts as a messenger. Begins as an ally to Macbeth but later turns against him and supports Malcolm.
Lennox
Another Scottish nobleman who gradually becomes suspicious of Macbeth and sides with Malcolm.
Fleance
Banquo's son. He escapes Macbeth's attempt to have him killed. His survival is significant because it means the witches' prophecy about Banquo's line may still come true.
Hecate
The goddess of witchcraft, who is angry at the witches for acting without her. Emphasises the supernatural elements of the play.
Donalbain
One of Duncan's sons, who flees to Ireland after his father is murdered.
Siward
An English general who supports Malcolm's army in the final battle.
The Porter
A minor character who provides comic relief. He is a drunken gatekeeper who imagines himself as the gatekeeper to Hell.
The Murderers
Hired assassins who carry out Macbeth's orders to kill Banquo and Fleance.