Macbeth: Key Characters

• Study notes for Macbeth

Characters

• Macbeth: The protagonist, a Scottish general, Thane of Glamis, later Thane of Cawdor, propelled by ambition and the prophecies of the witches to murder King Duncan and seize the throne. His character deteriorates throughout the play, marked by increasing paranoia and tyranny.
• Lady Macbeth: Macbeth's wife, equally ambitious, and the instigator of Duncan's murder. She is a strong, ruthless character at the start, but guilt consumes her, leading to madness and suicide.
• King Duncan: The virtuous King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth. His death throws Scotland into chaos.
• The Witches (Weird Sisters): Supernatural beings who prophesize Macbeth's rise to power, influencing his actions and driving the plot. Their ambiguous pronouncements mislead Macbeth.
• Banquo: A Scottish general and Macbeth's friend. The witches prophesize that his descendants will be kings. Macbeth sees him as a threat and has him murdered. Banquo's ghost haunts Macbeth.
• Macduff: A Scottish nobleman, Thane of Fife, who becomes Macbeth's enemy. He eventually kills Macbeth, restoring order to Scotland. Macduff is devoted to Scotland.
• Malcolm: King Duncan's son and heir. He flees Scotland after his father's murder and later returns with an army to overthrow Macbeth.
• Hecate: The queen of the witches, appears briefly to scold the three witches for meddling in Macbeth's affairs without her permission.
• Ross: A Scottish nobleman who delivers news throughout the play. Initially loyal to Macbeth, he eventually aligns himself with Malcolm and Macduff.
• Lennox: A Scottish nobleman, provides commentary on the events of the play, expressing growing suspicion of Macbeth.
• Lady Macduff: Macduff's wife, murdered along with her children by Macbeth's orders after Macduff flees to England.
• The murderers: A group of ruffians hired by Macbeth to kill Banquo, Fleance, and Macduff's family.
• Fleance: Banquo's son, who survives Macbeth's attempt to murder him. His survival is significant because of the witches' prophecy about Banquo's descendants.
• Siward: Earl of Northumberland, ally of Malcolm.
• Young Siward: Siward's son, slain by Macbeth in battle.

Plot

• The play begins with the witches' prophecy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland.
• King Duncan rewards Macbeth for his bravery in battle by naming him Thane of Cawdor.
• Spurred on by the witches' prophecy and Lady Macbeth's ambition, Macbeth murders King Duncan.
• Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland.
• Macbeth orders the murders of Banquo and Macduff's family, driven by paranoia and a desire to secure his reign.
• Lady Macbeth is overcome by guilt and descends into madness.
• Malcolm and Macduff raise an army in England and march on Scotland.
• Macbeth seeks further prophecies from the witches, who give him ambiguous assurances.
• Macbeth is killed by Macduff, who was "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb (a detail fulfilling the witches' prophecy).
• Malcolm becomes the new King of Scotland, restoring order to the kingdom.

Themes

• Ambition: A driving force in the play, particularly for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their unchecked ambition leads to their downfall.
• Guilt: Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are tormented by guilt after Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth's guilt leads to madness and suicide. Macbeth's guilt leads to further violence.
• Fate vs. Free Will: The play explores the extent to which Macbeth's actions are determined by fate (the witches' prophecies) or by his own choices.
• Appearance vs. Reality: Things are not always as they seem. Characters often deceive each other and themselves. The witches' prophecies are ambiguous and misleading.
• The Corrupting Power of Evil: Macbeth's descent into tyranny demonstrates how evil actions can corrupt individuals and societies.
• Order vs. Disorder: Duncan's murder disrupts the natural order of Scotland, leading to chaos and violence. The restoration of order is achieved with Malcolm's accession to the throne.
• Masculinity: The play questions traditional notions of masculinity, particularly in relation to violence and ambition. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth's manhood to persuade him to kill Duncan.
• Loyalty: Loyalty is a key theme, with characters like Macduff demonstrating unwavering loyalty to Scotland and its rightful king.

Symbols/Motifs

• Blood: Represents guilt, violence, and the consequences of Macbeth's actions. It appears frequently throughout the play, symbolizing the bloodshed and moral stain associated with his deeds.
• Darkness and Light: Darkness is associated with evil, secrecy, and the supernatural. Light is associated with goodness, truth, and order.
• Sleep: Represents innocence, peace, and a clear conscience. Macbeth's murder of Duncan disrupts sleep, both literally and figuratively. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking is a manifestation of her guilt.
• Weather: Storms and violent weather reflect the turmoil and disorder in Scotland. The witches are often associated with stormy weather.
• The Witches/Supernatural: Represents the dark side of human nature, temptation, and the forces that can influence human actions.
• Hallucinations: Macbeth's hallucinations (the dagger, Banquo's ghost) reveal his guilt and psychological deterioration.
• Clothing: Represents borrowed or unearned status. Metaphors involving clothing highlight the idea that Macbeth is unfit for the role of king.
• Hands: Symbolize actions, particularly violent ones. Lady Macbeth's obsession with washing her hands reflects her guilt.
• Prophecy: Drives the plot forward, but also raises questions about free will versus destiny.
• The natural world: Disrupted by Macbeth's actions, symbolizing the disorder in the kingdom.