Macbeth - Characters

Macbeth's character:

Macbeth is brave in battle

He is tempted by ambition

He considers killing Duncan

He is led by his wife

Macbeth has hallucinations

He has a conscience

He regrets killing Duncan

Macbeth changes in the play

He becomes rude

He is not afraid to die

Lady Macbeth's character:

Lady Macbeth is ambitious

She manipulates her husband

She is calculating

She can remain in control

She can remain in control

She shows no remorse

She sees Macbeth as a coward

Lady Macbeth is powerful

She becomes deranged

Banquo's character:

Banquo is Macbeth's close friend and ally. He knows about the witches and their predictions but doesn't take them seriously at first. Later he thinks more about it, but he is never tempted in the way Macbeth is. However, he starts to realise how interested Macbeth is and then gets suspicious of him. Banquo is also presented as a very brave and completely loyal soldier - even when Macbeth tempts him Banquo makes it clear he wants to keep his 'allegiance clear' to the king.

Duncan's character:

Duncan is the king at the start of the play. He is presented as a strong ruler. For instance, when he finds out the first Thane of Cawdor is a traitor, he immediately executes him and puts Macbeth in his place. He is also perceptive, and knows that you can't always tell who is a traitor. He is respected by everyone. However, he perhaps leads Macbeth into thinking about murder - Duncan announces that his son, Malcolm, will become the next king, and this starts Macbeth thinking of ways he might become king himself.

The Witches character:

The Witches introduce the play and control the mysterious forces of the world. They know the future and seem to put Macbeth under their spell. Their magical words are well-known, such as 'Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Macduff's character:

Macduff is the lord who first finds Duncan's body and who eventually kills Macbeth. He is seen as completely loyal to Duncan and his country. He is brave, swearing to investigate the murder and he doesn't go to see Macbeth crowned. This implies Macduff is already suspicious. He then goes to England to raise an army and his family are murdered on Macbeth's orders. He convinces Malcolm to join his attack against Macbeth. He kills Macbeth in the final battle because he is not 'of woman born' (he was born by caesarean section) - it's as if he has some magical power because only he can kill Macbeth.

The Murderers:

The Murderers - there are two of these (but a third, unknown murderer joins them when they attack Banquo). They are men who have nothing to lose and will set their 'life on any chance'. In other words, they are desperate and ready for anything.

Malcolm's character:

Malcolm is Duncan's son and is named as the Prince of Cumberland, so will inherit the throne from his father. However, when his father is murdered he runs away to England. He returns later and is convinced by Macduff to join the attack against Macbeth.