Macbeth
Actions:
Fights bravely for King Duncan in a battle against Macdonwa
traitor), the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway.
Becomes the new Thane of Cawdor.
Kills King Duncan, then he arranges the killing of Banquo and
Goes into battle against an army put together by Macduff an
Killed by Macduff
Character traits:
He is a very courageous warrior.
He is ambitious.
He lusts for power and wealth; therefore, he wants to be the
He is weak because he is unable to kill Duncan without the in
pressure of his wife.
He is jealous of Banquo.
He is impatient because he acts instead of waiting for the pr
true.
He has a moral conscience at the beginning of the play. He fe
having the blood of the king on his hands.
He is self-reflective – throughout the play, he thinks about w
and what is happening to him.
Lady Macbeth
Actions:
Persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan.
Comes up with the plan to kill Duncan and frame the guards.
Mocks Macbeth for being weak and indecisive.
, banquo
Actions:
Receives the witches’ prophecy for his lineage (who will be th
Scotland) but does not take any action – he serves as a foil to
Warns Macbeth not to take the witches seriously as he may co
Encourages his son Fleance to flee when they are attacked by
murderers.
Appears as a ghost at Macbeth’s banquet.
Character traits:
Banquo is loyal to king and country.
He is brave on the battlefield where he fights alongside Macb
He is not gullible and very mature in his outlook.
He warns Macbeth about agents of evil such as the witches.
He is very patient.
Unlike Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, he does not take any actio
to wait to see if the witches’ prophecy for his family will com
macduff
Actions:
Discovers the body of slain (killed) King Duncan.
Leaves his wife and young children to go to England.
Is devastated when he hears of the murder of his family, and
one to kill Macbeth.
Persuades Malcolm to get an army and return to Scotland so
overthrow Macbeth.
Kills Macbeth.
, malcolm
Actions:
Flees to England after Duncan’s death.
Is persuaded by Macduff to return to Scotland with an army.
Commands soldiers to chop off a branch from the trees in Bir
carry it in front of them to conceal their numbers so Macbeth
this actually makes the apparitions’ prophecy about Birnam W
Dunsinane come true.
Becomes the new King of Scotland after Macbeth’s death.
Character traits:
Malcolm is very patient. He is content to remain in England, e
the rightful King of Scotland.
He is very mature in his thinking.
He is careful about whom he trusts. When Macduff finds him
Malcolm takes a while before deciding to believe Macduff is r
He is brave and intelligent on the battlefield. In the final bat
who comes up with plan that the soldiers must carry tree bra
heads. This tactic conceals the exact size of his army as they
in Dunsinane.
Malcolm is loyal to his country. As King, he will restore order
Scotland.
3 witches
Deceiving and unreliable
Call themselves “the weird sisters”
The witches meet in the opening scene to discuss their fate f
, fleance
He is Banquo’s son
He is briefly introduced in the play, but his existence haunts
through his line the succession to the throne has been proph
He has an affectionate relationship with his father.
His character emphasises the rationality of Banquo compared
In his dying moments, Banquo cares only for hissafety of his
other thanes
They are examples of trusting, uncomplicated, on-political m
people.
They are loyal: they support Macbeth after his ascent to the
appears to be the legitimate king.
They defect when they are unable to cope with Macbeth’s cr
Lennox reports on the unnatural events that take place afte
the state of Scotland under Macbeth’s tyranny and prepares
Malcolm’s invasion with English allies.
Ross is often the messenger: he informs Macbeth of his prom
Cawdor and warns Lady Macduff to flee before she is murde
Angus, Lennox, Menteith and Caithness joins the English arm
lady macduff
She is introduced only onceintheplay.
She is a loving wife and mother.
She is loyal to her husband.
Actions:
Fights bravely for King Duncan in a battle against Macdonwa
traitor), the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway.
Becomes the new Thane of Cawdor.
Kills King Duncan, then he arranges the killing of Banquo and
Goes into battle against an army put together by Macduff an
Killed by Macduff
Character traits:
He is a very courageous warrior.
He is ambitious.
He lusts for power and wealth; therefore, he wants to be the
He is weak because he is unable to kill Duncan without the in
pressure of his wife.
He is jealous of Banquo.
He is impatient because he acts instead of waiting for the pr
true.
He has a moral conscience at the beginning of the play. He fe
having the blood of the king on his hands.
He is self-reflective – throughout the play, he thinks about w
and what is happening to him.
Lady Macbeth
Actions:
Persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan.
Comes up with the plan to kill Duncan and frame the guards.
Mocks Macbeth for being weak and indecisive.
, banquo
Actions:
Receives the witches’ prophecy for his lineage (who will be th
Scotland) but does not take any action – he serves as a foil to
Warns Macbeth not to take the witches seriously as he may co
Encourages his son Fleance to flee when they are attacked by
murderers.
Appears as a ghost at Macbeth’s banquet.
Character traits:
Banquo is loyal to king and country.
He is brave on the battlefield where he fights alongside Macb
He is not gullible and very mature in his outlook.
He warns Macbeth about agents of evil such as the witches.
He is very patient.
Unlike Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, he does not take any actio
to wait to see if the witches’ prophecy for his family will com
macduff
Actions:
Discovers the body of slain (killed) King Duncan.
Leaves his wife and young children to go to England.
Is devastated when he hears of the murder of his family, and
one to kill Macbeth.
Persuades Malcolm to get an army and return to Scotland so
overthrow Macbeth.
Kills Macbeth.
, malcolm
Actions:
Flees to England after Duncan’s death.
Is persuaded by Macduff to return to Scotland with an army.
Commands soldiers to chop off a branch from the trees in Bir
carry it in front of them to conceal their numbers so Macbeth
this actually makes the apparitions’ prophecy about Birnam W
Dunsinane come true.
Becomes the new King of Scotland after Macbeth’s death.
Character traits:
Malcolm is very patient. He is content to remain in England, e
the rightful King of Scotland.
He is very mature in his thinking.
He is careful about whom he trusts. When Macduff finds him
Malcolm takes a while before deciding to believe Macduff is r
He is brave and intelligent on the battlefield. In the final bat
who comes up with plan that the soldiers must carry tree bra
heads. This tactic conceals the exact size of his army as they
in Dunsinane.
Malcolm is loyal to his country. As King, he will restore order
Scotland.
3 witches
Deceiving and unreliable
Call themselves “the weird sisters”
The witches meet in the opening scene to discuss their fate f
, fleance
He is Banquo’s son
He is briefly introduced in the play, but his existence haunts
through his line the succession to the throne has been proph
He has an affectionate relationship with his father.
His character emphasises the rationality of Banquo compared
In his dying moments, Banquo cares only for hissafety of his
other thanes
They are examples of trusting, uncomplicated, on-political m
people.
They are loyal: they support Macbeth after his ascent to the
appears to be the legitimate king.
They defect when they are unable to cope with Macbeth’s cr
Lennox reports on the unnatural events that take place afte
the state of Scotland under Macbeth’s tyranny and prepares
Malcolm’s invasion with English allies.
Ross is often the messenger: he informs Macbeth of his prom
Cawdor and warns Lady Macduff to flee before she is murde
Angus, Lennox, Menteith and Caithness joins the English arm
lady macduff
She is introduced only onceintheplay.
She is a loving wife and mother.
She is loyal to her husband.
