Macbeth
List of Characters
1.
Duncan
·
A good and honest but
politically naive King of Scotland; he is murdered by
Macbeth, his cousin and one of his most trusted generals.
2.
Macbeth
·
One of Duncaris most courageous generals, his driving ambition to
become King of Scotland corrupts him and causes him to murder Duncan and order
the slaying of anyone who threatens his kingship.
3.
Lady Macbeth
·
As ambitious as her
husband, she taunts Macbeth's courage to insure that he will murder Duncan and
become king. Fear and remorse eventually cause her to go mad.
4.
Banquo
·
A general in Duncan's
army, he is Macbeth's closest friend. When Macbeth fears that Banquo suspects
him of murdering Duncan, he arranges to have Banquo murdered. Banquo's son is
Fleance.
5.
Macduff
·
A
Scottish general who strongly suspects Macbeth of murdering Duncan. After Macbeth has Macduffs
family murdered, Macduff swears vengeance and kills Macbeth.
6.
Malcolm
·
Duncan's eldest son,
named as heir to the throne of Scotland; he flees to England after his father's
assassination.
7.
Donalbain
·
Duncan's youngest son;
he flees to Ireland after his father is murdered.
8.
Lennox
·
One
of Duncan's nobles, he functions largely as an observer in the play. He accompanies Macbeth to the dead king's chamber and,
suspicious of what he sees, he grows increasingly sarcastic and fearful for the
fate of Scotland.
9.
Ross
·
A cousin of Macduff,
he acts as a messenger in the play, bringing good news of Macbeth's military
victory and bad news about Mac-Huff's familv.
10.
Old Siward
·
Earl
of Northumberland; ally of Malcolm and Macduff.
11.
Young Siward
·
Siward's son; slain by Macbeth in hand-to-hand combat.
12.
Seyton
·
Macbeth's lieutenant.
13.
Hecate
·
Sometimes referred to
as the queen of the witches, she presides over all nocturnal horrors; it is she who directs the supernatural happenings and appearances
of the mystical apparitions.
14.
The Three Witches
·
Supernatural agents of
fate who prophesy that Macbeth will become King of Scotland; they also predict
his fall.
15.
Porter
·
The
keeper of Macbeth's castle who drunkenly imagines that he is the keeper of
Hell's Gate.
16.
Menteith, Angus, and Caithness
·
Noblemen
of Duncan.