Duncan
King of Scotland. A wise, Nobel, gracious King who has the admiration of all subjects. He is generous to those who win his praise. He trusts those who have demonstrated loyalty to him and recognises that you cannot tell what is in a man’s heart by his facial expression. He is father to Malcolm and Donalbain, and is Macbeth’s cousin.
Macbeth
A brave general in the King’s army. He is known for his fierce capacity on the battlefield and his loyalty. He is loving and tender husband to his wife. He has no children. Macbeth is ambitious.
Lady Macbeth
Has one son (from who we never meet) from a former husband. She is fiercely ambitious for her husband. She is capable of extreme behaviour and knows well how to persuade others to her point of view. She acknowledges her husband’s goodness but is aware that, with a few carefully chosen words, she can make him do as she wants him to do. She is ambitious for herself.
Banquo
Another general in the Kings army. Macbeths equal in every way, as established in the early scenes. He is brave, loyal and wise but not as ambitious as Macbeth. He does not accept the predictions of the witches as seriously as Macbeth does. Macbeth is aware that Banquo is actually the better man of the two – he is both brave and wise enough to know when to act.
MacDuff
A lord of Scotland and friend to Macbeth. He becomes caught up in Macbeths plot for largely unknown reasons. He is passionate and fiercely loyal to King Duncan and, more importantly, to Scotland – more loyal to them in fact, than he is to his wife and children.
Malcolm
King Duncan’s oldest son became heir to the Scottish throne when proclaims Prince of Cumberland. He is wise because he realises when he is in sufficient danger that he has to run and regroup. He admires good Kings and hopes one day to be one. He is moderate and clam and not given to passion.
Lennox and Ross
These two are nobleman. Their role is to deliver information to the audience. They have access to information because of their social status as nobleman. They makes comments about the situation in Scotland, warm others, and report on Macbeths condition. This function is similar to that of the Chorus in ancient Greek tragedy.
Lady Macduff
She is Macduff’s wife and makes comments on her husband’s behaviour for the audience. She is politically naïve but staunch and reliable.
King of Scotland. A wise, Nobel, gracious King who has the admiration of all subjects. He is generous to those who win his praise. He trusts those who have demonstrated loyalty to him and recognises that you cannot tell what is in a man’s heart by his facial expression. He is father to Malcolm and Donalbain, and is Macbeth’s cousin.
Macbeth
A brave general in the King’s army. He is known for his fierce capacity on the battlefield and his loyalty. He is loving and tender husband to his wife. He has no children. Macbeth is ambitious.
Lady Macbeth
Has one son (from who we never meet) from a former husband. She is fiercely ambitious for her husband. She is capable of extreme behaviour and knows well how to persuade others to her point of view. She acknowledges her husband’s goodness but is aware that, with a few carefully chosen words, she can make him do as she wants him to do. She is ambitious for herself.
Banquo
Another general in the Kings army. Macbeths equal in every way, as established in the early scenes. He is brave, loyal and wise but not as ambitious as Macbeth. He does not accept the predictions of the witches as seriously as Macbeth does. Macbeth is aware that Banquo is actually the better man of the two – he is both brave and wise enough to know when to act.
MacDuff
A lord of Scotland and friend to Macbeth. He becomes caught up in Macbeths plot for largely unknown reasons. He is passionate and fiercely loyal to King Duncan and, more importantly, to Scotland – more loyal to them in fact, than he is to his wife and children.
Malcolm
King Duncan’s oldest son became heir to the Scottish throne when proclaims Prince of Cumberland. He is wise because he realises when he is in sufficient danger that he has to run and regroup. He admires good Kings and hopes one day to be one. He is moderate and clam and not given to passion.
Lennox and Ross
These two are nobleman. Their role is to deliver information to the audience. They have access to information because of their social status as nobleman. They makes comments about the situation in Scotland, warm others, and report on Macbeths condition. This function is similar to that of the Chorus in ancient Greek tragedy.
Lady Macduff
She is Macduff’s wife and makes comments on her husband’s behaviour for the audience. She is politically naïve but staunch and reliable.