Macbeth: Dramatis Personae

DUNCAN, King of Scotland

Duncan is a good king who his people like. By no fault of his own he is unable to discern those who threaten his reign.

MACBETH, Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, a general in the King's army.

Macbeth is basically a good man, who is troubled by his conscience and loyalty, though at the same time ambitious and murderous. He is led to evil initially by the witches' predictions and then by his wife's goading, which he succumbs to because he loves her so. His obsession over the kingship shows a certain kind of egotism.

LADY MACBETH, his wife.

Lady Macbeth is a good wife who loves her husband. She is also ambitious but lacks the morals of her husband. To achieve her ambition, she rids of herself of any kindness that might stand in the way. However, she runs out of energy to suppress her conscience and kills herself.

BANQUO, Thane of Lochaber, a general in the King's army

Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth, showing an alternate react to prophesy. Banquo retains his morals and allegiances, but ends up dying. He is brave and ambitious, but this is tempered by intelligence.

MACDUFF, Thane of Fife, a nobleman of Scotland

Macduff shows early on a distrust of Macbeth. He also represents fate as when knocking on the door. He thinks he can avoid having his family looking guilty and being killed by fleeing, but he overestimates Macbeth. Macduff then plays the avenger.

MALCOLM, elder son of Duncan

Malcolm, as a good king, is everything that Macbeth is not. He uses deception only to insure his personal safety.

DONALBAIN, younger son of Duncan

Donalbain is Duncan's youngest son and flees to Ireland when his father is murdered.

LENNOX, nobleman of Scotland

Lennox is one of Duncan's nobles and he is largely an observer in the play. He grows suspicious of what he sees in Macbeth, and grows increasingly sarcastic and is fearful for the fate of Scotland.

ROSS, nobleman of Scotland

Ross is Macduff's cousin. He acts as a messenger in the play, bringing good news of Macbeth's military victory and bad news about Macduff's family.

SIWARD, Earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces

Old Siward is the Earl of Northumberland and an ally of Malcolm and Macduff.

YOUNG SIWARD, his son

Young Siward is Siward's son. He is slain by Macbeth in hand-to-hand combat.

SEYTON, attendant to Macbeth

Seyton is Macbeth's lieutenant.

HECATE, Queen of the Witches

Hecate is sometimes referred to as the queen of the witches. It is she who directs supernatural happenings and appearances of the mystical apparitions.

The Three Witches

The three witches add an element of supernatural and prophecy to the play. They are described as having beards but looking human.

The Porter

The Porter is the keeper of Macbeth's castle who imagines that he is the keeper of Hell's Gate.

LADY MACDUFF

Lady Macduff represents all the good people slaughtered by Macbeth. She loves her family, and is distressed at her husband's departure. She does not really believe her husband is a traitor and is concerned only that he is safe when the murderers arrive.

FLEANCE, Banquo's son

Fleance plays no large role, and the only question is how his line ends up becoming king after Malcolm.

MENTEITH, ANGUS, and CAITHNESS

Noblemen of Scotland

Other Characters

An English Doctor, A Scottish Doctor, A Sergeant, An Old Man, The Ghost of Banquo and other Apparitions, Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers.