Macbeth Key Characters

1. Macbeth: The Tragic Hero

• Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, starts as a brave Scottish general but turns tyrannical after hearing the witches’ prophecy about becoming king.
• Influenced by his wife, he commits regicide, leading to deep regret and guilt.
• Macbeth’s descent into madness and a murderous rampage ends with his tragic demise in a battle against Macduff.

2. Lady Macbeth: Ambition and Guilt

• Lady Macbeth, driven by ambition, plots Duncan’s murder and supports Macbeth in his tyrannical rule.
• Despite her initial control, guilt consumes her, leading to madness and a tragic off-stage suicide.
• She challenges traditional gender roles, acting as a forceful and manipulative character.

3. Macduff: The Avenger

• Macduff, Thane of Fife, discovers Duncan’s murder and seeks revenge against Macbeth.
• His family’s murder intensifies his resolve, and he fulfils the witches’ prophecy by defeating Macbeth in battle.

4. The Three Witches: Agents of Fate?

• Morally ambiguous characters who prophesy Macbeth’s rise to power and subsequent downfall.
• Their prophecies play a pivotal role in driving Macbeth’s actions, leaving the audience questioning their nature—agents of fate or manipulators of human lives.

5. King Duncan and Banquo: Catalysts for Tragedy

• Duncan, the initial king, praises Macbeth but falls victim to regicide.
• Banquo, a loyal friend of Macbeth, becomes a threat as per the witches’ prophecy, leading to his murder and the haunting of Macbeth.

6. Malcolm: The Restorer of Order

• Malcolm, Duncan’s son, initially suspected in his father’s murder, flees to England.
• He overcomes initial doubts and, with Macduff’s help, leads an army to defeat Macbeth and restore order.