Key Characters
A brave and ambitious warrior who is manipulated by the witches' prophecy into murdering King Duncan. Macbeth initially feels guilt after Duncan's murder, but his ambition grows and he becomes a tyrannical ruler who is eventually killed by Macduff at the end of the play.
More ruthless than Macbeth, she urges him to kill King Duncan. She challenges traditional gender norms. Her guilt and fear eventually consume her, driving her to insanity.
A benevolent king presented as a true and gracious monarch who embodies the Jacobean belief that God appointed the King as his deputy on Earth.
A distant relation of King James I and Macbeth's friend. He also hears the witches' prophecy and becomes suspicious of Macbeth after Duncan's murder. He is the moral compass of the play. Macbeth sends assassins to murder him.
Early on, he suspects Macbeth's involvement in King Duncan's murder and goes to England to gather support from Malcolm. Driven by a desire for revenge after Macbeth murders his family, Macduff kills Macbeth at the end.
Named as the next king, Malcolm grows suspicious when King Duncan is murdered. He flees to England but returns with an army to defeat Macbeth and become King of Scotland.
The three witches are related to the three Fates in classical mythology. They are supernatural creatures who tempt Macbeth to commit evil and prophesied his tragic downfall.
Murdered by Macbeth's assassins alongside her young son whilst Macduff is seeking to join forces with Malcolm in England.
Escapes Macbeth's assassins when they are sent to murder him alongside his father Banquo.
Suspected of involvement in his father's murder, he flees Scotland alongside his brother Malcolm.
Scottish thanes who comment on the action of the play and its effects on Scotland. They represent the wider world outside Macbeth's castle.