‹ Guide

William Shakespeare

Macbeth: characters

Principal characters

Macbeth

A celebrated Scottish general whose encounter with the Witches awakens his ambition to become king. His struggle with conscience and his determination to secure power drive the tragedy.

Relationships

  • Lady Macbethwife
  • Banquofriend and fellow general
  • Macduffopponent and eventual killer
  • Malcolmrival claimant to the throne
  • Duncanking and kinsman
  • Seytonattendant
  • Murderershired killers
  • Three Witchesprophetic tempters

Speaks in 15 of 28 scenes

Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5
  • Lady Macbeth

Royal family

  • Duncan
  • Malcolm
  • Donalbain

Scottish nobles and their families

  • Banquo
  • Fleance
  • Macduff
  • Lady Macduff
  • Macduff's Son
  • Ross
  • Lennox
  • Angus
  • Menteith
  • Caithness

Supernatural figures

  • Three Witches
  • Hecate
  • Apparitions

English allies and rulers

  • Siward
  • Young Siward
  • Edward the Confessor

Offstage figures

  • Macdonwald
  • Former Thane of Cawdor
  • Sweno

Other characters

  • Seyton
  • Scottish Doctor
  • Gentlewoman
  • Porter
  • Captain
  • Old Man
  • Murderers

Access all 31 characters in Macbeth

Unlock the full edition

In the Many Margins app for iPhone and iPad. Teaching it? The teacher licence has it all.