Macbeth In-depth Character Analysih

Main characters
 Macbeth
 Lady Macbeth

Secondary characters
 Banquo
 Macduff
 The Witches

Minor characters
 Duncan
 Malcolm
 Donalbain
 Fleance
 Seyton
 Lady Macduff
 The porter
 Hecate

Macbeth
Macbeth is a complex character who changes throughout the course
of the play. He is clearly a brave warrior and leader at the start of the
drama but he falls victim to the Witches' predictions. It is unclear
whether they plant ideas in his mind or whether they simply highlight
thoughts that he has already had. In a series of soliloquies he
repeatedly questions himself about his motives for killing the King
but is eventually persuaded to continue by his forceful wife.
Having committed murder he finds himself caught in a spiral of evil
from which he can see no escape. His actions become less heroic and
more cowardly as he continues to murder and terrorise others in order
to hold on to his power. Towards the end of the play, when he realises
that he is doomed, he briefly returns to his old heroic self.
 How is Macbeth like
Evidence Analysis
this?

At the start of the play, Macbeth is clearly

Macbeth is Thane of The prince of worried by the strength
Glamis. He quickly Cumberland: That is a of his own ambition
becomes the more step / On which I must which he refers to
powerful Thane of fall down, or else o'er- as black and deep
Cawdor and leap, / For in my way it desires. He knows
then murders his way lies. Stars, hide your there will be
Ambitious to become and fires; / Let not light see obstacles in his way
remain King of my black and deep but is determined to
Scotland. The desires, / The eye wink at get round them. He
Witches' predictions the hand. Yet let that be, just hopes that nobody
seem to waken the / Which the eye fears, will see what he is up
ambition already in him when it is done, to to which is why he
and he is spurred on see. (Act 1 Scene 4) wants the stars to stop
by his wife. shining.

At the start of the play,

For brave Macbeth-- well
Macbeth shows that he
he deserves that name -- The Captain describes
is a mighty
/ Disdaining fortune, with Macbeth's actions on
warrior when he leads
his brandished steel, / the battlefield
the Scottish troops to
Which smoked with particularly when he
victory over an
bloody execution, / Like seeks out and kills the
invading force.
Valour's minion carved traitor Macdonwald.
Duncan, the King,
out his passage / Till he The Captain uses a
Brave rewards him by making
faced the slave, Which number of strong
him Thane of Cawdor.
ne'er shook hands, nor verbs and
At the end of the play,
bade farewell to him, / Till adjectivesto show
when he knows he is
he unseamed him from how brave Macbeth
about to die, Macbeth
the nave to th'chaps, / has been: 'brandished',
regains some of his
And fixed his head upon 'smoked', 'carved',
old bravery, as he
our battlements.(Act 1 'unseamed', 'fixed'.
faces Macduff in single
Scene 2)
combat.

Macbeth keeps We will proceed no Macbeth has just spent

changing his mind
about whether to
murder Duncan or
not. This is
Changeable particularily so in the
early part of the play.
His ambition conflicts
with his sense of
loyalty and morality.
Lady Macbeth is key to
further in this business. /
He hath honoured me of
late, and I have bought /
Golden opinions from all
sorts of people, / Which
would be worn now in
their newest gloss, / Not
cast aside so soon. I am
settled and bend up /
Each corporeal agent to
a difficult time
convincing himself that
killing the King is
wrong. He tells Lady
Macbeth that he will
not carry out the deed.
Within the space of a
couple of minutes she
argues the case for
Duncan’s death and
 persuading him and this terrible feat. (Act 1 Macbeth is, once
keeping him Scene 7) again, set on murder.
determined.

Banquo's ghost
appears to Macbeth
alone, showing
(seeing the
Throughout the his overactive
GHOST) Avaunt, and
play, Macbeth is imagination triggered
quit my sight! Let the
tormented by by a guilty
earth hide thee! / Thy
thoughts of the evil conscience. Although
Guilty bones are marrowless,
things he has done. he is now a
conscience thy blood is cold; / Thou
However, he is king, Macbeth cannot
hast no speculation in
caught in a spiral of command his own
those eyes / Which thou
eviland does not seem emotions and feels
dost glare with.(Act 3
able to stop himself. irrevocably set on this
Scene 4)
course of action. The
court thinks he is going
mad.

Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is even more ambitious and ruthless than her husband.
As soon as an opportunity to gain power presents itself, she has a plan
in mind. She uses her influence to persuade Macbeth that they are
taking the right course of action and even takes part in the crime
herself.
For a while she is able to suppress her actions but eventually she
becomes unable to deal with the guilt of what she has done. She
becomes unable to sleep, and mentally unstable, eventually dying in
tragic circumstances.

How is Lady
Evidence Analysis
Macbeth like this?

Lady Macbeth is, Glamis thou art, Lady Macbeth's determination

perhaps, even more and Cawdor, and to succeed is clear here. She
Ambitious shalt be / What
determined than her is insistent that Macbeth will
husband. She can thou art become King ('shalt be what
only be Queen if he promised; yet do thou art promised') However,
 How is Lady
Evidence Analysis
Macbeth like this?

becomes King I fear thy nature, she recognises that he is 'too

so when he hesitates / It is too full full o'th'milk of human
she displays enough o'th'milk of kindness' and that this could
ambition for both of human kindness stand in their way. It is
them. Once she has / To catch the interesting that she describes
worked out a plan, nearest way. the necessary ruthless
nothing will turn her Thou wouldst be streak as an 'illness'. This
from that course until great, / Art not suggests that even at this
her ambition is without ambition, stage she knows what she is
fulfilled. but without / The doing is wrong.
illness should
attend it. (Act 1
Scene 5)

To the outside world,

All our service, /
Lady Macbeth seems
In every point Lady Macbeth welcomes
like the ideal
twice done and Duncan to her home and
supportive wife but
then done flatters him so that he will not
this is part of her
double, / Were suspect a thing. She almost
ability to be
poor and single overdoes it when
deceptive. When
business to she exaggerates 'In every
Macbeth expresses
Cunning contend / point twice done and then
doubts, she uses
Against those done double'. The word
every trick she can
honours deep 'double' also links Lady
think of to make sure
and broad Macbeth to the evil of the
he carries out their
wherewith / Your witches - they use the word
plan to murder
majesty loads repeatedly in one of their
Duncan. When he
our house. (Act 1 spells.
hesitates, she is there
Scene 6)
to urge Macbeth on.

Lady Macbeth seems Out, damned As the guilt-stricken Lady

to go from being spot! Out, I say! Macbeth sleepwalks, she
someone with no One, two. Why remembers all the evil things
conscience at all to then 'tis time to she and her husband have
someone who is do't. Hell is done and tries to wash
overwhelmed by murky. Fie, my imaginary blood from her
Conscience- lord, fie, a
feelings of guilt. She hands (Out, damned spot: out,
stricken soldier, and
cannot bear to think I say!). In particular, she recalls
of what she has afeard? What the night of Duncan's murder
done and eventually need we fear? and the part she played in
dies alone and Who knows it, persuading her husband to act.
unmourned even by when none can She is also aware that she will
her husband. call our power to be going to hell for her sins.
account? Yet
 How is Lady
Evidence Analysis
Macbeth like this?

who would have

thought the old
man to have had
so much blood in
him? (Act 5
Scene 1)

Banquo

Banquo is another general in King Duncan's army and Macbeth's best

friend. While both men have ambitious thoughts, Banquo is more
cautious and does not resort to murder to get what he wants.
Banquo is aware that the Witches' predictions may be tricking
Macbeth into evil actions and is the first to suspect Macbeth of
murder. He dies while protecting his son, Fleance, and comes back as
a ghost to haunt Macbeth.

How is Banquo like

Evidence Analysis
this?

Banquo is in many ways Macbeth considers

Macbeth's opposite. He Our fears in Banquo / what it is about
is kind and caring, Stick deep, and in his Banquo that gives
loyal and royalty of nature / Reigns him cause for
trustworthy. Like that which would be concern. He states
Macbeth he fights feared. 'Tis much he that Banquo has a
bravely for King Duncan dares, / And to that 'royalty of nature' or
Noble but does not involve dauntless temper of his nobility about him
himself with the murder mind, / He hath a which actually makes
plot. When he and wisdom that doth guide Macbeth afraid of
Fleance are attacked his his valour / To act in him. He also
first thought is to keep safety. There is none but acknowledges that
his son safe. Banquo he / Whose being I do Banquo has 'valour'
displays all the fear. (Act 3 Scene 1) (bravery) and
character traits that go 'wisdom' without
to make up someone feeling the need to
 How is Banquo like
Evidence Analysis
this?

who would be regarded take unnecessary

as a truly noble person. risks.

Having listened to the

Witches' predictions,
Banquo seems far less Banquo recognises
ready to believe the That, trusted home, / that Macbeth has
Witches than Macbeth Might yet enkindle you been given the spark
and is suspicious of unto the crown, / that will have lit up his
their motives. He Besides the Thane of ambitious streak
realises that the things Cawdor. But 'tis strange, ('enkindle'). He also
they predict/suggest / And oftentimes, to win realises that the
Questioning may cause his friend to us to our harm, / The predictions are
come to harm. instruments of darkness temptations which
Although, like Macbeth, tell us truths; / Win us only reveal part of the
he is ambitious, he with honest trifles, to truth ('honest trifles').
thinks more carefully betray's / In deepest This is in order to set
about the consequence. (Act 1 a trap for something
consequences of any Scene 3) of greater significance
action. ('to betray's in
deepest
consequence').

Macduff

Macduff, the Thane of Fife, is Macbeth's deadly enemy. He discovers

Duncan's body and becomes Malcolm's chief supporter, following
him to England to support him in raising an army against Macbeth.
When he learns of the murders of his wife and family, Macduff feels
guilty about leaving them and driven by a need for revenge.
According to the Witches' prediction, Macduff is the only one who
can stop Macbeth. The two men meet face-to-face on the battlefield
and Macduff kills Macbeth.
 How is Macduff like
Evidence Analysis
this?

Macduff, this noble

Macduff's first loyalty is
to his king and
country. It is he who
discovers Duncan's body
and reveals the full horror
Loyal of the murder. He follows
Malcolm (the rightful king)
to England and becomes
his right-hand man
supporting him in his bid
to regain the throne.
passion, / Child of Malcolm tests
>integrity, hath from Macduff's loyalty by
my soul / Wiped the pretending to be a
black scruples, worse human being
reconciled my than Macbeth himself.
thoughts / To thy good Macduff refuses to
truth and honour. give up his loyalty to
Devilish Macbeth / By the Scottish royal
many of these trains family. Malcolm
hath sought to win me reveals his deception
/ Into his power, and and contrasts the
modest wisdom plucks 'integrity' and 'good
me / From over- truth and honour' of
credulous haste; but Macduff with that of
God above / Deal 'Devilish Macbeth'. He
between thee and me, finishes by saying that
for even now / I put he completely trusts
myself to thy Macduff - 'I put myself
direction (Act 4 Scene to thy direction'.
3)

Macduff is actually a
man of few words
O, I could play the preferring to get on
Macduff wants to rid his
woman with mine eyes with things. He could
country of the tyrant
/ And braggart with my sit around crying about
Macbeth and vows to help
tongue! But gentle his loss ('I could play
Malcolm achieve this.
heavens, / Cut short the woman with mine
When he learns of the
all intermission. Front eyes') or making great
murder of his family he
Revengeful to front / Bring thou speeches about his
becomes even
this fiend of Scotland intentions ('braggart
more determined to take
and myself; / Within with my tongue').
revenge. He and Macbeth
my sword's length set Instead he cannot wait
come face-to-face on the
him; if he scape, / for the moment ('cut
battlefield and Macduff is
Heaven forgive him short all intermission')
victorious.
too. (Act 4 Scene 3) when he and Macbeth
come face-to-face and
he can be avenged.
The Witches
Although there is clearly more than one of them, the Witches
may be seen as seem as a single character; they are often
referred to as "The Weird Sisters".
Their predictions drive matters forward though they never
actually suggest direct action. Rather, they plant ideas in
Macbeth's mind and let his ambition do the rest. Many of their
predictions are ambiguous.

How are the

Evidence Analysis
Witches like this?

The Witches meet

around one of the
most well-known
symbols of witchcraft
The Witches are
- a cauldron. Into this
clearly unlike any
Round about the cauldron they throw all manner
other characters
go; / In, the poisoned entrails of foul and evil
in the play. Their
throw. / Toad, that under objects ('poisoned
physical
cold stone / Days and nights entrails') and cast a
appearance, their
hast thirty-one / Sweltered spell. Although it is
style of speech,
Supernatural venom sleeping got, / Boil not clear what the
their actions and
thou first i'th'charmèd pot. / spell is for, it is
their apparent
Double, double, toil and obvious they are up
ability to predict the
trouble; / Fire burn, and to no good. The
future sets them
cauldron bubble. (Act 4 Witches' chant is in a
apart from the
Scene 1) different rhythm to the
humans they seek
way the other
to control.
characters speak -
this also suggests
their supernatural
nature.

When the Witches THIRD APPARITION: Be The Witches have

make their lion-mettled, proud, and take conjured up
predictions, they no care / Who chafes, who three ghostly
Ambiguous only say what will frets, or where conspirers visions that make
happen and are. / Great Birnam Wood to ambiguous
not how it will high Dunsinane hill / Shall predictions. Macbeth
happen. Macbeth come against is told that he need
 How are the
Evidence Analysis
Witches like this?

falls into their trap him. MACBETH: That will not fear anything
and believes that never be. (Act 4 Scene 1) ('take no care who
he is safer than he chafes, who frets, or
actually is. where conspirers
are') until a forest of
trees uproots itself
and moves. As this
seems to be a
physical impossibility
Macbeth instantly
dismisses it ever
happening ('That will
never be'). The
prediction will come
true - but not quite
in the way Macbeth
expects.

Duncan
The king of Scotland should be a figurehead of order and
orderliness, and Duncan is the epitome, or supreme example,
of this. His language is formal and his speeches full of grace
and graciousness, whether on the battlefield in Act I, Scene 2,
where his talk concerns matters of honor, or when greeting his
kind hostess Lady Macbeth in Act I, Scene 6. Duncan also
expresses humility (a feature that Macbeth lacks) when he
admits his failure in spotting the previous Thane of Cawdor's
treachery: "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the
face" (I: 4,11).
Most importantly, Duncan is the representative of God on
earth, ruling by divine right (ordained by God), a feature of
kingship strongly endorsed by King James I, for whom the
play was performed in 1606. This "divinity" of the king is
made clear on several occasions in the play, most notably
when Macbeth talks of the murdered Duncan as having "silver
skin lac'd with . . . golden blood" (Act II, Scene 3). The
importance of royal blood, that is, the inheritance of the divine
right to rule, is emphasized when, in the final scene, Duncan's
son Malcolm takes the title of king, with the words "by the
grace of Grace / We will perform."

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