Duncan | King of Scotland |
Malcolm | son of Duncan, one of Duncan’s sons who is thought to have murdered Duncan, flees to England, Prince of Cumberland |
Donalbain | Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s younger brother. |
MacBeth | one of Duncan’s generals; wants to become King of Scotland; murders Duncan and slays anyone in the way of his kingship |
Banquo | The brave, noble general whose children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne. |
Macduff | A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. |
Lennox | Nobleman of Scotland |
Ross | a messenger throughout the play who tries to convince Lady Macduff that Macduff didn’t leave because he wanted to leave his family |
Menteith | Nobleman of Scotland who allies with Macduff’s army, identifies Birnam Wood for Siward |
Angus | Nobleman who was sent to guide Macbeth and Banquo back to Duncan and to tell Macbeth he is thane of Cawdor |
Caithness | Scottish nobleman; one of the rebels that says of Macbeth, “Some say he’s mad, thers, that lesser hate him”. |
Fleance | Son to Banquo |
Siward | Earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces |
Young Siward | The Son of Siward |
Seyton | An officer attending on macBeth |
Son to MacDuff | MacDuff’s son |
An English Doctor | none |
A Scottish Doctor | none |
A Porter | none |
An Old Man | none |
Three Murderers | none |
Lady MacBeth | Macbeth’s wife who is the true mastermind behind Duncan’s murder. she accuses him of not being a man |
Lady MacDuff | Macduff’s wife who will not forgive him for leaving the castle and his family vulnerable |
A Gentlewoman | Attends on Lady MacBeth |
Hecate | Greek goddess of fertility who later became associated with Persephone as goddess of the underworld and protector of witches |
Witches | the three witches that make predictions that help persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan and Banquo. |
Apparitions | a ghost or ghost-like figure of a human. |
Lords, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants, and Messengers | Other small role characters in Act I |
Macbeth Act 1 Characters
August 17, 2019