Macbeth Characters

The Witches, or The Weird Sisters Three hags who practice black magic. Their prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo suggest that Macbeth will rule Scotland and that Banquo’s descendants will be kings. Later, the witches conjure up three apparitions who warn Macbeth against Macduff, assure him no man born of woman will harm him, and declare that he will not be conquered until Birnam wood comes to Dunsinane
Duncan The King of Scotland. While a guest at Macbeth’s castle (called Inverness), he is murdered by his host. His assassination sets into motion a series of evil action and unnatural disturbances that are not corrected until Malcolm and Macduff restore order at the end of the play.
Malcolm Duncan’s son, Donalbain’s brother, and heir to the Scottish throne. After his father’s murder, he flees to England in fear of his life. There he recruits an army to invade Scotland and conquers Macbeth’s forces at Dunsinane.
Donalbain Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s brother. After the king’s murder he flees to Ireland in fear of his life.
Macbeth The Thane of Glamis and a general in Duncan’s army. He encounters three witches who predict he will become king of Scotland. Influenced by his ambition and Lady Macbeth’s urgings, he plots to murder Duncan and take the throne. His evil deed introduces corruption and unnatural disturbances into the kingdom. He is ultimately conquered by Malcolm and Macduff.
Banquo A nobleman and a general in Duncan’s army. With Macbeth, he encounters the weird sisters and from their prophecies he learns that his descendants will be kings. Macbeth later arranges the murder of him and his son to thwart the prediction. His ghost later haunts Macbeth at a banquet.
Lady Macbeth Macbeth’s wife. She coerces her husband into murdering Duncan. When Macbeth becomes unnerved during the murder, she covers up the assassination by placing knives belonging to the king’s attendants near his corpse. After the murder, she is driven insane with guilt and commits suicide.
Macduff The Thane of Fife. After Duncan’s murder, he become suspicious of Macbeth and flees to England to join forces with Malcolm. When he returns to Scotland with Malcolm’s invading army, he meets Macbeth on the battlefield. He kills Macbeth after telling him that he was “untimely ripp’d” from his mother’s womb therefore he is not born of woman so he can kill Macbeth.
Fleance Banquo’s son. Macbeth attempts to assassinate him along with his father in order to thwart the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will become kings. He escpaes and assures the survival of the family line.
Lady Macduff Macduff’s wife. Macbeth sends assassins to murder her and her family when he learns that her husband has fled to England.