MacBeth: Characters

Duncan King of Scotland. Macbeth murders him from selfish attempt to achieve the crown. “Kindly and trusting older man”
Malcolm and Donalbain Duncan’s Sons. They flee Scotland after their fathers death. One is the Prince of Cumberland.
Macbeth Thame Of Glamis. “Macbeth is a general in the king’s army and originally the Thane of Glamis” Eventually he is murdered by Macduff. Shows not an evil, but a weakness of character.
Lady Macbeth “What Macbeth lacks in decisiveness, Lady Macbeth makes up for in bloodthirsty lust for power and wealth.” She is the stronger character of her husband.
Seyton Macbeth’s servant
Two Murderers Hired by Macbeth to kill Banquo, Fleance, Lady Macduff, and Macduff’s son.
A Porter “Provides comic relief with his account of ‘hell-portering'”
Banquo Thane of Locaber. A general in Duncan’s army. Banquo does not act to fulfill the prophecies. Appears after dying as a ghost to Macbeth. Commander of Duncan’s army with Macbeth.
Fleance Banquo’s son.
Macduff “Scottish nobleman who questions Macbeth’s tyrannical rule and refuses to recognize him as king” Follows Malcom to England, then showing his “true faithfulness to Scotland”
Lady Macduff “A kind and motherly foil for Lady Macbeth’s lack of feminine sympathies, she is killed along with her children after Macduff flees Scotland.”
Lennox “A Scottish noble who gradually questions Macbeth’s tyrannical rule.” He and Macduff come to waken Duncan in the morning to find him dead.
Ross Macbeth’s cousin. Scottish nobleman who eventually turns on Macbeth. In Scottish army with Agnus. Talks with Old Man of the strange happenings, including horses eating each other.
Angus, Menteith, and Caithness “Scottish nobles who join with Malcolm and the English forces in opposing Macbeth.”
Siward Duncan’s brother. Leads English Army against Macbeth.
Young Siward Siward’s son, slain by Macbeth in combat.
Hecate Queen of the witches
Three Witches/ The Weird Sisters “The witches foresee Macbeth’s ascent to power and his defeat, as well as the succession of Banquo’s line”
Additional Characters Three Messengers Three ServantsA LordA SoldierA Captain in Duncan’s armyAn Old ManAn English DoctorAn Scottish Doctor A Scottish GentlewomanMacduff’s son
MacDonwald and the Thane of Cawdor Two Scottish rebels who oppose Duncan.
Duncans Chamberlains Blamed for Duncans Murder.
Allusion Figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art, either directly or indirectly.
Personification Giving human qualitites to an object or thing.
Hyperbole An exaggerated statement.
Verbal Irony A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant
Blank Verse Unrymed verse form.
Other Terms Iambic Pentameter (measure of rhythm in line of poetry, 10 syllables)Rhyming coupletEnjambment
Messenger Tells Lady Macduff to take her children and run away.
Doctor and Lady See Lady Macbeth sleepwalking
The Three Prophecies 1. “A floating head warns him to beware Macduff”2. Then a bloody child appears and tells him that “none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth” 3. Crowned child holding a tree tells him that he is safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill
July 26, 2019