Duncan | well-liked King who is brutally murdered by Macbeth while staying at Macbeth’s Castly |
Macbeth | Nobleman of Scotland; Thane of Glamis who becomes Thane of Cawdor; eventually becomes king to fulfill the witches’ prophesy |
Lady Macbeth | Wife of Macbeth who urges her husband to kill King Duncan so that he could be king; later loses her courage and begins to sleepwalk because of the stress of the crime; later commits suicide |
Banquo | Friend of Macbeth whose sons the witches prophesy will eventually be kings of Scotland; later murdered by Macbeth; his ghost haunts Macbeth. |
Macduff | Enemy of Macbeth who suspects Macbeth of Duncan’s murder; kills Macbeth because he was not “born of a woman” (Act IV, Scene 1, Line 80) |
Malcolm | First son of Duncan and heir to the throne; escapes to England after his father’s murder; later leads the revolt against Macbeth |
Donalbain | Second son of Duncan; ecsapes to Ireland after his father’s murder |
Lennox | Urges Macduff to bring Malcolm back from England as the rightful heir to the throne |
Ross | Nobleman who helps Malcolm in his attempt to reclaim the throne |
Fleance | Banquo’s son; escapes murder attempt by Macbeth |
Siward | Earl of Northumberland who helps Malcolm regain the throne |
Young Siward | Son of Siward who is killed by Macbeth |
Lady Macduff | Macduff’s wife who is brutally murdered under Macbeth’s orders |
Three Murderers | Enlisted by Macbeth to kill Banquo and Fleance |
Gentlewoman | Lady Macbeth’s assistant; observes her strange somnambulatory behavior and enlists the help of the doctor |
Hecate | Protector of witches; concocts the potion that will lead Macbeth to his ruin |
Witches | the weird sisters who prophesy Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland; also predict Banquo’s sons will be heirs to the throne; help Hecate concoct a potion that will lead Macbeth to his ruin |
Three Apparitions | Helmeted Head, Bloody Child, Crowned Child holding a Tree |
They all warn Macbeth | to beware the Thane of Fife (Macduff), fear any man who was NOT born of a woman; remain courageous until Great Birnam Wood travels to Dunsinane Hill |
Queen Elizabeth | patron of Shakespeare; virgin queen |
Black Plague | killed 10% of Londoners; closed down theaters |
The Globe | Shakespeare’s theater |
Box Office | patrons placed penny in box at the entrance |
Wooden O | Shakespeare’s nickname for the Globe |
Thames River | Globe’s location |
Apron | name given to type of stage which allows for spectators on all three sides |
Shakespeare | Nicknamed the Bard; actor, playwright |
Cavalier Poets | Group of poets in the 17th century who supported King Charles I |
Herculean Pillars | support for the stage; painted to look like marble |
Black Flag | Signaled a tragedy would be performed |
Breeching | age 6-7, boys could wear “Boy” clothes |
Pit or Yard | one penny seats in this area |
Tiring House | dressing room; held props |
Hamnet | Shakespeare’s son who died |
Henry VIII | fire during performance caused Globe to burn |
Red Flag | signaled a history would be performed |
First Folio | 1st published collection of Shakespeare’s works |
Macbeth Characters
August 4, 2019