1.

Macbeth

Overview: Macbeth is a Scottish general whose ambition, fueled by the prophecy of the witches, drives
him to commit regicide and leads to his eventual downfall. His transformation from a noble warrior to a
tyrannical ruler is the central focus of the play.

Character Traits:

Ambitious: Macbeth’s ambition is awakened when he hears the witches' prophecy that he will become
king. This ambition drives him to murder King Duncan, even though he initially hesitates. His desire for
power grows, pushing him to further violence.

Guilty: After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth is tormented by guilt and paranoia. He hears voices and sees
hallucinations like Banquo’s ghost, symbolizing his inner psychological struggle and remorse.

Brave: Macbeth is initially portrayed as a courageous and loyal warrior. He earns respect on the
battlefield, being described as valiant and fearless, particularly when fighting the Norwegians. His
bravery is also reflected in his initial refusal to kill Duncan, despite Lady Macbeth’s manipulation.

Tragic Hero: Macbeth is a classic tragic hero. His internal conflict between his noble nature and
destructive ambition, alongside his susceptibility to manipulation (especially by Lady Macbeth), leads to
his tragic demise. His downfall serves as a lesson in the dangers of unchecked ambition.

2. Lady Macbeth

Overview: Lady Macbeth is Macbeth’s wife and the driving force behind his ambition. While she starts
strong and manipulative, she is eventually consumed by guilt and remorse, which leads to her mental
collapse.

Character Traits:

Ambitious: Lady Macbeth is more ambitious than Macbeth and is the catalyst for his crime. She is
determined to see her husband crowned king, even if it requires murder. She encourages Macbeth to
act, calling his masculinity into question to manipulate him into killing Duncan.

Manipulative: She uses psychological tactics to manipulate Macbeth, questioning his courage and
manhood, and pushes him to murder Duncan. Her emotional manipulation makes her a key figure in the
decision to kill.
 Strong-willed: At first, Lady Macbeth appears to be the stronger character. She takes control of the
murder plan, organizing the details and ensuring that Macbeth carries it out. She is resolute in her
pursuit of power.

Guilt-ridden: Lady Macbeth’s guilt manifests through her sleepwalking and hallucinations, notably the
famous scene where she compulsively tries to wash imaginary bloodstains from her hands. This mental
unraveling shows the psychological consequences of her role in the murder.

3. The Three Witches (Weird Sisters)

Overview: The Weird Sisters are supernatural figures who prophesy Macbeth’s rise to power and his
eventual downfall. They set the tone for the play, representing the theme of fate and the unknown.

Character Traits:

Mysterious: The witches speak in cryptic riddles, giving Macbeth and the audience an air of mystery
and suspense. Their ambiguous prophecies are open to interpretation and manipulation.

Manipulative: They exploit Macbeth’s ambitions, delivering prophecies that lead him to believe he is
invincible. They feed his paranoia and delusions of grandeur, making him susceptible to their influence.

Foreboding: The witches symbolize fate and the supernatural forces that control events in the play.
Their appearance marks the beginning of Macbeth’s tragic path, and they foreshadow the moral and
social disorder that will follow Duncan’s murder.

4. Banquo

Overview: Banquo is Macbeth’s friend and fellow soldier. While Macbeth succumbs to ambition, Banquo
represents honor, integrity, and loyalty. His relationship with Macbeth contrasts sharply with Macbeth’s
moral decline.

Character Traits:

Loyal: Banquo is fiercely loyal to King Duncan, showing his sense of honor. He does not let the witches’
prophecy corrupt his actions or decisions, unlike Macbeth.
 Cautious: Banquo is skeptical of the witches’ prophecies and wary of their manipulative power. Unlike
Macbeth, he does not act on the witches' words, understanding the danger they pose.

Fated: The witches prophesize that Banquo’s descendants will be kings, making him a threat to
Macbeth’s power. Macbeth arranges for Banquo’s murder to prevent this, but the prophecy is ultimately
fulfilled, highlighting the inevitability of fate.

Ghostly Presence: After Banquo’s murder, his ghost haunts Macbeth, symbolizing the guilt and
consequences of Macbeth’s actions. Banquo’s ghost represents the lingering effects of Macbeth’s
betrayal and murder.

5. King Duncan

Overview: King Duncan is the benevolent and virtuous king of Scotland. His murder is the pivotal event
that sets the course for Macbeth’s tragic downfall.

Character Traits:

Noble: Duncan is depicted as a just, kind, and trusting ruler. His goodness stands in stark contrast to
Macbeth’s later tyranny. He values loyalty, honor, and bravery, and his reign is marked by peace.

Trusting: Duncan places his trust in Macbeth, believing him to be a loyal subject. His failure to see
Macbeth’s potential for treachery becomes his tragic flaw.

Symbol of Order: Duncan’s murder represents the disruption of natural order. His assassination throws
Scotland into chaos, leading to Macbeth’s tyrannical rule. His death underscores the destructive nature
of ambition and betrayal.

6. Macduff

Overview: Macduff is a Scottish nobleman who grows suspicious of Macbeth’s rise to power and
ultimately seeks revenge for the murder of his family.

Character Traits:

Brave: Macduff is courageous, as seen when he challenges Macbeth. He risks his life to restore order
to Scotland and avenge Duncan’s murder.
 Loyal: Macduff’s loyalty to King Duncan and his moral integrity are evident in his decision to confront
Macbeth. His determination to right the wrongs of Macbeth’s rule marks him as a hero of justice.

Vengeful: Macduff’s desire for revenge intensifies after Macbeth orders the slaughter of his wife and
children. This tragedy motivates him to fight for justice and reclaim Scotland’s rightful leadership.

Symbol of Justice: Macduff’s role in bringing Macbeth to justice represents the restoration of moral
order. His actions contrast with Macbeth’s corrupt rule.

7. Malcolm

Overview: Malcolm is Duncan’s son and the rightful heir to the throne. He embodies the hope for
Scotland’s restoration after Macbeth’s reign of terror.

Character Traits:

Cautious: Following his father’s murder, Malcolm is cautious and hesitant to trust others,
demonstrating wisdom and prudence in the face of danger.

Determined: He is resolute in his mission to reclaim the throne from Macbeth and restore peace and
order to Scotland. His leadership ultimately brings hope to the Scottish people.

Noble: Malcolm represents the qualities of a good king—honorable, wise, and fair. His rise to the
throne contrasts sharply with Macbeth’s corrupt reign and symbolizes the return of rightful leadership.

8. The Porter

Overview: The Porter provides comic relief in the midst of the dark tragedy. His scene appears in Act 2,
Scene 3, right after Duncan’s murder, where he opens the door to Macbeth’s castle.

Character Traits:

Comedic: His drunken monologue about the "gates of hell" offers a moment of levity amidst the heavy,
tragic events. His humor provides a break from the tension of the play.

Symbolic: The Porter’s jest about admitting people to "hell" adds a layer of irony, as Macbeth’s castle
has become the site of Duncan’s murder and moral corruption.
 Insightful: Despite being a minor character, the Porter reflects on the chaos and moral disorder that
follows Duncan’s death, providing insight into the state of Scotland under Macbeth’s rule.

9. Lady Macduff

Overview: Lady Macduff is Macduff’s wife and the mother of his children. She represents the innocent
victims of Macbeth’s tyrannical reign.

Character Traits:

Loving Mother: She is devoted to her children, and her protective nature highlights her vulnerability
and the innocence of her family, which contrasts with the violence and ambition of Macbeth.

Courageous: When danger strikes, Lady Macduff is fearless in expressing her frustrations and anger at
her husband's absence. She becomes a symbol of the suffering caused by Macbeth’s tyranny.

Victim of Circumstance: Lady Macduff’s brutal murder at the hands of Macbeth’s assassins illustrates
the collateral damage of Macbeth’s quest for power and his disregard for innocent lives.

10. The Murderers

Overview: The Murderers are a group of hired assassins employed by Macbeth to carry out his orders,
including the murders of Banquo and Macduff’s family.

Character Traits:

Manipulated: The murderers are not inherently evil but are manipulated by Macbeth’s persuasion and
promises of reward. Their actions are driven by Macbeth’s ambition, rather than their own desire for
violence.

Ruthless: They carry out the murders without hesitation, showing a willingness to commit heinous acts
for the sake of power and money.

Faceless: The murderers represent the corrupting influence of Macbeth’s ambition. They are tools in
Macbeth’s violent schemes, showing how ambition can reduce people to mere instruments of
destruction.
11. Hecate

Overview: Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft and the leader of the witches. She appears in Act 3, Scene
5, and plays a more direct role in Macbeth’s downfall.

Character Traits:

Powerful: As the leader of the witches, Hecate represents the authority of the supernatural realm and
wields considerable influence over Macbeth's fate.

Manipulative: Hecate orchestrates Macbeth’s overconfidence by giving him misleading prophecies that
lead him to his demise. Her interference deepens the theme of fate versus free will.

Symbol of Fate: Hecate’s role highlights the play's central theme of fate. She manipulates events to
ensure Macbeth’s downfall, emphasizing that Macbeth’s fate is predetermined and inescapable.

12. Ross

Overview: Ross is a Scottish nobleman who serves as a messenger and commentator on the political
events unfolding in Scotland.

Character Traits:

Observant: Ross provides important insights into the political state of Scotland and the consequences
of Macbeth’s actions. He is a keen observer of the chaos around him.

Loyal: Ross is loyal to the rightful king and joins Malcolm in the fight against Macbeth. His actions
highlight the resistance against tyranny.

Mediator: Ross acts as a mediator in various situations, often conveying information between different
characters and offering commentary on the unfolding events.

13. Fleance

Overview: Fleance is Banquo’s son. His survival after the murder attempt is crucial, as it preserves the
witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will become kings.
Character Traits:

Innocent: Fleance is an innocent child, representing the purity and hope for the future that is
threatened by the violence and ambition of the adults around him.

Symbol of Legacy: His escape from the murderers ensures that the witches’ prophecy will eventually
come true. Fleance’s survival symbolizes the continuation of the rightful royal lineage, in contrast to
Macbeth’s illegitimate rule.