Macbeth Scottish general ambitious enough to commit regicide to become king
Lady Macbeth His wife; ambitious; later remorseful
Banquo General, murdered by hired killers
Fleance Banquo's son
Duncan King of Scotland
Malcolm Eldest son of Duncan, Prince of Cumberland
Donalbain Youngest son of Duncan
Macduff General, dedicated to the good of Scotland
Ross Cousin to Macduff
Lennox Nobleman, loyal to Duncan
Seyton Lieutenant to Macbeth
Siward English Earl, supporter of Malcolm
Young Siward Bravely faces Macbeth though he is killed in battle
Three Witches Predict Macbeth's ambitions will soon come true; later predict his downfall
Taken from Penguin Guide
A captain in Duncan's army, later the Thane (Lord) of Glamis and Cawdor. When Three Witches predict that he will one day be king of Scotland, he takes his fate into his own hands, allowing his ambition and that of his wife to overcome his better judgement. His bloody reign culminates in a battle against Malcolm and the English forces.
Read more on Character Analysis Macbeth
King of Scotland. His victories against rebellious kinsmen and the Norwegians have made him a popular and honoured king. His decision to pass the kingdom to his son Malcolm provokes his untimely death at the hands of Macbeth.
Read more on Character Analysis Duncan
Duncan's two sons. Fearful of implication in their father's murder, they flee Scotland, Donalbain to Ireland and Malcolm to England, where he raises a large army with the intention of toppling the tyrant Macbeth.
Read more on Character Analysis Malcolm
Three agents of Fate who reveal the truth (or part of it) to Macbeth and Banquo and who later appear to confirm the downfall and tragic destiny of the tyrannical Macbeth.
The devilish wife of Macbeth, whose ambition helps to drive her husband toward the desperate act of murder. Subsequently, her husband's cruelty and her own guilt recoil on her, sending her into a madness from which she never recovers.
Read more on Character Analysis Lady Macbeth
A thane (nobleman) of Scotland who discovers the murdered King Duncan. Suspecting Macbeth and eventually turning against him, Macduff later flees to England to join Malcolm. When Macbeth arranges the murder of his wife and children, Macduff swears personal revenge.
Read mor on Character Analysis Macduff
A fellow-captain and companion of Macbeth, who also receives a prophecy from the Witches: that his children will one day succeed to the throne of Scotland. This information is sufficient to spell his death at the hands of the resentful Macbeth, who is later haunted by Banquo's ghost.
Read more on Character Analysis Banquo