Themes

Context

Characters

Questions

Summary

Quotes

The Main Characters

The Main Character

Macbeth is a tragic protagonist in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. Initially, he is a loyal and courageous warrior, respected by his peers and admired by his king. However, after encountering three witches who prophesy his ascent to the throne, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition and a thirst for power. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make the prophecy come true, including murdering his own king and best friend. As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid, ruthless, and guilty, leading to his ultimate downfall and death.

Timeline of key events for Macbeth:

Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plot to murder King Duncan to make the prophecy come true.
Macbeth kills King Duncan and becomes king.
Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid and murders his friend Banquo and attempts to murder Banquo's son, Fleance.
Macbeth becomes haunted by the ghost of Banquo and becomes increasingly guilty and tormented.
Macbeth seeks the witches' advice again
Macbeth has Macduff's wife and children killed because Macduff has joined Malcolm's army in England.
The final battle occours in which Macbeth is killed by Macduff.

Key quotes for Macbeth:

"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other." (Act 1, Scene 7)
"Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?" (Act 2, Scene 1)
"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more." (Act 5, Scene 5)

Historical context linking to Macbeth's character:

The idea of the "Great Chain of Being," a hierarchical order of the universe, was prevalent in Shakespeare's time and may have influenced Macbeth's desire to be king and his belief in the prophecy.

Macbeth's Wife

Lady Macbeth is one of the most complex and fascinating characters in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. She is the wife of the protagonist, Macbeth, and plays a key role in his downfall. Lady Macbeth is initially presented as a strong and ambitious woman, who is willing to do whatever it takes to make her husband king. However, as the play progresses, Lady Macbeth's character begins to unravel, and she is consumed by guilt and madness.

Timeline of key events for Lady Macbeth:

Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her husband, detailing the witches' prophecy.
Lady Macbeth encourages her husband to murder King Duncan and take the throne.
Lady Macbeth helps Macbeth to carry out the murder of King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth tries to control Macbeth when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo at the feast.
Lady Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid and haunted by guilt, leading to her eventual breakdown in the sleepwalking scene.
Lady Macbeth dies offstage, by suicide.

Key quotes for Lady Macbeth:

"Unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty." (Act 1, Scene 5)
"Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under 't." (Act 1, Scene 5)
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (Act 5, Scene 1)

Historical context linking to Lady Macbeth's character:

Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth challenges traditional gender roles, as she is a strong and ambitious woman who defies the expectations of her time.
The idea of the "Great Chain of Being," a hierarchical order of the universe, was prevalent in Shakespeare's time and may have influenced Lady Macbeth's desire to attain power and status.

A Lord

Macduff is a Scottish nobleman and a prominent character in "Macbeth." He is depicted as a brave, loyal, and honourable man who is deeply committed to his country and his family. Macduff is also known for his piety and his strong moral values, which often guide his actions throughout the play.

Timeline of key events for Macduff:

Macduff is introduced in Act 2, Scene 3, where he expresses his suspicion of Macbeth.
Macduff leaves Scotland to join Malcolm in England. He hopes to help Malcolm take the throne back from Macbeth.
Macduff learns that his family has been brutally murdered by Macbeth's men. He is devastated and vows to seek revenge against Macbeth.
Macduff, with Malcolm, goes with the army to take back Scotland.
Macduff confronts Macbeth in a one-on-one battle and ultimately kills him.

Key quotes for Macduff:

"Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!" (Act 2, Scene 4)
"Oh, Scotland, Scotland!" (Act 4, Scene 3)
"All my pretty ones? Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?" (Act 4, Scene 3)
"Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripped." (Act 5, Scene 8)

Historical context:

Macduff fulfils the contextual expectations placed on men at the time. He is shown to be loyal to the rightful heir Malcolm. He has many heirs (children) unlike Macbeth. He is confident with his emotions and masculinity.

The King

Duncan is the King of Scotland in William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth." He is a gracious and benevolent ruler, widely respected by his subjects. Duncan is portrayed as a just and honourable leader who values loyalty and bravery. However, he is also shown as somewhat naive and overly trusting, which ultimately leads to his downfall.

Timeline of key events for Duncan:

Duncan receives news that the battle has been won
Duncan awards the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth for his bravery in battle against the rebels.
Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle where he is warmly welcomed by Lady Macbeth and is subsequently murdered by Macbeth in his sleep.

Key quotes for Duncan:

"What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won." (Act 1, Scene 2)
"This castle hath a pleasant seat." (Act 1, Scene 6)

Historical context:

The character of Duncan can be seen as a tribute to the real-life King Duncan I of Scotland, who ruled from 1034 to 1040.
Duncan's portrayal as a virtuous and honourable king reflects the ideal of kingship during the Renaissance, which emphasized the importance of wisdom, justice, and mercy in a ruler.
The regicide could be linked to the Gunpowder Plot, which nearly led to the death of James I.

The Heir

Malcolm is the son of King Duncan and rightful heir to the throne of Scotland. Initially, Malcolm is portrayed as an inexperienced and naive character, but as the play progresses, he proves himself to be a wise and strategic leader.

Malcolm's key events in the play include:

Malcolm is introduced as the Prince of Cumberland, the heir to the Scottish throne, and is named as the successor to King Duncan.
After the murder of his father, Malcolm flees to England to seek refuge with King Edward the Confessor.
In Act 4, Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty by pretending to be a tyrant himself, which Macduff vehemently opposes. This test proves Malcolm's intelligence and strategic thinking.
In the final act of the play, Malcolm returns to Scotland with an army to overthrow Macbeth and reclaim his rightful place as king.

Some key quotes from Malcolm in the play include:

"Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell. Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, yet grace must still look so." (Act 4, Scene 3)
"What I am truly, is thine and my poor country's to command." (Act 4, Scene 3)
"We have met with foes that strike beside us." (Act 5, Scene 2)

Historical context that links to Malcolm's character includes:

The play is set in 11th century Scotland during a time of political instability and conflict. Malcolm's character is shaped by the challenges of navigating this turbulent period and the need to assert his authority as a leader.
The theme of the "Divine Right of Kings" is prominent in the play, with Malcolm representing the rightful heir to the throne and Macbeth as the usurper. This reflects the political beliefs of Shakespeare's time and the tension between monarchs and their subjects.

Macbeth's Friend

Banquo is a Scottish general and friend of Macbeth, who is initially a loyal supporter of the new king, but becomes suspicious of his friend's ambition and subsequent rise to power.

Banquo's key events in the play include:

Banquo first appears in the play alongside Macbeth as they return from battle, having fought to protect King Duncan's throne.
Banquo receives a prophecy from the witches, which predicts that his descendants will become kings. He is initially sceptical of the witches' powers but becomes increasingly interested in the prophecy as the play progresses.
In Act 2, Banquo begins to suspect that Macbeth has been involved in the murder of King Duncan.
In Act 3, Banquo is murdered by Macbeth's hired assassins, in an attempt to prevent his prophecy from coming true.

Some key quotes from Banquo in the play include:

"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray us in deepest consequence." (Act 1, Scene 3)
"Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear thou played'st most foully for't." (Act 3, Scene 1)

Historical context that links to Banquo's character includes:

Banquo was a real historical figure, who lived in 11th century Scotland and was an ancestor of King James I of England (formerly King James VI of Scotland). The inclusion of Banquo in the play may have been intended to flatter James, who was a patron of Shakespeare's acting company.

The Weird Sisters

The witches, also known as the Weird Sisters, are a group of supernatural beings who prophesize the future and manipulate the actions of the play's characters.

The witches' key events in the play include:

The witches first appear in Act 1, Scene 1, where they plan to meet Macbeth and Banquo after their battle.
The witches prophesize that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually the king of Scotland, and that Banquo's descendants will become kings.
The witches meet with Macbeth again. They manipulate Macbeth's actions by providing him with prophecies that encourage his ambition, leading to his downfall. They tell him to: fear Macduff, not be afraid till the Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane castle and that no one born from a woman can harm him.

Some key quotes from the witches in the play include:

"Fair is foul and foul is fair." (Act 1, Scene 1)
"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." (Act 4, Scene 1)

Historical context that links to the witches' character includes:

The witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will become kings may have been intended to flatter King James I of England, who was a descendant of Banquo and had an interest in the supernatural.

The minor characters

Ross

A Scottish nobleman who serves as a messenger and ally to Macbeth at the beginning of the play, but later becomes a messenger for Malcolm and ultimately turns against Macbeth. He helps to deliver news and updates to various characters throughout the play.

Lennox

Another Scottish nobleman who is initially loyal to Macbeth, but gradually becomes suspicious of him and ultimately sides with Malcolm. He provides commentary on the events of the play and helps to expose Macbeth's treachery.

Fleance

The son of Banquo, who escapes Macbeth's attempt to have him murdered. He is not a major character in the play, but his survival is significant because it means that the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne may still come true.

Hecate

The goddess of witchcraft, who is angered by the witches' involvement with Macbeth and decides to take control of their coven. She appears in only one scene and has a limited role in the play, but her presence emphasizes the supernatural elements of the story.

Donalbain

One of King Duncan's sons, who flees to Ireland after his father is murdered.

Siward

An English general who supports Malcolm's campaign to overthrow Macbeth. He leads the English forces in the final battle and ultimately kills Macbeth.

Porter

A minor character who provides comic relief in the play. He is a drunken gatekeeper who imagines himself as the gatekeeper to Hell and provides a humorous contrast to the serious events unfolding in the rest of the play.

The murders

A group of hired assassins who carry out Macbeth's orders to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. They are minor characters who appear only briefly, but their actions have significant consequences for the plot.