Lady Macbeth
She is Macbeth's wife, she is portrayed as greedy and in need of power or status.
And live a coward in thine own esteem/ Letting
"I dare not" wait upon "I would,"/ like the poor cat
i' th' adage?" (1.7.43-45)
Macbeth
He is a war hero, who is also the Thane of Glamis.
In the beginning of the play he is perceived as cowardly
and is guilt ridden, his character develops in act four to become stronger and conquer his fears believing no man born to a woman could harm him, his actions were "thought and done" (4.1.155)
The Three Witches
They can use
spells and can
predict prophecies
They work under Hecate
King Duncan
He was considered to be
a worthy and great King, He was
proud of Macbeth for fighting in the war against
Norway and the rebels.
Banquo
Banquo is close with Macbeth he is a nobleman and the
father of Fleance, he receives a prophecy that mentions his
children will be Kings.
Macduff
Malcolm
Donalbain
Youngest son of Kind Duncan and brother to Malcolm
Lady Macduff
wife of Macduff, feels betrayed after
being abandoned by her husband
Fleance
Banquo's son
Hecate
Lennox
nobleman
Ross
Cousin of Lady Macbeth and a nobleman
The Murderers
Porter
The doorman of
Macbeth's castle
The setting is in old Scotland, with some scenes taking place in England where Macduff and Malcolm were staying.
There is Macbeth's castle where the king was killed, after this Macbeth moved into the royal palace in Dunsinane, where he lived from then on.
There was the "moving forest" also known as Birnam wood which was where the battle started and eventually took place.
The opening scene has a thunderstorm with the witches which sets the secretive and deceptive mood for the play. " In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" (1.1.3.)
After King Duncan is killed, the animals and weather start to change. The skies are darker and the day seems weaker. Ross and an old man refer to it as being "unnatural" just as the murder had been( referring to King Duncan's death) representing that Macbeth has thrown everything out of order by murdering the King.
Act 2, Scene 4, Lines 5-18. All
discuss the change to the environment.
"'Tis unnatural,/Even like the deed that's done." (2.4.11)
Greed can over power and often
result in guilt.
Malcolm would feel guilty to be king if he were to be
heavily influenced by his greed.
"I should cut off the nobles for their lands,/ Desire his jewels and this other’s house./ And my more-having would be as a sauce/ To make me hunger more, that I should forge" (4.3.81-84)
Lady Macbeth was filled with guilt after her husband
killed so many people under he slight influence, she gave into guilt by killing herself. Once again the origin of her guilt was greed for power.
" Do breed unnatural troubles.Infected minds/To their deaf pillows will discharge Their secrets." (5.1.50-51)
Macduff is filled grief after hearing news his wife and children were killed, he feels guilty for leaving his wife but finds more benefit in avenging them and becomes greedy to work alongside Malcolm to kill Macbeth.Revenge and greed work alongside each other because often one can be hurt and wish to hurt someone back, there desire to do so can be very large as is Macduff's.
"Let's make us med'cines of our great revenge,/To cure this deadly grief," (4.3.220-221)
Learning of our fate changes our
character.
Macbeth
Banquo
The witches
The witches used their knowledge to manipulate or change the fates of others. They told Macbeth and Banquo their destinies which led to the murders of many people which may not have occurred had they stayed quiet. However Macbeth and Banquo requested they tell them more which led to the fates of Macbeth and Banquo intertwining. This connection only caused trouble and proved the witches manipulative character.
"Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none./ So all hail Macbeth and Banquo!" (1.3.68-69)
Person vs. Person
Macbeth vs Macduff
Macbeth fears that Macduff is a traitor and that
he poses a threat towards his throne, he kills Macduffs
entire family in hope it would scare off Macduff. Macduff thinks
Macbeth is evil and a horrible king, he returns from England to
kill Macbeth for the horrible things he has done.
"I have no words./ My voice is in my sword. thou bloodier villain/ Than terms can give thee out!" (5.8.7-9)
Macbeth vs Banquo
The conflict begins when they are both told their
prophecies, Macbeth is unhappy to hear that his children will never be kings but Banquos will. This cause Macbeth to be jealous and angry at Banquo who he now sees as a threat to his throne. In the end he attempts to kills Banquo and his son Fleance, he is successful in killing Banquo but not Fleance
( act 3 )
Macbeth vs Lady Macbeth
Person vs. Self
Lady Macbeth vs. Self
Lady Macbeth is overcome with guilt in act five scene one she is sleep walking and seen trying to rub off a mark on her hand which may be the "blood on her hands" as a representation of her feeling very guilty over the frequent murders her husband has commit to gain power. She ends up killing herself because she found no peace with what she was dealing with.
"Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown./ Look not so pale.- I tell you yet again. / Banquo's burried;he cannot come out on's grave." (5.1.42-43)
Macbeth vs. Self
We can see that Macbeth is having an internal conflict
when he is feeling doubt in his decision to kill Macbeth. In this scene there is a dagger which seems to be symbolizing his conscience, which causes his hesitation. further on in the story he sees the hallucinations of the people he has killed which causes him to lose faith in his decisions.
Person vs. Fate/Supernatural
Macbeth vs Supernatural
Fate and the Witches cause Macbeth to be over confident, believing that no man born to a women can kill him. In the end he was bested by Macduff who was born by cesarean section, the conflict arises when he realizes that fates are full of riddles.
" And be these juggling fiends no more believed,/ That palter with us in a double sense," (5.8.19-20)