Character Analysis: Macbeth

Macbeth is introduced in the play as a loyal, brave character. Once King Duncan tells him he’d be thane of Cawdor, he begins to imagine having the highest title. The witches lay out predictions between him and Banquo and Macbeth is driven to make them come true. He allows his wife in on the deal and plays foul to get whatever he wanted. He killed the King which made Malcom flee, leaving Macbeth up for the throne. A change in Macbeth’s character is noticed as the story progresses. His ambition makes him weak and vulnerable; by the end of the play, people around him had noticed he was going “insane”. He struggles to regain goodness, but each bad deed always led to another. He even mentions that he is too far in the river to go back down. Macbeth looses his inner self and is then driven by his ambition to have all the power.

Character Analysis: Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is regarded as highly as Macbeth and respected just as he is. King Duncan refers to her a “our honored hostess”, complementing the feel of their castle when he comes to visit. Her ambition and love for her husband is immediately shown when she involves herself in the murder, wanting Macbeth to become king. Throughout the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth shows her fearlessness and strength when she chooses to be involved with the murder of King Duncan. The difference between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is obviously revealed when Macbeth is driven to kill Banquo and Lady Macbeth tells him not to. Later on in the play, Lady Macbeth’s guilt is shown through her sleep walking. In the beginning, she plays a strong, hard woman, but by the end of the play it is revealed that woman eventually do give into their feelings and deep emotions. In the end, she commits suicide unable to cope with her wrongful decisions.

Character Analysis: Duncan

Duncan was the King of Scotland and the first victim in Macbeth’s murder rage. In the beginning of the play, Duncan showed his appreciation in Macbeth and his honorable actions in the battle. King Duncan was regarded as a very respectable man, but the real King Duncan was a nasty, rude warlord. However, Shakespeare decided to make him a respectable king since Macbeth had planned to kill him. He is described with “silver skin” and “golden blood”. To make the murder seem worse, Shakespeare epitomizes Duncan as the perfect ruler with a good manner. Even Lady Macbeth says she would have killed him if he had not looked like her father. King Duncan didn’t have a huge part in the play since he died so early, but he is one of the most important characters. The real King Duncan ascended to the throne in November of 1034. His death indicates the destruction in Scotland after he was murdered and struggle for restoration to the country.  

Character Analysis: The Witches

The witches play the supernatural element of the play. The opening of the play that introduces the witches foreshadows destruction early on in the beginning. As they are only present in a couple of scenes, their presence motivates Macbeth’s actions. They create the paranormal and mystic feel of the play, making ambiguous predictions to lead Macbeth to his downfall. It’s almost hard to determine if the witches are really the reason for Macbeth’s debacle or if Macbeth brought them upon himself. Utterly wicked and extremely malicious, there is even a part in the play where one of the witches talks about putting a spell on a random ladies husband because she wouldn’t share. This illustrates the immoral insecurities the witches have.  They are the reason for Macbeth’s ambition and are the main cause of Macbeth’s extreme dynamicity. Each prediction the witches presented held some levels of truth, but the last was a play on words. They’re wickedness made way for the play to be a tragedy, qualifying in the murder of many.

Character Analysis: Macduff

Macduff, also known as the King of Fife, becomes a very important character in the play once his family becomes involved. He started off as a static character, not saying much, but his character was always one of silence that held a lot of meaning. He was a Scottish noblemen who often questioned Macbeth’s ruling and does not consent to accepting Macbeth as king. The morning after Duncan’s death, he was the character that pronounced the king’s death, building suspicions of Macbeth ever since. Macduff is the reason for Macbeth’s death, marching to fight against Macbeth and his army on Dunsinane. Macbeth feared Macduff at the discovery that he was “not born of woman” which is basically a Caesarean section. One of the witches predictions were that Macbeth would be slain by a man whom was not born of woman. Macbeth felt invincible until realizing he had no chance against Macduff.

Character Analysis: Banquo

Banquo plays as the converse or antithesis of Macbeth in the play. He attains no dire ambition that destroys Macbeth in the end. Banquo is excited to see that his family will have a place at the throne, but early on mentions “the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence (1.3.132). He warns Macbeth of his decisions, and even when Macbeth asked Banquo to be worthy and he will be rewarded, Banquo responds by doing what ever he asks as long as it is not founded on foul play. He unfortunately falls victim to Macbeth when Macbeth hires murders to kill him and Fleance. As Banquo is a subject of the prophecies, he does not look to fulfill them. He wanted to benefited from them, but would not dishonor or “play foul” for the position. He also begins to suspect Macbeth in killing Duncan, but by this time, Macbeth had already labeled him as a threat and sentenced his death.  

Character Analysis: Malcolm

Malcolm is one of King Duncan’s son, Donalbain’s brother. Both of their weakness is shown through their escape to Scotland to avoid being a suspect in the death of their father. Malcom, deserving the throne rightfully, teams up with Macduff to destroy Macbeth. He tests Macduff’s loyalty by pretending to be a horrible person, not fit to be king. Once Macbeth was dead, Malcolm took the throne which began the restoration of Scotland. Not only does Malcolm show weakness, but when he flees from Scotland, it proves he doesn’t known his own power as Duncan’s son. Macbeth saw Malcolm as a challenge, but knew killing his father would lead Malcolm to his failure. Fleeing to Scotland was a weak decision, but the rebuilding of Scotland was definitely up to him. Had he not decided to team up with Macduff, I personally don’t believe he would have stood up to Macbeth to regain what was his to begin with.