Macbeth: Characters

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, characters, plot, and themes from lecture notes on Shakespeare's Macbeth.

William Shakespeare

Wrote Macbeth, born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England; wrote about 38 plays and over 150 poems.

Elizabethan Society

Unequal society with rich landowners and a large poor population; women had limited rights.

Globe Theatre

A famous theatre in Shakespeare’s time that could seat 3000 people.

Setting of Macbeth

Scotland in the 11th century, with some scenes in England.

Protagonist

The main character; In Macbeth the protagonist is Macbeth.

Antagonist

The character opposing the main character; In Macbeth it could be Macbeth himself or other characters like Banquo and Macduff.

Static or Flat Character

Characters that are not the eye-catching part of the story. Examples are Banquo, Macduff, the Doctor, The Nurse, The Porter and the Thanes.

Changing or Dynamic Character

A character that develops and changes during the events in the story. For example, Lady Macbeth.

Round Character

A character which contributes the most in making the story interesting and keeps the reader confused about the person’s actual nature. For example, Lady Macbeth.

Evil Character or Villain

A character who acts actively with more intensity to harm the protagonist or the main character and others. For example, the Witches, Macbeth as well as Lady Macbeth.

The Nobility

Rich people whose wealth and position in society was inherited. They had political power and owned most of the land. The nobles in the play include Macbeth, The Thane of Glamis, Lady Macbeth, Macduff and other Thanes, Siward, the Earl of Northumberland.

The Commoners

People who had not inherited title or wealth. The porter and the noblewoman would be known as commoners.

Malcolm

Son of King Duncan, flees to England after his father's death, returns to Scotland with an army, and becomes the new King of Scotland after Macbeth’s death.

The Three Witches

Meet in the opening scene to discuss their fate for Macbeth. Meet Macbeth and Banquo. They tell Macbeth he will be Thane of Cawdor and then Kind of Scotland. Tell Banquo he will not be king, but his sons will be king.

King Duncan

King of Scotland, father to Malcolm and Donalbain, killed by Macbeth.

Fleance

Banquo’s son. Emphasizes the rationality of Banquo compared to Macbeth.

Other Thanes

Examples of trusting, uncomplicated, on-political majority of the people who are loyal to Scotland

Lady Macduff

A loving wife and mother who is upset about Macduff’s decision to abandon his family in search of Malcolm as she feels he has left his family vulnerable to Macbeth’s tyranny.

Porter

Guards the gate of Macbeth’s castle and provides comic relief after the heavy drama of the previous scenes (the killing of Duncan).

Macbeth- Act 1

Opens with a storm and three witches discussing when they shall meet again. Soldier arrives and describes Macbeth’s bravery in defeating the traitor, Macdonwald. Ross arrives and announces Macbeth and Banquo’s victory. Duncan orders the Thane of Cawdor’sdeath and declares that he will reward Macbeth with his title .

Macbeth- Act 2

Details leading up to the murder, the murder and the events immediately after the murder.

Macbeth- Act 3

Banquo is killed, and the rest of the act highlights Macbeth’s desperate attempts to stay in the position of power.

Macbeth- Act 4

The three Witches are preparing their magic potion when Macbeth arrives to reveal the future to Macbeth.

Macbeth- Act 5

The demise of Macbeth is described with the setting mostly being on the battlefield.

Ambition vs Moral Conscience

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth allow their blind ambition to get the better of them and to kill Duncan to be king.

Good vs Evil

Duncan, Macduff, Banquo and Malcolm representing good. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the three witches represent evil because of their murderous intent.

Fate vs Free Will

The witches and the apparitions represent fate.Human Macbeth represents free will.

Appearance vs Reality

In 'Macbeth,' deliberate deception leads to the discrepancy between appearance and reality.

Guilt and its consequences

Symbols of Macbeth’s guilt are his hallucinations about the dagger, his fixation on blood and his inability to sleep.

Kingship vs Tyranny

A good leader uses his power for the good of his country and his people rather than for himself only while a tyrant is selfish and is corrupted by absolute power.

Dramatic Irony

Means when the audience knows something in the play that one or more of the characters do not know.

Tone

The feelings created by the language of the writer and also created by the sound of the actor’s voice which expresses the emotion in the words.

Mood

The feeling, or atmosphere, that is created on stage.