Macbeth Character and Plot Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards detailing characters, apparitions, and key plot points from Shakespeare's Macbeth based on lecture notes.

Duncan

The King of Scotland and father of Malcolm and Donalbain who is murdered in his sleep with a dagger by Macbeth.

Malcolm

Duncan's oldest son and the Prince of Cumberland who flees to England after his father's murder, tests Macduff's loyalty, and returns to defeat Macbeth and restore order as King.

Malcolm's Three Faked Sins

Lust, greed, and wrath (liking war); the flaws Malcolm falsely claims to possess to test Macduff's loyalty because he feels he is not good enough.

Donalbain

Duncan's younger son who flees to Ireland after his father is murdered.

Macbeth

Originally the Thane of Glamis and later Thane of Cawdor who murders King Duncan to take the Scottish throne, orders the deaths of Banquo and Macduff's family, and is plagued by guilt and paranoia.

Thane of Cawdor

The noble title granted to Macbeth by King Duncan as a reward for his bravery in battle.

First Apparition

An armed head that warns Macbeth to beware Macduff.

Second Apparition

A bloody child representing Macduff that states no person born of a woman will harm Macbeth, foreshadowing that Macduff, having been ripped from his mother's womb, can kill him.

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth's wife who acts as the primary spark to murder Duncan so she can become queen, cannot kill Duncan herself because he resembles her sleeping father, and eventually dies by suicide due to guilt.

Banquo

Macbeth's friend who receives a prophecy that his descendants will become kings; Macbeth views him as smarter and hires assassins to murder him.

Fleance

Banquo's son who escapes Macbeth's hired assassins, keeping alive the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will become kings.

Macduff

The nobleman who finds Duncan's dead body, immediately suspects Macbeth, flees to England to ally with Malcolm, and ultimately slays Macbeth in a sword fight.

Lady Macduff

Macduff's wife who is angry at her husband for abandoning his family to flee to England; she is murdered on Macbeth's orders.

Macduff's Son

The child of Macduff who warns his mother to run before being killed by Macbeth's hired assassins.

Ross

A messenger who carries information between characters, informs Macduff that his family has been murdered, and abandons Macbeth to help Malcolm reclaim the Scottish throne.

Lennox

A Scottish nobleman who initially supports Macbeth before turning against him to join Malcolm and Macduff in restoring Scotland.

Siward

Malcolm's uncle who co-leads an army alongside Malcolm and Macduff to overthrow Macbeth.

Young Siward

Siward's son who fights against Macbeth in battle and is killed by him.

The Grooms

King Duncan's servants who are drugged by Lady Macbeth and later killed by Macbeth so they cannot share information, making them appear suspicious.

The Porter

The gatekeeper who guards the castle gate following Duncan's murder.

The Witches (Weird Sisters)

Supernatural beings associated with past, present, and future who give true prophecies to Banquo and Macbeth without directly telling Macbeth to commit murder.

Hecate

The superior of the witches who is angry about being excluded from their plans with Macbeth and uses magical illusions to make him overly confident in his survival.

Macdonwald

A rebel against King Duncan whom Macbeth defeats in battle on Duncan's behalf by cutting him open and cutting off his head.