MacbethHarriet WalterActors on Shakespeare

Characters in Macbeth

5 characters, main characters first.

Antagonists

Lady Macbeth
Macbeth's ambitious wife who encourages him to pursue the throne through regicide and is a driving force behind his initial crimes.

Banquo
A loyal general and friend to Macbeth, who also receives a prophecy from the witches that his descendants will be kings, making him a threat to Macbeth's reign.
Baron Duncan
The King of Scotland, a virtuous and benevolent ruler whose murder by Macbeth sets the tragic events of the play in motion.
Macduff
A Scottish nobleman who is suspicious of Macbeth from the start and ultimately plays a crucial role in his downfall.
The Three Witches
Supernatural beings who deliver prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo, initiating the chain of events that lead to Macbeth's tragic end.