Macbeth
Macbeth is the main character featured in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Macbeth encounters three random witches who tell Macbeth a prophecy that he will be named Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. While the prophecy was true, it was short for Macbeth after the consequences of his actions come back to haunt him and he is overwhelmed with guilt.
"My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
That function is smother'd in surmise,
and nothing is but what is not. (1.3.52-55)"
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is the charming and attractive husband of Macbeth, but her mental state is questionable. She believes that Macbeth wasn't man enough to do the things he needed to do in order to rise to power, so Lady Macbeth decides to take things into her own hands and convinces Macbeth to murder King Malcolm to take over the throne. But eventually Lady Macbeth realises what she has done and feels overwhelmed with guilt.
"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it. (1.5.15-20)"
Three Witches
The Three Witches are in reality, the ones who set the entire story of Macbeth in order. They tell Macbeth that he will be named King of Scotland and Thane of Cawdor. So after Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor he fully believes that he will become the King of Scotland, and he will make sure that will happen, no matter what.
"All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! (1.3.53;70-71)"
King Duncan
King Duncan was the King of Scotland, and he was extremely well liked the citizens and the ruling lords and prince. Sadly, King Duncan was the first victim of Macbeth's ultimate plan to rise to become the king and have complete power over all that contested him.
"My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers.—From hence to Inverness
And bind us further to you. (1.4.39-49)"
Prince Malcolm
Malcolm is the eldest son of Duncan and is the newly appointed Prince of Cumberland, which means he is second in line to become the King of Scotland. Though initially he was not made king when his father died, instead Macbeth was named King. But after Macbeth perished, he was then rightfully named king.
"A most miraculous work in this good king,
Which often, since my here-remain in England
I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven
Himself best knows, but strangely visited people
All swoll'n and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye,
The mere despair of surgery, he cures,
Hanging a golden stamp about their necks,
Put on with holy prayers: and 'tis spoken,
To the succeeding royalty he leaves
The healing benediction. With this strange virtue,
He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,
And sundry blessings hang about his throneThat speak him full of grace. (4.3.168-181)"
Macduff
Macduff was who Macbeth should've been, a nice and caring person who was extremely loyal to King Malcolm and was Macbeth's biggest rival in terms of power.
"Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,
Bestride our downfall'n birthdom. Each new morn
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland, and yell'd out
Like syllable of dolor. (4.3.1-9)"
Banquo
Banquo was Macbeth's most trusted and loyal friend, until Macbeth became overwhelmed with his lust for power and had Banquo murdered for his own good.
"My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear
Your favors nor your hate. (1.3.57-64)"