# Macbeth — Macbeth character guide > Macbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Macbeth One, Macbeth Ourself, Macbeth Aside, Macbeth Hark, Macbeth Ay **First appearance:** 0000-macbeth ## Snapshot A decorated Scottish general whose battlefield valor collides with a sudden, secret ambition the moment three witches hail him as future king. ## Who they are Macbeth returns from victory crowned Thane of Cawdor, the witches' first prophecy already true, and Duncan's naming of Malcolm as heir plants a step he feels he must either fall from or leap over. He is a man of conscience who hears his own ambition as something black and deep, wanting to win rightly yet drawn to the wrong road. His struggle between loyalty and desire drives the play's central question: how far will a good man go once imagination tastes the crown. ## Relationships ### [Malcolm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/malcolm) _rivalry_ Macbeth usurps the throne from Malcolm's father and later fights to retain power against Malcolm's invading army. ### [Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/lord) _rivalry_ The Lord is a Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth's tyranny and sides with Malcolm to overthrow him. ### [Banquo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/banquo) _friendship_ Banquo is Macbeth's fellow general and close friend, but their bond is strained by Macbeth's ambition and Banquo's suspicion. ### [Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/doctor) _professional_ The Doctor is a physician attending to Lady Macbeth's mental illness, serving under Macbeth's rule. ### [Macduff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/macduff) _rivalry_ Macbeth orders the murder of Macduff's family, and Macduff ultimately kills Macbeth in revenge. ### [Gentlewoman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/gentlewoman) _professional_ The Gentlewoman is a servant in Macbeth's castle who observes Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking and reports to the Doctor. ### [Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/lord) _rivalry_ The Lord is a Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth's tyranny and sides with Malcolm to overthrow him. ### [Gentlewoman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/gentlewoman) _professional_ The Gentlewoman is a servant in Macbeth's castle who observes Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking and reports to the Doctor. ### [Macduff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/macduff) _rivalry_ Macbeth orders the murder of Macduff's family, and Macduff ultimately kills Macbeth in revenge. ### [Malcolm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/malcolm) _rivalry_ Macbeth usurps the throne from Malcolm's father and later fights to retain power against Malcolm's invading army. ### [Banquo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/banquo) _friendship_ Banquo is Macbeth's fellow general and close friend, but their bond is strained by Macbeth's ambition and Banquo's suspicion. ### [Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/doctor) _professional_ The Doctor is a physician attending to Lady Macbeth's mental illness, serving under Macbeth's rule. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Mentioned as the one the witches plan to meet on the heath. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Macbeth is praised for his bravery in battle, described as carving through the enemy and defeating Macdonwald, then fighting fiercely against the Norwegians. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Receives prophecies from the witches and is granted the title Thane of Cawdor; his mind begins to entertain dark ambitions. ### [Scene IV: The Naming of the Prince of Cumberland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv) Macbeth is praised by Duncan and receives the title of Thane of Cawdor. In an aside, he reveals his dark ambition and desire to overcome Malcolm, who now stands in his path to the throne. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v) Arrives at Inverness and informs Lady Macbeth that Duncan is coming; he is hesitant but agrees to speak further about the plan. ### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-vii) Debates the moral and practical consequences of killing Duncan, ultimately succumbs to Lady Macbeth's manipulation. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Wrestles with his conscience and hallucinates a dagger before resolving to kill Duncan. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Horrified and guilt-ridden after killing Duncan, he cannot say 'Amen' and hears a voice condemning him to sleeplessness. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii) Claims he killed the guards out of violent love for Duncan; feigns grief and shock. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv) Macbeth is reported to have been named king and gone to Scone to be invested. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Macbeth, now king, fears Banquo and arranges his murder to secure his throne and prevent Banquo's line from inheriting. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Macbeth is tormented by his conscience, speaking of 'terrible dreams' and a mind 'full of scorpions.' He resolves to have Banquo and Fleance murdered. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv) Hosts the banquet, reacts with terror to Banquo's ghost, and resolves to seek the witches for more prophecies. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi) Referred to as a tyrant; he has sent a messenger to Macduff and is preparing for war. ### [Act IV, Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Seeks out the witches for reassurance, reacts with terror to the vision of Banquo's line, and resolves to murder Macduff's family upon hearing of Macduff's flight. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) Referred to as the tyrant, fortifying Dunsinane, described as mad or in valiant fury. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Defiant and weary, Macbeth clings to the witches' prophecy but reveals inner despair over his hollow life. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-v) Orders banners hung, reacts to Lady Macbeth's death with nihilistic soliloquy, then confronts the moving wood prophecy. ### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-vii) Resigned to fight but confident in the witches' prophecy that no man born of woman can harm him; kills Young Siward. ### [Scene VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-viii) Confronts Macduff, learns the witches' equivocation, and is slain. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/macbeth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters