A soldier hears a prophecy, kills a king, and loses everything — including his mind.
Who drives the story
A brave Scottish general who wants the crown the witches dangle and cannot stop killing to keep it. He wins the throne, loses his sleep, his wife, and finally his head.
The driving force behind the first murder, who calls on spirits to unsex her and shames her husband into regicide. Guilt she once dismissed as washable consumes her; she sleepwalks and dies offstage, implied a suicide.
Macbeth's fellow general, promised a line of kings though never a crown himself. He suspects Macbeth early, is murdered for it, and returns as a ghost only Macbeth can see.
Thane of Fife, the first to find Duncan's body, who refuses Macbeth's banquet and flees to England. After his family is slaughtered, vengeance makes him the one man who can kill the king.
Duncan's elder son and named heir, who flees to England, tests Macduff's loyalty with a false confession of corruption, and returns to lead the army that ends Macbeth.
Agents of ambiguity whose prophecies are true but misleading — they hand Macbeth the crown's promise and the false confidence that destroys him.
The king of Scotland whose trust in Macbeth is repaid with a dagger. His murder breaks the natural order and stains everything that follows.
Also in the story
Macduff's wife, murdered along with her young son and household on Macbeth's order. Her death turns a political rival into a personal enemy.
Banquo's young son, who escapes the ambush that kills his father. His survival keeps the prophecy of a royal line alive.
Goddess of witchcraft, who scolds the witches for dealing with Macbeth without her and orders illusions to give him a false sense of security.
A thane who brings Macbeth his new title early on and later delivers the news of the Macduff family massacre to Macduff in England.
Earl of Northumberland, who helps raise the English-backed army that marches on Scotland.
How they are connected
A brave Scottish general who wants the crown the witches dangle and cannot stop killing to keep it.
Macbeth's fellow general, promised a line of kings though never a crown himself.
Thane of Fife, the first to find Duncan's body, who refuses Macbeth's banquet and flees to England.
Thane of Fife, the first to find Duncan's body, who refuses Macbeth's banquet and flees to England.
Macduff's wife, murdered along with her young son and household on Macbeth's order.
Macduff's wife, murdered along with her young son and household on Macbeth's order.
Duncan's elder son and named heir, who flees to England, tests Macduff's loyalty with a false confession of corruption, and returns to lead the army that ends Macbeth.
Duncan's elder son and named heir, who flees to England, tests Macduff's loyalty with a false confession of corruption, and returns to lead the army that ends Macbeth.
Duncan's elder son and named heir, who flees to England, tests Macduff's loyalty with a false confession of corruption, and returns to lead the army that ends Macbeth.
The king of Scotland whose trust in Macbeth is repaid with a dagger.
Banquo's young son, who escapes the ambush that kills his father.
Goddess of witchcraft, who scolds the witches for dealing with Macbeth without her and orders illusions to give him a false sense of security.
Go deeper
Ambition as self-destruction · Guilt you cannot wash away · Deceptive appearances · The broken natural order
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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