Macbeth: Character
20 lenses on character for Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20
B1. Cast list with first appearance and share of mentions. Count
Lead Macbeth; 12 main characters. See the full lens on the book page.
B2. Who is on the page in each chapter (presence heat map)? Count
Lead Macbeth; 12 main characters. See the full lens on the book page.
B3. What does the lead want, and what do they truly need? AI
To become king and secure his power against all threats.. See the full lens on the book page.
B4. What false belief does the lead hold, and how is it tested? AI
Macbeth's false belief is that he can control his destiny through murder and that the witches' prophecies guarantee his safety. This is tested when Birnam wood moves (scene 23) and Macduff reveals he was born by caesarean section (scene 27), proving the prophecies were ambiguous.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 3, Scene 18, Scene 23, Scene 27
This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? (Ch 3, para 48)
Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. (Ch 18, para 38)
Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. (Ch 18, para 44)
B5. Arc type: positive, flat or negative? AI
Arc type is negative. Macbeth rises from loyal soldier to king but falls into paranoia, guilt, and tyranny, ending in death. The arc shape is Cinderella (rise, fall, rise) but the rise at the end is Malcolm's, not Macbeth's.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 1, Scene 9, Scene 15, Scene 23, Scene 27
brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel, Which smok’d with bloody execution (Ch 2, para 4)
I am in blood Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er. (Ch 15, para 62)
I have liv’d long enough: my way of life Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have (Ch 23, para 12)
B6. Key arc moments with chapter and line. AI
Scene 3: witches hail Macbeth as future king (quote 3). Scene 7: Macbeth commits to murder (quote 10). Scene 15: Banquo's ghost appears, confirming guilt (quote 25). Scene 23: Macbeth learns Birnam wood moves, despairs (quote 42). Scene 27: Macduff kills Macbeth (quote 47).
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 3, Scene 7, Scene 15, Scene 23, Scene 27
All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter! (Ch 3, para 21)
I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (Ch 7, para 16)
Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me. (Ch 15, para 30)
B7. The antagonist: goal, methods, and when they show their hand. AI
Lady Macbeth. See the full lens on the book page.
B8. How is each main character first shown (first line, first act)? Both
Macbeth first shown in scene 2 as 'brave Macbeth' (quote 1), a loyal soldier. Lady Macbeth first shown in scene 5 reading his letter, resolving to push him to murder (quote 6). Banquo first shown in scene 3 with Macbeth, hearing the witches' prophecy. Macduff first shown in scene 10 discovering Duncan's body.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 2, Scene 5, Scene 3, Scene 10
brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel, Which smok’d with bloody execution (Ch 2, para 4)
Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. (Ch 5, para 3)
B9. Who appears with whom? Network chart of shared scenes. Count
Pairs who share the most paragraphs. Counted where both names appear in one paragraph.
| Pair | Paragraphs together |
|---|---|
| Duncan and Macbeth | 17 |
| Banquo and Macbeth | 14 |
| Macbeth and Macduff | 12 |
| Banquo and Duncan | 11 |
| Lady Macbeth and Macbeth | 10 |
| Duncan and Ross | 10 |
| Macbeth and Malcolm | 10 |
| Macbeth and Ross | 10 |
| Macduff and Malcolm | 10 |
| Duncan and Lady Macbeth | 9 |
B10. Which relationships change most over the book? AI
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth: she drives him to murder in scene 7, but by scene 21 she is mad and he is indifferent to her death (scene 25). Macbeth and Banquo: allies in scene 3, but Macbeth murders him in scene 14. Macbeth and Macduff: Macduff suspects him in scene 11 and kills him in scene 27.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 7, Scene 21, Scene 25, Scene 3, Scene 14, Scene 11
Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. (Ch 5, para 3)
I am in blood Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er. (Ch 15, para 62)
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! (Ch 25, para 11)
B11. Foils and mirrors: who reflects the lead? AI
Banquo is Macbeth's foil: both hear the witches' prophecy, but Banquo resists ambition while Macbeth succumbs. Malcolm mirrors Macbeth's rise: both are princes, but Malcolm flees and returns to reclaim the throne legitimately, while Macbeth seizes it through murder and falls.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 3, Scene 4, Scene 10, Scene 20, Scene 27
All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter! (Ch 3, para 21)
This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? (Ch 3, para 48)
B12. Backstory wound: how and when is it revealed? AI
No explicit backstory wound is revealed. Macbeth's ambition is presented as innate, awakened by the witches' prophecy in scene 3. Lady Macbeth's ruthlessness is shown from her first appearance in scene 5, with no prior trauma explained.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 3, Scene 5
Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. (Ch 5, para 3)
Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! (Ch 5, para 11)
B13. Agency: how often does the lead act rather than react? AI
Macbeth acts in roughly 60% of scenes: he chooses to murder Duncan (scene 7), kills the chamberlains (scene 10), hires murderers (scene 12), consults the witches (scene 18), orders Macduff's family killed (scene 18), and fights Macduff (scene 27). He reacts in scenes 15, 21, 23, 25.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 7, Scene 10, Scene 12, Scene 18, Scene 27, Scene 15
I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (Ch 7, para 16)
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. (Ch 12, para 46)
The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. (Ch 18, para 69)
B14. Physical description: how much, when, which traits repeat. Both
Looks words (eyes, hair, face and so on) in paragraphs that name each character. A rough guide to who gets described most. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Character | Looks words nearby |
|---|---|
| Banquo | 4 |
| Macbeth | 3 |
| Macduff | 2 |
| Duncan | 1 |
| Malcolm | 0 |
| Ross | 0 |
| Lady Macbeth | 0 |
| Fleance | 0 |
Physical description is sparse. Macbeth is called 'brave' (scene 2, quote 1) and has 'bloody hands' after Duncan's murder (scene 9, quote 14). Lady Macbeth is described as having 'gory locks' (scene 15, quote 25) and later 'a little hand' stained with blood (scene 21, quote 38). No detailed appearance given.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 2, Scene 9, Scene 15, Scene 21
brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel, Which smok’d with bloody execution (Ch 2, para 4)
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. (Ch 9, para 30)
Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me. (Ch 15, para 30)
B15. Names, nicknames and titles, and how their use shifts. Count
The forms of each name used most, and how often the name comes up in each third of the book.
| Character | Most used forms | Mentions by third |
|---|---|---|
| Macbeth | Macbeth (76), Thane of Cawdor (13), Thane of Glamis (2) | 50 / 26 / 15 |
| Duncan | King (25), Duncan (19) | 26 / 13 / 5 |
| Banquo | Banquo (42) | 18 / 23 / 1 |
| Macduff | Macduff (28), Thane of Fife (2) | 5 / 12 / 13 |
| Malcolm | Malcolm (17), Prince of Cumberland (2) | 9 / 3 / 7 |
| Ross | Ross (14) | 7 / 4 / 3 |
| Lady Macbeth | Lady Macbeth (13) | 8 / 4 / 1 |
| Fleance | Fleance (13) | 2 / 11 / 0 |
B16. Mentors and sidekicks: their role and how they exit. AI
Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's mentor figure, pushing him to murder in scene 7. She exits through madness and death (scene 21, scene 25). Malcolm is an ally who gains English support and returns to defeat Macbeth, exiting as the new king in scene 27. Banquo is a foil who exits through murder in scene 14.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 7, Scene 21, Scene 25, Scene 20, Scene 27, Scene 14
Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. (Ch 5, para 3)
Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! (Ch 5, para 11)
I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (Ch 7, para 16)
B17. Repeated tags, gestures and tics per character. Both
Gestures that come in the same sentence as each name. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Character | Top gestures |
|---|---|
| Macbeth | shook 1 |
| Duncan | none |
| Banquo | none |
| Macduff | none |
| Malcolm | none |
| Ross | none |
| Lady Macbeth | none |
| Fleance | none |
Macbeth repeats 'blood' imagery (scenes 9, 14, 15, 21, 25). Lady Macbeth repeats 'hand' and 'spot' (scenes 9, 21). The witches repeat 'hail' and prophecies (scenes 3, 18). Macduff repeats 'revenge' and 'family' (scenes 19, 20, 27). Malcolm repeats 'king' and 'throne' (scenes 4, 20, 27).
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 9, Scene 14, Scene 15, Scene 21, Scene 25, Scene 3
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. (Ch 9, para 30)
Out, damned spot! out, I say! One; two. Why, then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? (Ch 21, para 18)
Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. (Ch 21, para 23)
B18. Moral choices that define the lead. AI
Macbeth's moral choice to murder Duncan (scene 7) defines him as ambitious and willing to betray trust. His choice to kill Macduff's family (scene 18) defines him as cruel and willing to harm innocents. His refusal to yield to Macduff (scene 27) defines him as prideful and unable to accept defeat.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 7, Scene 18, Scene 27
I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (Ch 7, para 16)
The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. (Ch 18, para 69)
Ring the alarum bell!—Blow, wind! come, wrack! At least we’ll die with harness on our back. (Ch 25, para 19)
B19. Balance of speaking parts by gender. Count
Of attributed speech, women have 18% and men 80%; 3% is unclear. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Group | Words spoken |
|---|---|
| Women | 2201 |
| Men | 9855 |
| Unclear | 326 |
B20. Who changes and who stays fixed? AI
Macbeth changes from loyal soldier to paranoid tyrant to defeated man. Lady Macbeth changes from ruthless manipulator to guilt-ridden madwoman. Malcolm changes from fleeing prince to victorious king. Banquo stays fixed as the murdered foil. The witches stay fixed as manipulative forces.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 2, Scene 9, Scene 15, Scene 21, Scene 27, Scene 5
brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel, Which smok’d with bloody execution (Ch 2, para 4)
I am in blood Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er. (Ch 15, para 62)
I have liv’d long enough: my way of life Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have (Ch 23, para 12)
Ask Macbeth a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
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