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Why did Macbeth defeat the king of Norway?
Who are allied to the Norwegians in Macbeth?
Did Macbeth kill Macdonwald?
How did Macbeth and Banquo meet the Norwegian Lord?
Great King, I've come from Fife, where the Norwegian flag flies—mocking our land and terrifying our people. The King of Norway—with a huge army and the support of that disloyal traitor, the Thane of Cawdor—began a battle that our forces looked likely to lose.
The Norwegians are attacking King Duncan and Scotland. Allied to the Norwegians are two Scottish traitors, the 'merciless MAcdonwald' and that disloyal traitor the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is...
- Macbeth
- Lady Macbeth
- The Three Witches
- Banquo
- King Duncan
- Macduff
- Malcolm
- Fleance
- The Murderers
- Lady Macduff
Macbeth is a Scottish general and the thane of Glamis who is led to wicked thoughts by the prophecies of the three witches, especially after their prophecy that he will be made thane of Cawdor comes true. Macbeth is a brave soldier and a powerful man, but he is not a virtuous one. He is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to the thr...
Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. Early in the play, she seems to be the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth falls victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband. Her cons...
Three “black and midnight hags” who plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies. Their predictions prompt him to murder Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to blindly believe in his own immortality. The play leaves the witches’ true identity unclear—aside from the fact that they are servants of Hecate, we k...
The brave, noble general whose children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne. Like Macbeth, Banquo thinks ambitious thoughts, but he does not translate those thoughts into action. In a sense, Banquo’s character stands as a rebuke to Macbeth, since he represents the path Macbeth chose not to take: a path in which amb...
The good King of Scotland whom Macbeth, in his ambition for the crown, murders. Duncan is the model of a virtuous, benevolent, and farsighted ruler. His death symbolizes the destruction of an order in Scotland that can be restored only when Duncan’s line, in the person of Malcolm, once more occupies the throne. Read an in-depth analysis of King-Dun...
A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. The crusade’s mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son. Read an in-depth analysis of Macduff.
The son of Duncan, whose restoration to the throne signals Scotland’s return to order following Macbeth’s reign of terror. Malcolm becomes a serious challenge to Macbeth with Macduff’s aid (and the support of England). Prior to this, he appears weak and uncertain of his own power, as when he and Donalbain flee Scotland after their father’s murder. ...
Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him. At the end of the play, Fleance’s whereabouts are unknown. Presumably, he may come to rule Scotland, fulfilling the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s sons will sit on the Scottish throne. Read an in-depth analysis of Fleance.
A group of ruffians conscripted by Macbeth to murder Banquo, Fleance (whom they fail to kill), and Macduff’s wife and children. Read an in-depth analysis of the murderers.
Macduff’s wife. The scene in her castle provides our only glimpse of a domestic realm other than that of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. She and her home serve as contrasts to Lady Macbeth and the hellish world of Inverness. Read an in-depth analysis of Lady Macduff.
The play begins with the brief appearance of a trio of witches and then moves to a military camp, where the Scottish King Duncan hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated two separate invading armies—one from Ireland, led by the rebel Macdonwald, and one from Norway.
Ross brings another tale of Macbeth’s battle skills: apparently he bested the King of Norway, who was being helped by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor. Duncan may be pleased to hear of Macbeth’s awesome feats, but he’s pretty peeved that the Thane of Cawdor has betrayed him.
The King of Norway and his terrifyingly large army, assisted by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, started a dreadful battle. But then Macbeth—as if he were worthy of marrying the goddess of war—put on his trusty armor and matched the King of Norway in every way.
Macbeth is introduced to us as the brave man who led King Duncan's forces to victory against the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, Macdonwald and The King of Norway, in a battle that could have gone either way were it not for Macbeth's leadership. We learn that Macbeth killed Macdonwald himself in battle.
