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Summary GCSE Macbeth character notes
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GCSE AQA Macbeth character notes to ensure you that grade 9. Includes: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff and the witches.
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Macbeth charactersMacbeth:
o Symbolises the perils of ambition as he is the tragic hero and embodies a fatal flaw or hamartia, including his
unchecked ambition; which ultimately leads to his downfall.
o At the beginning Macbeth is presented as the stereotypical hero, the ideal warrior, as he fulfils the expectations
of masculinity and proves his manhood
o Macbeths tense, passionate relationship with his wife allows Shakespeare to examine gender roles, marital
relations and power in his own society; but Macbeth allows his wife to reign dominance over him and over power
his masculinity, therefore he descends from a brave, masculine warrior to a passive feminine coward, here
Shakespeare suggests that subverting the norms and order of society makes you vulnerable to corruption and
temptation
o Shakespeare writes the constructed, eponymous character to be a symbol for toxic and repressive masculinity,
ultimately associating manhood with violence
o Macbeth’s fear of being emasculated and the feminine traits he inherits, means Shakespeare uses his character
to explore femininity
o Macbeth treats lady Macbeth as his equal or even his superior allowing himself to become susceptible to the evil
manipulation she beholds, as she has the power to strip him of his masculinity and pride
Relationships:
Lady Macbeth | Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are incredibly ambitious and power-hungry. Most of what we see of
their marriage is their plotting and conspiring. Both are weakened by guilt and paranoia as the plot develops, and by the
end have isolated themselves from each other. The main difference between them is their confidence: Lady Macbeth is
determined, ruthless, strong-willed and self-assured, whereas Macbeth is uncertain, weak-willed and hesitant.
The power dynamic between them switches, initially, Lady Macbeth holds the power in their relationship, despite being in
an inferior position according to society. She relies on Macbeth for power and status, but controls Macbeth like he’s her
own puppet. Eventually, Macbeth breaks away from her, plotting without her and keeping secrets.
Duncan | Both Duncan and Macbeth are kings of Scotland, but one is the rightful appointed king, while the other is a
detested oppressive tyrant. Duncan is renowned for his fatherly love and attention for his subjects, whereas Macbeth’s
reign is associated with Hell and the Devil.
At first, they appear to be on the same side. Macbeth is Duncan’s loyal Thane, someone Duncan relies on for guidance and
protection, and Macbeth is proud to serve his king and country. Duncan’s trust in Macbeth is misplaced, as Macbeth’s
loyalty is weak.
Malcom | Just like Macbeth, Malcom wants to be king. Unlike Macbeth Malcom is the rightful heir to the throne, and has
been chased away from what’s rightfully his by Macbeth’s actions. Macbeth is associated with disorder, chaos and sin,
while Malcom is a symbol for peace, purity and order.
Macduff | Macduff is Macbeth’s foil in the play, meaning he highlights the flaws Macbeth has. Both start out as Duncan’s
Thanes and are highly respected in the courts and in battle, but when Macbeth takes the throne, Macduff suspects him.
Macduff chooses allegiance to his country, unlike Macbeth, and runs to England to join Malcom. He is a symbol for honour,
nobility and selflessness.
Banquo | Banquo is Macbeth’s best friend, another highly respected soldier. He, too, hears the Witches’ prophecies, but
chooses honour and loyalty over power. He resists his greed and temptations. He is physical proof of Macbeth’s corruption
and paranoia. He shows its possible to hear such promising prophecies and not turn to murder, and his inside knowledge of
Macbeth means he can expose him.
Macbeth’s decision to murder Banquo, someone who meant a great deal to him, shows how overwhelmed he is by
ambition and paranoia. The memory of the murder is something he can’t live with, as shows by the appearance of
Banquo’s accusatory, blood-stained ghost. However, Banquo is a symbol for honour, loyalty and prosperity: his legacy is
much better than Macbeths.
, Characteristics:
Ambitious:
o Unchecked ambition is Macbeth’s undoing in the play, as he is under the forceful hand of Lady Macbeth he gives
into temptation, and as a result he loses grace, favour and respect
o Macbeth allows his ambition to control him, therefore he is oblivious to morality and natural order
o Ambition is a sin that goes against God will, by committing regicide Macbeth fights his way up the chain of being,
Shakespeare seems to want to teach his audience the importance of self-awareness, conscience and self-
restraint
Guilty:
o Immediately after the murder, Macbeth becomes a man who is guilt-ridden and tragically remorseful, his guilt
makes him a nihilistic figure, a character tormented by his own conscience
o He is surrounded by blood, darkness, and death. Although unchecked ambition is his undoing is what caused
Macbeth’s downfall, his guilt makes his undoing unbearable
o Macbeth’s ambition propels him into unescapable regret, suggesting that the real punishment for regicide isn’t
execution, but guilt
o Shakespeare entails that the conscience or the inner voice of God, that we all possess ensures that no crime or
sin can go unpunished, he proposes that no one can cope with the guilt our conscience creates, nor can we live
with the knowledge of our own evil
Violent:
o The play of Macbeth is filled with violence and conflict, both internal and external, Macbeth suffers the most
greatly from this: the smallest scale of conflict he endures is his internal conflict and the largest conflict is
between free will and fate
o Similarly, the conflicts between good and evil, between the supernatural and the natural, and between
appearances and reality, go beyond Macbeth
o Violence is largely associated with manhood and masculinity, particularly by Macbeth; whenever his manliness is
challenged, he responds by committing a violent, ruthless act
o He represses any feelings of fear or doubt, viewing them as a sign of weakness or femininity
o Furthermore, cruelty and violence are linked with masculine ideals of honour and bravery; men are supposed to
be noble and strong leaders, and Macbeth interprets this as bloodlust, Shakespeare could be implying that ideals
such as bravery and honour are used to disguise injustice
o Warfare and violence are presented as necessary and respectable measures, allowing men to follow selfish
emotion rather than selfless logic
o Importantly, Shakespeare demonstrates how violence and bloodshed are used to maintain tyranny and
corruption, unlike Duncan’s reign, which is portrayed as a nurturing, fruitful harvest, Macbeth’s is plagued by
disease and murder; a reoccurring motif within the play
o If he was an effective ruler who obtained his power through fair means, he wouldn’t need to use violence to
protect himself. As it is, his power is wrongly gained and his reign is corrupt | He declares ‘blood will have blood’.
Shakespeare argues that violence breeds more violence, Macbeth is trapped in a cycle of bloodshed and conflict
o Shakespeare portrays power as being elusive and tricky – its possession can’t be guaranteed, this is what drives
men insane: they crave power, but what they have is never enough, and they live with the constant threat of
losing it
o Macbeth is an example of this: he kills for more power, finding that what he already has isn’t enough to satisfy
himself, and once again he is trapped in a cycle of his own making
Character development:
Beginning:
o Macbeth is an impressive, loyal and brave soldier
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