Macbeth, Shakespeare’s play about a Scottish nobleman and his wife who murder their king for his throne, charts the extremes of ambition and guilt. First staged in 1606, Macbeth’s three witches and other dark imagery have entered our collective imagination. Read a character analysis of Macbeth, plot summary, and important quotes.
Summary
Read our full plot summary and analysis of Macbeth, scene by scene breakdowns, and more.
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in Macbeth and in-depth analyses of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, The Three Witches, Banquo, and Macduff.
Literary Devices
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in Macbeth, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
Questions & Answers
Explore our selection of frequently asked questions about Macbeth and find the answers you need.
- Are the Witches in Macbeth real?
- Did Macbeth always want to be king?
- Why does Macbeth think the Witches want to help him?
- Does Lady Macbeth commit suicide?
- How did Birnam Wood move and why was Macduff able to kill Macbeth?
- What convinces Macbeth that the Witches' prophecy is true?
- Why does Banquo not trust the Witches?
- Why does Macbeth believe he needs to kill King Duncan?
- How does Lady Macbeth persuade Macbeth to kill King Duncan?
- Why does Macbeth kill King Duncan's two chamberlains?
- Why do King Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee to England after their father is murdered?
- Why does Macbeth kill Banquo?
- How does Lady Macbeth's death affect Macbeth?
- What convinces Macbeth that he is invincible over Macduff's army?
- How does the Witches' prophecy about Banquo come true?
Quotes
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of Macbeth by reading these key quotes.
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By Theme
- Ambition
- Guilt
- Children
- Patriotism
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By Character
- Macbeth
- Lady Macbeth
- The Three Witches
- Banquo
- Macduff
Quick Quizzes
Test your knowledge of Macbeth with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.
Essays
Get ready to ace your Macbeth paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, a sample A+ student essay, and more.
Further Study
Go further in your study of Macbeth with background information, movie adaptations, and links to the best resources around the web.
