Name:______Period:____
Macbeth Anticipation Guide
Directions: Do you agree or disagree with each statement? State your reasons why.
1. Behind every great man is a great woman (every great man is supported, guided, helped and even pushed by a great woman).
2. Witches, demons, and evil spirits actually exist.
3. Sometimes it is necessary to do something wrong to get what you want.
4. What goes around comes around (karma).
5. Human beings are easily tempted by things they want, even if it’s wrong.
6. If someone feels that the ruler/s of his/her country is destroying the country, that person should try to overthrow the ruler/s.
7. There are circumstances or events that justify murdering someone.
8. Success is worth any price you have to pay.
9. Your astrological forecast (your horoscope) is a good indicator of how your day will go.
10. Traitors should be executed.
Macbeth Character List
Duncan— historic king of Scotland (1001-103)
Malcolm— the eldest son of King Duncan
Donalbain— the youngest son of King Duncan, he flees Macbeth castle after his father’s assassination, going to Ireland.
Macbeth— Thane of Cawdor, then Thane of Glamis, then King of Scotland. He is a war hero and a loving husband who succumbs to temptation and becomes a murderous tyrant in order to be King.
Banquo—a general of the King’s army, Banquo is Macbeth’s partner in battle.
Macduff— The Thane of Fife, a Scottish nobleman
Lennox— Scottish nobleman, he becomes more and more sarcastic about Macbeth’s virtue and more and more fearful for Scotland’s fate.
Ross— Scottish nobleman and cousin of Macduff’s who primarily acts as a messenger in the play.
Menteith— Scottish nobleman who joins Malcolm and Macduff in fighting against Macbeth.
Angus— Scottish nobleman, he follows King Duncan at the beginning of the play and fights with Malcolm and Macduff at the end of the play.
Cathness— Scottish nobleman, he joins Malcolm and Macduff to fight Macbeth. He doesn’t speak.
Fleance—Banquo’s son
Siward—Earl of Northumberland and leader of the 10,000 man English forces
Young Siward—Siward’s son
Seyton— attendant to Macbeth
Boy—Macduff’s son
A Soldier (A Captain)—He describes to King Duncan Macbeth’s battle heroism despite bleeding from his own wounds.
A Porter—the doorkeeper at Macbeth’s castle
Lady Macbeth—Macbeth’s wife. She encourages Macbeth to be active in fulfilling the witches’ prophecy by killing Duncan.
Lady Macduff—Wife of Lord Macduff
Gentlewoman—Attendant of Lady Macbeth.
Hecate—Classical Goddess of the underworld, she appears as the three witches’ superior.
Three Witches—Either supernatural or in touch with the supernatural, they lead Macbeth to his destruction by showing him the future. They are female, bearded, and evil.
Apparitions—Supernatural visions brought to Macbeth by the witches: an armed head, a bloody child, a child crowned with a tree in hand.