Character Relationship Map: Macbeth

Characters

• Macbeth (played by Michael Fassbender) — protagonist

  Macbeth is a victorious military leader whose encounter with the witches awakens his ambition to become King. Pressured by Lady Macbeth, he murders Duncan, orders Banquo's death, and massacres Macduff...

• Lady Macbeth (played by Marion Cotillard) — protagonist

  Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's wife and the driving force behind Duncan's murder. She calls on dark spirits, urges Macbeth to act when he hesitates, drugs the King's servants, and helps conceal the crime....

• Banquo (played by Paddy Considine) — supporting

  Banquo is Macbeth's companion in battle and a fellow recipient of the witches' prophecy. He is promised that his descendants will become Kings, while Macbeth has no heirs. Suspecting Macbeth's intenti...

• Macduff (played by Sean Harris) — supporting

  Macduff is a nobleman who discovers Duncan's body and later opposes Macbeth's tyranny. After fleeing to join Malcolm, he learns that Macbeth has ordered the murder of his household and swears revenge....

• Angus (played by James Harkness) — supporting

  Angus is a nobleman who joins Rosse in informing Macduff that Macbeth has murdered his household. His report helps reveal the scale of Macbeth's tyranny and contributes to Macduff's decision to seek r...

• Malcolm (played by Jack Reynor) — supporting

  Malcolm is Duncan's son and named heir to the throne during the banquet. After discovering Duncan's murder, he flees, causing suspicion, then joins Macduff and gathers an army against Macbeth. Followi...

• Thane of Cawdor (played by Brian Nickels) — minor
• Fleance (played by Lochlann Harris) — minor

  Fleance is Banquo's son and the future descendant promised by the witches' prophecy. Macbeth invites Banquo and Fleance to the banquet, then sends assassins against them when he fears the prophecy. Ba...

• Duncan (played by David Thewlis) — supporting

  Duncan is the King whose army is led to victory by Macbeth. He rewards Macbeth with the title of Thane of Cawdor and later names Malcolm his heir. While staying overnight with Macbeth, Duncan is murde...

• Lennox (played by David Hayman) — supporting

  Lennox is a nobleman who initially views Malcolm's flight with suspicion and admires Macbeth's punishment of Duncan's servants. Later, he finds Macbeth wandering and tells him that Macduff has fled. H...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Angus → Macduff (Professional Messenger) — Angus delivers the news that transforms Macduff's grief into a vow of revenge.

  Angus, together with Ross, informs Macduff that his household has been murdered.

• Macbeth → Lennox (Power King And Subject) — Lennox operates within Macbeth's royal court while reporting political developments.

  After Macbeth becomes king, Lennox finds him wandering and tells him that Macduff has fled.

• Macbeth → Thane of Cawdor (Power Title Successor) — Macbeth inherits Cawdor's title after Cawdor's treason and execution.

  Duncan executes the Thane of Cawdor for treason and gives the title to Macbeth.

• Malcolm → Duncan (Power Named Heir) — Malcolm is Duncan's designated successor in the royal order.

  At the feast, Duncan publicly pronounces Malcolm his heir.

• Banquo → Fleance (Family Father) — Banquo is Fleance's father and the source of the threatened royal lineage.

  The prophecy states that Banquo will be a father of kings, and Fleance escapes after Banquo is killed.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Angus → Malcolm (Alliance Military Supporter) — Angus is connected to the anti-Macbeth military movement.

  Angus is associated with the forces gathering against Macbeth and accompanies the report concerning Macduff's household.

• Lennox → Macduff (Social Political Observer) — They share an early courtly perspective on the crisis surrounding Duncan's death.

  Lennox and Macduff regard Malcolm's flight as suspicious and initially admire Macbeth's summary justice.

• Duncan → Thane of Cawdor (Conflict Executioner) — Duncan punishes Cawdor's treason with death.

  Duncan executes the Thane of Cawdor for traitorously allying with Norse invaders.

• Macduff → Duncan (Narrative Avenger) — Macduff's actions place him among the forces seeking justice after Duncan's death.

  Macduff finds Duncan dead and later joins the campaign against Macbeth after the king's murder.

• Macduff → Macbeth (Conflict Revenge Enemy) — Macduff becomes Macbeth's decisive personal and political enemy.

  After Ross and Angus report the murder of Macduff's household, Macduff swears revenge and later duels Macbeth.

• Malcolm → Macduff (Alliance Military Ally) — They join forces to challenge Macbeth's rule.

  Macduff meets Malcolm while Malcolm is gathering troops against Macbeth.

• Macbeth → Malcolm (Conflict Usurper) — Macbeth's kingship displaces Malcolm's publicly designated succession.

  Duncan names Malcolm his heir, while Macbeth later takes the crown after Duncan's murder.

• Macbeth → Fleance (Conflict Threatened Successor) — Fleance represents the future succession Macbeth fears.

  Macbeth sends assassins against Banquo, but Fleance escapes, preserving the prophetic line.

• Macbeth → Banquo (Alliance Battle Companion) — Macbeth and Banquo share a military association and encounter the prophecies together.

  The three prophetic women address Macbeth and Banquo together after Macbeth's victorious battle.

• Lady Macbeth → Duncan (Conflict Political Adversary) — She treats Duncan as the obstacle to Macbeth's predicted kingship.

  Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to kill Duncan when she learns that he will stay overnight.

Story Analysis

A victorious warrior pursues a prophetic crown, but ambition, violence, and guilt destroy both his rule and his marriage.

Plot Progression

1. Ashes Before Ambition — Macbeth and Lady Macbeth grieve at their child's funeral before Macbeth returns to the battlefield. His victory and the prophetic encounter awaken the possibility of royal power.
2. The Crowned Temptation — Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title of Cawdor, and Macbeth shares the prophecies with Lady Macbeth. Her pressure transforms ambition into a plan to murder Duncan.
3. Blood Secures Nothing — Macbeth kills Duncan and becomes king after Malcolm flees. Fearing Banquo's prophetic descendants, he orders Banquo's murder, but Fleance escapes and Banquo's ghost exposes Macbeth's instability.
4. Tyranny Meets Prophecy — Macbeth seeks further assurances from visions and responds to Macduff's flight with brutal violence. Macduff joins Malcolm after learning that his household has been destroyed.
5. Smoke Over Dunsinane — Lady Macbeth collapses under guilt while Macbeth faces the approaching army and his wife's death. Birnam Wood appears to move, Macduff kills Macbeth, and Malcolm is proclaimed king.