Macbeth
Macbeth is a powerful and capable general and soldier. However, he falls prey to ambition and he is easily influenced as soon as the prophecy which leads to him becoming Thane of Cawdor comes true. From this point on he is under the easy influence of Lady Macbeth and is compelled to commit murder. Since he has none of the character traits of a king, his only way of dealing with crises is to commit more murder. He second-guesses all of his actions and is never comfortable with his role as a villain. This shows the contrast with Shakespeare’s Richard III who revels in his villainy. His ambition and lack of resolve ultimately lead him to over-reach and he walks directly into his own predicted death.
Lady Macbeth
The wife of Macbeth, she at first appears ruthless and driven entirely by ambition for glory and power. She goads Macbeth into murdering the king. However, shortly after the murder and violence begin, Lady Macbeth is plagued with guilt and remorse. This eventually drives her to madness and suicide. She does appear to be genuinely in love with Macbeth, as if her criminal ambition is truly driven by a desire for his success. Yet she is more overwhelmed with the horror of their crimes that Macbeth and cannot sustain the ruthlessness which sets the play in motion.
The Three Witches
Analogous to the Fates of Greek mythology, these characters provide the prophecies which set Macbeth’s ambition in action and provide him with just enough information to delude himself. They taunt him and goad his actions which lead to his tragic fall. The witches operate as magic figures in the play much like the oracles of ancient tragedy.
Banquo
He is the counter to Macbeth. Although Banquo is also a brave and ambitious soldier, he pays attention to the prophecy of the witches and follows his duty rather than his ambition. It is appropriate that it is Banquo’s ghost who haunts Macbeth rather than Duncan’s since it is Banquo who represents the conscience which Macbeth fails to heed.
King Duncan
Representative of an old order to royalty and knightly virtue, his murder is the crime which sets Macbeth on his tragic path. The royal order embodied in Duncan cannot be restored until Malcom takes the throne.
Macduff
He is opposed to and suspects Macbeth from the start. He is the leader of the attack which restores rightful order to Scotland and he is the embodiment of justified vengeance in his fight against Macbeth.
Malcom
He represents the return of order in the play not simply because he takes the throne but because his ascendency follows the rightful order. That Malcom, though he kills Macbeth, is reticent in the beginning demonstrates his refusal to give in to similar ambitions and criminal tendencies like Macbeth. His restoration of the proper line of kings is an embodiment of natural rights over ruthless ambition.