What kind of person is duncan in macbeth

For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Click the character infographic to download. Duncan is the King of Scotland, but he might as well be your dad. We should all be so lucky: he's kind, generous, benevolent, and just a little weepier than you might expect from a noble warrior and king.

Is this the man who should be king? Duncan is totally the Early Modern version of a sensitive, New Age guy. Post-battle, when he's chilling with his advisors, he can't contain himself: "O valiant cousin! But—did he fight at all? Or did he just sit around, waiting for everyone else to do the disemboweling? My plenteous joys, Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorrow. That's an awfully fancy way of saying, "I'm crying.

From the way Macbeth describes Lady Macbeth at the start of the play, they appear to have a strong relationship. Macbeth tells her about everything that happened with the witches and they plot together to kill Duncan. Macbeth waivers over killing Duncan, which angers Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is persuaded by his wife to go through with the murder. The couple work as a team to murder Duncan and his guards. Lady Macbeth criticises Macbeth for bringing the daggers back and returns them to the murder scene herself.

She helps Macbeth wash away the blood. Their relationship is publicly strained when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo at a feast. Lady Macbeth is irritated by his lack of courage and has to send the guests away. Macbeth makes plans to kill more people and to visit the weird sisters alone without telling her.

Lady Macbeth dies, having been driven mad by guilt. They both receive prophecies from the witches. Trust begins to break down between Macbeth and Banquo. Both men begin to deeply mistrust one another in Act 3. Macbeth sends murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth is haunted by the ghost of Banquo, which terrifies him in Act 3 after he learns that Fleance escaped.

After the ghost appears, he starts to feel guilt over the murder of his friend. Macbeth is persuaded to go through with the act of killing Duncan, especially after seeing an apparition of a dagger which he believes is a sign.

He immediately feels terrible guilt for murdering the king and wishes he could undo his act. Macbeth is concerned about his loyalty. The witches warn Macbeth against Macduff.

When Macbeth is told that Macduff has fled to England, he fears that Macduff is rebelling. Fuelled by grief for his murdered family, Macduff fights with and defeats Macbeth, calling him a monster, a hell-hound and a tyrant. As soon as Macbeth hears the witches' prophecy in Act 1, he sees Malcolm as a threat to gaining the crown. After the murder of his father King Duncan, Malcolm is immediately suspicious of Macbeth and flees to England for safety.

Malcolm leads an army against Macbeth, ultimately defeating him to become the new king in Act 5. Banquo is close to his son and the witches tell him his sons will one day be kings. When murderers attack them, he helps his son to escape and tells Fleance to seek revenge for his murder. After their father is murdered, Malcolm and Donalbain decide to escape to England and Ireland for safety. Once Macbeth is defeated and Malcolm is crowned king, Malcolm celebrates that he and Donalbain can be reunited.

On this page students can arrange the characters on the screen, showing the connections between the characters and their relationships. They can then print this using the button on the page and label them with their own quotes. The following activity is also a great way to explore re;ationships in more detail, looking at what connects the characters. Instant Images Help us by taking a short survey — it will only take a few minutes and will help us make the Shakespeare Learning Zone even better for everyone.

Main Site Menu. Investigate Character Relationships See how their relationship changes during the play by moving the bar to the marked points. Print View the information. Photo by Ellie Kurttz Browse and license our images.

Photo by Stewart Hemley Browse and license our images. Antony Sher as Macbeth. Photo by Jonathan Dockar-Drysdale Browse and license our images. Photo by Angus McBean Browse and license our images. Photo by Reg Wilson Browse and license our images.

Paul Scofield as Macbeth. Photo by Manuel Harlan Browse and license our images. Lady Macbeth. Photo by Richard Davenport Browse and license our images. Lady Macbeth sleepwalks. Banquo and Macbeth. Analyse Banquo's Character. Macduff plots his revenge. My Preferences My Reading List. Macbeth William Shakespeare. Home Literature Notes Macbeth Duncan. Character Analysis Duncan.