Lady Macbeth: Macbeth's wife and co-conspirator. She is a ruthless and ambitious woman who goads Macbeth into killing King Duncan. After the murder, Lady Macbeth becomes wracked with guilt and remorse, and she eventually dies in a state of madness.
King Duncan: The King of Scotland at the beginning of the play. He is a kind and benevolent ruler, and his murder by Macbeth sets in motion the tragic events of the story.
Banquo: A fellow general and close friend of Macbeth. He suspects Macbeth's involvement in King Duncan's murder, and he eventually becomes a victim of Macbeth's paranoia.
The Three Witches: Three supernatural figures who prophesy that Macbeth will become king. Their prophecies set in motion the events of the play, and they are used as a symbol of fate and the consequences of ambition.
Macduff: A Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth's rule and eventually leads the forces that overthrow him.
Malcolm and Donalbain: King Duncan's sons. Malcolm flees to England after his father's murder and eventually returns to Scotland to lead an army against Macbeth. Donalbain also flees Scotland after the murder but does not play a significant role in the rest of the play.
Hecate: The goddess of witchcraft and magic. She appears in Act III of the play and commands the witches to do her bidding.