Character Profiles. 2. Lady M. 1. Macbeth

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1 Character Profiles 1. Macbeth Acting Age/Sex: 35-50/male Lines/Scenes: /13 Party Secretary General/Security Minister, later State Leader Key words: Ambition, Bravery, Tyranny, Treachery, Love, Control Macbeth, on a purely story-level glance, seems to be a power-hungry and ambitious man that stops at nothing to get what he wants and turns into a tyrannical, murderous dictator. Although this is of course true, it would be too superficial as an analysis of Macbeth s complicated and complex character. He is drawn as heroic and courageous in the beginning and only through the witches prediction the prospect of power is opened to him. But even this temptation is not enough for him to go through with the murder that is necessary to fulfil his goal. Only after his wife, whom he loves truly and honestly, convinces him, he goes through with the plot. Macbeth is both protagonist and antagonist of the play. Even after brutal and heinous crimes, one still cannot help but empathise with him: Macbeth is as nefarious a killer as Aaron, Iago or Edmund, but what sets him apart is his constant self-reflection, his ability to share his thoughts about the constant struggle of good and evil in his mind. But then again, he says very little about his inner movings, so what we know about him is fragmentary. This is his redeeming quality, as well as his genuine love for his wife, elevates him to the status of a tragic hero. Macbeth is a difficult character to do justice to, but his complexity make him one of the most fascinating characters in all of Shakespeare s plays. 2. Lady M Acting Age/Sex: 35-50/female Lines/Scenes: /10 Wife of Macbeth Key words: Obsession, Love, Loyalty, Intelligence, Ambition, Remorse, Madness Lady M is a complex, demanding and fascinating character. Ruthless and ambitious for her husband s sake, whom she adores and truly loves. She does not want the kingship for her sake, but because she believes that her husband deserves it. Frightfully intelligent and energetic, she would be prepared to kill Duncan herself. Her resolve and relentlessness grows weaker and her sanity deteriorates when she begins to feel remorse for the deeds she instigated. She is neither femme fatale nor demon, but thoroughly obsessed with Macbeth.

2 3. Macduff Acting Age/Sex: 25-50/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /8 Something like a criminal detective first, later rebel and revenger Key words: Family, Duty, Honour, Justice, Intelligence, Affection, Patriotism Macduff is the anti-hero of the play. The first to suspect the nefarious character of Macbeth, his incorruptible sense of duty, justice and morality never wavers. Truly just and truly courageous he/she is a victim of Macbeth s regime and loses his family to the king s persecution. He/she is the one that defeats Macbeth, but willingly accepts Malcolm as king. Her/His first priority is justice and duty, his/her second priority is to his/her family. 4. Malcolm Acting Age/Sex: 25-35/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /9 Party leader and heir apparent to Duncan, later Rebel leader and King Key words: Coming of age, Rebel with a cause, ambivalent, charismatic, figurehead, leader Malcolm starts off as the most likely successor to Duncan, albeit not doing anything to earn that distinction. After Duncan is murdered, Malcolm must flee and radically changes from an indulgent character to a charismatic freedom fighter. He is a patriot and his rebellion is joined by most of the thanes. He is a sympathetic and pragmatic character, although sometimes a bit deceitful when it suits his purposes. 5. Duncan Acting Age/Sex: 50-70/cross cast The King/ State President Key words: Weak, Naïve, Trusting, Indulgent, Luxurious Duncan is a weak and indulgent king. Just when the action sets in Macbeth managed to save his crumbling regime. He represents empty freedom, materialism, lechery and luxuriousness. His laissez-faire attitude, weakness and ineffectiveness form a sharp contrast to Macbeths control and frightening effectiveness. Duncan should neither command respect nor be sympathetic.

3 6. Banquo Acting Age/Sex: 20-30/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /8 Right Hand and close friend of Macbeth later second victim of Macbeth s regime Key words: Patriot, Just, Upright, Pious, Duty, Disillusioned, Antithesis to Macbeth, Withstands temptation Banquo, in all things, is both comparable in his station to Macbeth and a complete antithesis in his actions. He has a pure, moral character and is unambitious. Both Macbeth and he are tempted by the witches to murder Duncan. But Banquo withstands, and stays loyal and pious. As a threat he is one of the first characters to be removed by Macbeth. 7. Donalbain Acting Age/Sex: 20-30/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /6 Prominent Party Member, later Rebel leader and Martyr Key words: Patriot, Loyal, The Younger Son, Hero, Reckless Donalbain, in this adaptation, is an interesting character that starts off as the younger friend/brother of Malcolm (in a way, he s Malcolm s Banquo). He flees from the capital when Duncan, his mentor, is killed and later joins Malcolm in his revolt against Macbeth. He confronts Macbeth alone and is killed by him. 8. The Witches Acting Age/Sex: 0-100/cross cast Lines/Scenes: 1: (/14), 2: (/13), 3: (/14) Power dealer, system changer, Seducer Key words: Powerful, In control, nonchalant, apart, abject, illegitimate The witches are both centrepiece of the play and apart from it. They are not influenced by the plot but they manufacture and influence everything that happens in the play. They are dealers in power and absolutely unreachable even for the vast instrumentarium of power that Macbeth wields. They are the ones to begin the play and they are the ones to close it. They are agents of change that chose to install Macbeth and later chose to end his rule.

4 9. The Thanes: Lennox, Angus, Menteith, Caithness Acting Age/Sex: 30-50/cross cast Lines/Scenes: LE: (/8), AN: (/4), ME: (/3), CA: (/3) Party Members/Ministers, later Rebels Key words: Collaboration vs. Resistance, changeable, Follower The thanes are opportunists. They follow Duncan until he dies and they follow Macbeth for a long way until his rule starts to crumble. They represent the hedonist and empty approach to freedom in Duncan s system but redeem themselves as fighters for true liberty as followers of Malcolm. 10. Ross Acting Age/Sex: 30-50/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /10 Party Member, later Double Agent, Spymaster for Macbeth Key words: Double agent, traitor, cunning Ross is an interesting character, because he sets himself apart from the other thanes by means of his close relationships with the old man or Lady Macduff and Macduff. Ross, in this adaptation, is to be seen as the cunning and double-crossing master agent for Macbeth that instigates both Banquo s and Lady Macduff s downfall. 11. Lady Macduff Acting Age/Sex: 25-50/cross cast (but same sex as Macduff) Wife/Husband of Macduff Key words: Loving, domestic, familial, desperate, victim Lady Macduff and Macduff have a very different relationship than Lady M and Mister M. They have a very domestic, desexualised life together and try to be as close to a good family as they can get. Lady Macduff s first priority is her/his family, whereas Macduff chooses justice, duty and fatherland over familial attachment, which he deeply regrets later.

5 12. Seyton Acting Age/Sex: 20-70/cross cast Ineffective Security Guard, Loyal servant of Macbeth Key words: Loyal, Ineffective, Comical Seyton, the most loyal servant of Macbeth is merged with the porter and thus the character of Seyton is the only character that provides comic relief. Seyton, together with other lower class characters, stays with Macbeth till the end. 13. Fleance Acting Age/Sex: 15-20/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /2 Son of Banquo, Key words: Young, Naïve, Victim, coming of age A character that becomes a victim through relation: Too young to have a political opinion for or against the regime, he must grow up quickly after his father is arrested. He flees to the rebels and joins their ranks. 14. Sergeant Acting Age/Sex: 20-40/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /3 Key words: Loyal, Brave, soldier, Serves Macbeth The Sergeant is a loyal soldier that serves the state. He serves Duncan and later saves Macbeth with the same loyalty. He is one of the last characters that stay with Macbeth. 15. Old Man Acting Age/Sex: 50-70/cross cast Key words: Wise, Voice of the people A lower class character that has much more insight at a much earlier date than the other characters. A road sweeper or cleaner that works in or around Macbeth s mansion and stands metaphorically- for the people.

6 16. Son Acting Age/Sex: 10-15/cross cast Lines/Scenes: /2 Adopted son of the Macduffs Key words: Naïve, Young A tragical figure: Destined to have a happy childhood as an adopted child of one of the most prominent figures in Duncan s state, but as the son of a traitor and ideological enemy (The Macduffs are a same-sex couple), he/she falls victim to Macbeth s purges. 17. The Doctors Acting Age/Sex: 30-50/cross cast Lines/Scenes: 1: (/1), 2: (/2) Key words: Neutral, Analytical, Scientific Neutral, analytical and scientific psychiatrists that observe and treat Lady M s somnambulia and madness. They are neutral to the regime but wary of its power. 18. The Murderers Acting Age/Sex: 20-30/cross cast Lines/Scenes: 1: (/8), 2: (/7) Party Youth Organisation/ Paramilitary Units Key words: Brutal, Effective, Loyal, Tools Brutally loyal servants of Macbeth. Not necessarily cruel or malicious, but almost machinelike in their unwavering adherence to the edicts of Macbeth, may be seen as metaphors for the fervent ideological followers of totalitarian regimes. May be seen as a Party Youth Organisation or a secret police unit.