Macbeth – Characters
Setting—Scotland, in the eleventh century (A.D. 1000-1100)
At this time, the king was chosen by election from among the Thanes (Duncan declaring his son as the heir to the
throne is going against law and tradition).
[A thane is a Scottish duke or lord of a small area; the title was gained through election, inheritance, or force.]
The Three Witches
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Banquo
Fleance (FLEE-unce)
Macdonwald
Duncan
Malcolm
Donalbain
Macduff
Lady Macduff
Lennox
Ross
Menteith (MEN-tith)
Angus
Caithness (CAY-ness)
[Menteith, Angus, and Caithness aren’t in the play much]
Seyton (SEE-ton)
Siward (SEE-ward)
Young Siward
Shakespearean Vocabulary
against = for, in preparation for
solemnity = peacefulness, respectability
alack = alas (exclamation of sorrow)
sooth = truth
an, and = if
sovereign = the leader who answers to nobody
anon = soon, at once
sovereignty = independence, the leader’s control
ay = yes (sounds like “eye”)
surcease = termination, cessation
betimes = soon, early
surfeit = overindulgence (food, drink, etc.)
bodes = foreshadows, is an indicator of…
thee = you
bosom = heart (emotionally)
thence = from there, from then on
breast = chest (the pectoral muscles)
thine = yours
but = only, except
thither = there
by troth, by my troth = truthfully
thou = you
commend me to = give my regards to
thy = your
corse = corpse
‘tis = it is
countenance = demeanor (how you present yourself)
whence = where
durst = dare; you wouldn’t dare
wherefore = why (not "where")
e'en = even
withal = in addition, all together, with it all
e'er = ever
woe = sadness
enmity = hate (like “enemy”)
woo = date, flirt with, seduce
ere = before
would that, I would = if only, I wish
fie, fie on it = darn it, to heck with it
ye = you (usually plural)
forsooth = truthfully
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haply = perhaps
hark = Look! or Listen!
haste = hurry
hence = away from here (place), after this (time)
hie = go
hither = here
ho! = a call to attention, usu. by someone with authority
hold = stop, wait a minute
kin, kinsman = relative, family member
knave = scoundrel, jerk
liege, My liege = king, master, lord
The Royal “We” – a king or other royal leader will
frequently refer to him/herself as “we” (“our sister,
now our queen” “our sovereignty”), as if the king
and the country are one and the same. When such a
character chooses to use the Royal “We” often tells
us a lot about that character.
Kings are also sometimes referred to with the name of
their country; in Hamlet, the uncle of Fortinbras,
Norway’s king, is often called “Old Norway.”
This is more common with other nobility. For example,
Shakespeare’s characters refer to the Duke of York
as simply “York” and the Earl of Kent as “Kent.”
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3rd Person verb adds –eth (she gives is she giveth)
2nd Person verb adds -est, (you give is thou givest)
love = can be romantic, family or friendship feeling
marry = indeed (literally, “by Mary”)
ne’er = never
sirrah = man, sir (also, “oh, man!”)
sith = since
soft! = exclamation of surprise
Elizabethan English (present and past)
thou – art
hast
wilt
canst
shalt
dost
thou – wast hadst wouldst couldst shouldst didst
Modern English (present and past)
you – are
have
will
can
you – were had
would
could
shall
should
do
did