Type of Play: tragedy

Theme 1: Uncontrolled ambition (lust for power) ultimately brings ruin.

Theme 2: Appearance vs. Reality - things are not always what they seem. Examples: "fair is foul & foul is fair", deception & treachery often disguise themselves (hey, just look at the Macbeths!), etc.

Word Occurences: The word blood appears over 200 times in the play (although who would take the time to count, I don't know). The word night (or form thereof, like tonight) appears more than 40 times. Other commonly occuring words include horrible, black, devil, & evil. Also, the stage directions "knocking within" appear 10 times.
 
 

Lady Macbeth: ruthless wife of Macbeth, even more ambitious than Macbeth.

Duncan: King of Scotland, murdered for his title.

Malcolm: Duncan’s eldest son, named heir to the throne.

Donalbain: Duncan's youngest son.

Macduff: general, Macbeth's kinsman/fellow thane at start, also his FOIL (opposite).

Banquo: Macbeth’s friend and general.

Fleance: Banquo's son

The three witches: They tell Macbeth that he is to become King, leading him to evil. Also known as the weird sisters, they represent the concept of fate.

Hecate: head of the witches.

Nobleman: Ross, Lennox, Caithness, Angus, Menteith.