Examine the reaction of each of the following characters to the murder of the king Duncan in Act 2 Scene 3. How is their reactions indicative of their characterization?

The characters react differently.  Macbeth acts upset (this is fake upset) and goes in to see the murdered Duncan and kills his guards.  Macduff is horrified by the death of his beloved king.  Banquo is also horrified, although in the back of his mind he has an idea of what might have happened.  Lady Macbeth pretends to faint - she does this to save Macbeth from being questioned about the murder of the kind's guards.  Finally, Malcolm and Donalbain are saddened by the death, but they also realize they could be next so they choose to flee to England and Ireland.

When Duncan's body is discovered Macbeth acts upset and goes in to see the murdered Ducan and kills his guards. Macduff is horrified by the death of his beloved king. Banquo is also horrified, although in the back of his mind he has an idea of what might have happened to Duncan. Lady Macbeth pretends to faint. She only does this so that Macbeth is not questioned about the murder of the king's guards. Finally, Malcolm and Donalbain are saddened by the death, but they also realize that they could be the next ones to be killed so they flee to England and Ireland. For Macbeth, it just shows further that he does not truly care that he murders the king or now his guards. He is okay with killing people now that had killed the king and has done it without being caught in the act of killing the king or his guards. For Macduff, it shows that he is truly upset at the sight of the dead king. He calls the king his beloved king so it shows that he does care. For Banquo, he also is upset that the king I dead but he knows that this was not any ordinary kill this was an act of hatred. He knows that he can not speak because he too might get killed if he speaks about it. For Lady Macbeth, it shows that she has no remorse for killing people. But it also shows that she cares about her husband. For Malcolm and Donalbain it shows that they are sad that their father is killed but also that they are terrified that they are going to be the next people to be killed in the royal family, so they vanished from the area so that they are not going to get killed.

How has Macbeth furthered his ambitions by scheming and murder? How are others reacting to his actions?