A heath and a Cave
Where Macbeth meets the witches
MACBETH PLACES AND EVENTS
Where the witches meet each other Forres
Military camp near Forres
Duncans home.
Duncan receives reports on the battle against the rebels and invaders
Macbeth and lady
We hear about Macbeths bravery, Duncan makes him the thane of Macbeth’s home as king
Cawdor and queen Dunssinane
Banquo’s murder is Fortified castle
ordered here and his gost
Macbeth and lady Macbeth goes to await
appears here.
the English and rebel armies
Inverness Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and commits
suicide here
Macbeth and lady Scone Colmekill
Macbeth’s home Macbeth is beheaded in front of the
Where Macbeth is crowned Where castle
Duncan is killed Duncan/Kings
here. are buried
Compared to a
church by Banquo Birnam wood England
Used as desicse for English and rebal armies Malcom flees here after his father’s murder
Dubble truth by the witches King Edward lives here
Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland is tested here by
Norway Malcom
Ireland
FiFe Sweno’s land Macduff finds out about the murder of his wife and
Donalbain flees kids
Macduffs home Fought against Scotland
here after his
with traitor (previous) An army against Macbeth is formed
Macduff wife and children father’s murder
thane of Cawdor
are murdered here
, Act 1:scene 1
A open place
Emphasizes the evil/unnatural
nature of the witches
First Witch;When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Ongoing war
Second Witch;When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won. Before sunset
Third Witch;That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch;Where the place?
Second Witch;Upon the heath.
Third Witch;There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch;I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch;Paddock calls. Summary;
Paradox:
Third Witch;Anon. The witches meet up and decides when to meet
Witches love what people hate
ALL;Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Macbeth decides after the ongoing war is over.
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
They then decide to fly away (Hover through the fog and
filthy air)
, Theme Symbolic Moment
Act 1:scene 2 Heroism & Brutality Macbeth’s “smoked” sword and savage execution
Loyalty vs. Treason Cawdor’s betrayal vs. Macbeth’s valor
A mullitary camp
Fate vs. Action Macbeth defies fortune, earning his title through deeds
War’s Chaos “Spent swimmers,” “cannons overcharged,” “Golgotha”
King Duncan, Malcolm, and others receive updates from a wounded sergeant and the
Thane of Ross about the brutal battles raging across Scotland.
Ross – The Swift Herald
• Report:
o Norway, aided by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, attacked Fife.
o Macbeth, “Bellona’s bridegroom,” met him in battle and crushed the rebellion.
• Outcome:
o Victory for Scotland.
The Sergeant – The Bleeding Messenger
o Norway must pay $10,000 to bury his dead.
• Entrance: Covered in blood, he’s a living symbol of war’s cost.
• Duncan’s Decision:
• Report:
o The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
o The battle was chaotic—“like two spent swimmers” dragging each other down.
o Macbeth is rewarded with Cawdor’s title: “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath
o Macbeth defeated the rebel Macdonwald with savage precision, “unseaming him
won.”
from the nave to the chaps.”
• Imagery:
o Fortune is mocked as a “rebel’s whore”—Macbeth doesn’t rely on luck, only steel.
o Macbeth is “valour’s minion,” carving through enemies like a war god.
• Second Wave: Just as victory seemed near, the Norweyan king launched a fresh assault.
• Macbeth & Banquo’s Response: Fierce and fearless—“as sparrows to eagles,” they fought
like “cannons overcharged.”
, The Witches – Agents of Chaos
Act 1:scene 3 •
•
Setting: A thunderous heath near Forres—wild, liminal, and charged with supernatural energy.
Tone: Mischievous and malevolent. The witches curse a sailor for petty revenge, showing their power
to torment but not kill.
A Heath
• Symbolism:
Macbeth’s Inner Conflict
o Sieve sailing, rat without a tail, pilot’s thumb—grotesque images of unnatural magic.
• Three Asides reveal his psychological shift:
o Their chant “Thrice to thine and thrice to mine…” seals the spell with ritualistic rhythm.
1. “Two truths are told…” – He begins to believe the prophecy.
• Function: They foreshadow Macbeth’s rise and Banquo’s legacy, sparking the central conflict.
2. “Cannot be ill, cannot be good…” – He wrestles with morality.
3. “If chance will have me king…” – He considers letting fate act, but the
Macbeth & Banquo – Encountering the Supernatural
seed of ambition is planted.
• Imagery:
Macbeth Banquo
o “Unfix my hair”, “knock at my ribs” – visceral signs of fear and desire. Questions their nature: “You should be women, and yet
Echoes the witches: “So foul and fair a day…”
your beards…”
o “Nothing is but what is not” – reality begins to blur.
Receives prophecy: Thane of Glamis → Thane of
Told he will father kings, though not be one
Cawdor → King
Begins to unravel: “My thought… shakes so my single Remains skeptical: “The instruments of darkness tell
state of man…” us truths…”
• Macbeth’s Reaction: Shocked, intrigued, and increasingly obsessed. His asides reveal a mind already
entertaining murder.
• Banquo’s Wisdom: He warns that evil may speak truth to lure us to ruin.
Ross & Angus – Reality Confirms Prophecy
• News Delivered: Macbeth is now Thane of Cawdor, as the witches predicted.
• Macbeth’s Response: “Why do you dress me in borrow’d robes?”—he’s stunned but tempted.
• Banquo’s Remark: “Can the devil speak true?”—truth from evil is unsettling.
Where Macbeth meets the witches
MACBETH PLACES AND EVENTS
Where the witches meet each other Forres
Military camp near Forres
Duncans home.
Duncan receives reports on the battle against the rebels and invaders
Macbeth and lady
We hear about Macbeths bravery, Duncan makes him the thane of Macbeth’s home as king
Cawdor and queen Dunssinane
Banquo’s murder is Fortified castle
ordered here and his gost
Macbeth and lady Macbeth goes to await
appears here.
the English and rebel armies
Inverness Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and commits
suicide here
Macbeth and lady Scone Colmekill
Macbeth’s home Macbeth is beheaded in front of the
Where Macbeth is crowned Where castle
Duncan is killed Duncan/Kings
here. are buried
Compared to a
church by Banquo Birnam wood England
Used as desicse for English and rebal armies Malcom flees here after his father’s murder
Dubble truth by the witches King Edward lives here
Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland is tested here by
Norway Malcom
Ireland
FiFe Sweno’s land Macduff finds out about the murder of his wife and
Donalbain flees kids
Macduffs home Fought against Scotland
here after his
with traitor (previous) An army against Macbeth is formed
Macduff wife and children father’s murder
thane of Cawdor
are murdered here
, Act 1:scene 1
A open place
Emphasizes the evil/unnatural
nature of the witches
First Witch;When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Ongoing war
Second Witch;When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won. Before sunset
Third Witch;That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch;Where the place?
Second Witch;Upon the heath.
Third Witch;There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch;I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch;Paddock calls. Summary;
Paradox:
Third Witch;Anon. The witches meet up and decides when to meet
Witches love what people hate
ALL;Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Macbeth decides after the ongoing war is over.
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
They then decide to fly away (Hover through the fog and
filthy air)
, Theme Symbolic Moment
Act 1:scene 2 Heroism & Brutality Macbeth’s “smoked” sword and savage execution
Loyalty vs. Treason Cawdor’s betrayal vs. Macbeth’s valor
A mullitary camp
Fate vs. Action Macbeth defies fortune, earning his title through deeds
War’s Chaos “Spent swimmers,” “cannons overcharged,” “Golgotha”
King Duncan, Malcolm, and others receive updates from a wounded sergeant and the
Thane of Ross about the brutal battles raging across Scotland.
Ross – The Swift Herald
• Report:
o Norway, aided by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, attacked Fife.
o Macbeth, “Bellona’s bridegroom,” met him in battle and crushed the rebellion.
• Outcome:
o Victory for Scotland.
The Sergeant – The Bleeding Messenger
o Norway must pay $10,000 to bury his dead.
• Entrance: Covered in blood, he’s a living symbol of war’s cost.
• Duncan’s Decision:
• Report:
o The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
o The battle was chaotic—“like two spent swimmers” dragging each other down.
o Macbeth is rewarded with Cawdor’s title: “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath
o Macbeth defeated the rebel Macdonwald with savage precision, “unseaming him
won.”
from the nave to the chaps.”
• Imagery:
o Fortune is mocked as a “rebel’s whore”—Macbeth doesn’t rely on luck, only steel.
o Macbeth is “valour’s minion,” carving through enemies like a war god.
• Second Wave: Just as victory seemed near, the Norweyan king launched a fresh assault.
• Macbeth & Banquo’s Response: Fierce and fearless—“as sparrows to eagles,” they fought
like “cannons overcharged.”
, The Witches – Agents of Chaos
Act 1:scene 3 •
•
Setting: A thunderous heath near Forres—wild, liminal, and charged with supernatural energy.
Tone: Mischievous and malevolent. The witches curse a sailor for petty revenge, showing their power
to torment but not kill.
A Heath
• Symbolism:
Macbeth’s Inner Conflict
o Sieve sailing, rat without a tail, pilot’s thumb—grotesque images of unnatural magic.
• Three Asides reveal his psychological shift:
o Their chant “Thrice to thine and thrice to mine…” seals the spell with ritualistic rhythm.
1. “Two truths are told…” – He begins to believe the prophecy.
• Function: They foreshadow Macbeth’s rise and Banquo’s legacy, sparking the central conflict.
2. “Cannot be ill, cannot be good…” – He wrestles with morality.
3. “If chance will have me king…” – He considers letting fate act, but the
Macbeth & Banquo – Encountering the Supernatural
seed of ambition is planted.
• Imagery:
Macbeth Banquo
o “Unfix my hair”, “knock at my ribs” – visceral signs of fear and desire. Questions their nature: “You should be women, and yet
Echoes the witches: “So foul and fair a day…”
your beards…”
o “Nothing is but what is not” – reality begins to blur.
Receives prophecy: Thane of Glamis → Thane of
Told he will father kings, though not be one
Cawdor → King
Begins to unravel: “My thought… shakes so my single Remains skeptical: “The instruments of darkness tell
state of man…” us truths…”
• Macbeth’s Reaction: Shocked, intrigued, and increasingly obsessed. His asides reveal a mind already
entertaining murder.
• Banquo’s Wisdom: He warns that evil may speak truth to lure us to ruin.
Ross & Angus – Reality Confirms Prophecy
• News Delivered: Macbeth is now Thane of Cawdor, as the witches predicted.
• Macbeth’s Response: “Why do you dress me in borrow’d robes?”—he’s stunned but tempted.
• Banquo’s Remark: “Can the devil speak true?”—truth from evil is unsettling.
