MACBETH : SUMMARY
MACBETH : SUMMARY
ACT 1
1.1
Moorlands. We meet the witches on the moor; they tell us the story of Macbeth. They’re discussing a
battle between Scotland and Norway. Duncan is the King of Scotland, while Macbeth is fighting for him
(Macbeth is a war general and a thane (lord) under Duncan’s rule). The only people we meet in the first
scene are the witches, they set up many of the key themes and ideas of the play as a whole.
1.2
A military camp. A captain appears and tells Duncan about Macbeth and Banquo’s success in battle.
The thane of Cawdor (‘merciless Macdonwald’) joined the Norwegians who were attacking Scotland.
The battle was almost lost, but Macbeth and Banquo managed to kill Macdonwald and then go after the
Norwegian King himself, causing them to surrender. Duncan sends the thane of Cawdor to be executed.
He’s very happy with Macbeth and Banquo.
1.3
Moorlands. Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches. The witches foreshadow the succession of Macbeth
as the Thane of Cawdor and eventually the King of Scotland. They also tell Banquo that his sons will be
kings, but he won’t be one.
1.4
King Duncan’s castle. Duncan is upset that the Thane of Cawdor betrayed him. He then makes Macbeth
the new Thane of Cawdor; this surprises Macbeth as this shows that the witches’ prophecies are
starting to come true. Duncan’s son Malcolm is set, however, to become the next king.
1.5
Macbeth’s castle, Inverness. Lady Macbeth is introduced, reading a letter from her husband. Macbeth
arrives and Lady Macbeth reveals her plan of killing Duncan, Macbeth is unsure but Lady Macbeth is very
persuasive, this reveals the power dynamic of their relationship.
1.6
Duncan arrives at the castle, Lady Macbeth welcomes him. Macbeth is absent.
1.7
Macbeth’s uncertainty is shown in the scene - he isn’t sure about the plan to kill Duncan. He says he’d
happily kill the king if that was the only act of evil he’d have to commit, but he thinks that it may only
be the beginning rather than the end. Lady Macbeth chides him for his weakness, and devises a plan to
frame the guards for the murder.
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, MACBETH : SUMMARY
ACT 2
2.1
Banquo and Macbeth discuss the witches’ predictions. Macbeth is very worried again, and he starts to
have hallucinations - these are very important: he sees a floating dagger, covered in blood, pointing to
Duncan’s room. He also hears a bell which signals the end of the scene.
The murder happens off stage, so we don’t see it happen.
2.2
Lady Macbeth is getting the guards drunk, and Macbeth runs in, covered in blood in a panic. He thinks
that the guards woke up when he was doing it, he’s very paranoid. Lady Macbeth shouts at him for
being weak.
2.3
Duncan is dead. Macduff is in shock. Malcolm and Donalbain (Duncan’s sons) decide to run away.
Malcolm runs away to England, while Donalbain goes to Ireland. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth use this to
blame them for Duncan’s murder, so they can avoid being blamed themselves.
2.4
Ross (another thane) is debating recent circumstances with an old man; they say that nature has turned
upside down and everything feels wrong. Macduff arrives and tells them that Macbeth has been made
king.
ACT 3
3.1
Banquo is worried about Macbeth, and suspects Macbeth of conspiracy. The Macbeths invite him to a
feast. Macbeth is worried about Banquo, since the Witches said that Banquo’s sons will be Kings. He
asks servants to hire murderers to kill Banquo and his sons.
3.2
Lady Macbeth is in a different part of the castle and she is panicking. She calls for Macbeth to comfort
her, but he’s also very stressed, so they just talk about their panic together. Macbeth is worried that
there are other threats to his kingship, including his former close friend Banquo.
3.3
The murderers try to kill Banquo and Fleance. Fleance flees while Banquo dies.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
MACBETH : SUMMARY
ACT 1
1.1
Moorlands. We meet the witches on the moor; they tell us the story of Macbeth. They’re discussing a
battle between Scotland and Norway. Duncan is the King of Scotland, while Macbeth is fighting for him
(Macbeth is a war general and a thane (lord) under Duncan’s rule). The only people we meet in the first
scene are the witches, they set up many of the key themes and ideas of the play as a whole.
1.2
A military camp. A captain appears and tells Duncan about Macbeth and Banquo’s success in battle.
The thane of Cawdor (‘merciless Macdonwald’) joined the Norwegians who were attacking Scotland.
The battle was almost lost, but Macbeth and Banquo managed to kill Macdonwald and then go after the
Norwegian King himself, causing them to surrender. Duncan sends the thane of Cawdor to be executed.
He’s very happy with Macbeth and Banquo.
1.3
Moorlands. Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches. The witches foreshadow the succession of Macbeth
as the Thane of Cawdor and eventually the King of Scotland. They also tell Banquo that his sons will be
kings, but he won’t be one.
1.4
King Duncan’s castle. Duncan is upset that the Thane of Cawdor betrayed him. He then makes Macbeth
the new Thane of Cawdor; this surprises Macbeth as this shows that the witches’ prophecies are
starting to come true. Duncan’s son Malcolm is set, however, to become the next king.
1.5
Macbeth’s castle, Inverness. Lady Macbeth is introduced, reading a letter from her husband. Macbeth
arrives and Lady Macbeth reveals her plan of killing Duncan, Macbeth is unsure but Lady Macbeth is very
persuasive, this reveals the power dynamic of their relationship.
1.6
Duncan arrives at the castle, Lady Macbeth welcomes him. Macbeth is absent.
1.7
Macbeth’s uncertainty is shown in the scene - he isn’t sure about the plan to kill Duncan. He says he’d
happily kill the king if that was the only act of evil he’d have to commit, but he thinks that it may only
be the beginning rather than the end. Lady Macbeth chides him for his weakness, and devises a plan to
frame the guards for the murder.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
, MACBETH : SUMMARY
ACT 2
2.1
Banquo and Macbeth discuss the witches’ predictions. Macbeth is very worried again, and he starts to
have hallucinations - these are very important: he sees a floating dagger, covered in blood, pointing to
Duncan’s room. He also hears a bell which signals the end of the scene.
The murder happens off stage, so we don’t see it happen.
2.2
Lady Macbeth is getting the guards drunk, and Macbeth runs in, covered in blood in a panic. He thinks
that the guards woke up when he was doing it, he’s very paranoid. Lady Macbeth shouts at him for
being weak.
2.3
Duncan is dead. Macduff is in shock. Malcolm and Donalbain (Duncan’s sons) decide to run away.
Malcolm runs away to England, while Donalbain goes to Ireland. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth use this to
blame them for Duncan’s murder, so they can avoid being blamed themselves.
2.4
Ross (another thane) is debating recent circumstances with an old man; they say that nature has turned
upside down and everything feels wrong. Macduff arrives and tells them that Macbeth has been made
king.
ACT 3
3.1
Banquo is worried about Macbeth, and suspects Macbeth of conspiracy. The Macbeths invite him to a
feast. Macbeth is worried about Banquo, since the Witches said that Banquo’s sons will be Kings. He
asks servants to hire murderers to kill Banquo and his sons.
3.2
Lady Macbeth is in a different part of the castle and she is panicking. She calls for Macbeth to comfort
her, but he’s also very stressed, so they just talk about their panic together. Macbeth is worried that
there are other threats to his kingship, including his former close friend Banquo.
3.3
The murderers try to kill Banquo and Fleance. Fleance flees while Banquo dies.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
