MACBETH: ACT 1 SUMMARY
1. The play opens on a stormy heath with 3 witches plotting “to meet Macbeth”:
“Fair is foul and foul is fair”.
2. The witches inform Macbeth of his prophecy: “All hail Macbeth, thou shalt be
King hereafter”.
3. Macbeth’s thoughts start becoming consumed by the witches’ prophecy: “If
chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir”.
4. Introduction to Lady Macbeth as she explains her ambitions to become a queen
at whatever cost- “To have thee crown’d withal”, “Too full o’ the milk of human
kindness”- Emasculates Macbeth as she considers him inferior and weak.
5. Then, Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy where she reveals her intention of harming King
Duncan who is visiting hers and Macbeth’s home- “croaks the fatal entrance of
Duncan under my battlements”
6. She also prays for her femininity to become non-existent as she believes by
having female characteristics, she is unable to achieve her ambitions- “Unsex
me here... Spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” “Take my milk for gall”.
7. She confronts Macbeth and tries to convince him to kill King Duncan- “Look like
the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”, to which he replies, “We will
speak further”. This shows that he does not oppose Lady Macbeth’s proposal-
He has become blinded by the idea of power”.
8. Interaction between Lady Macbeth and King Duncan as she pretends to be
welcoming- “Your majesty loads our house”.
9. Then, Macbeth’s first soliloquy where he ponders on what he can do regarding
killing King Duncan (committing regicide)- “If it were done when tis’ done, then
twere well it were done quickly”. He also considers the idea of damnation in the
afterlife if he commits murder- “We still have judgement here”.
He also highlights the good qualities of King Duncan and questions how he can
kill someone “so meek” when he should instead protect him- “Who should
against murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself”.
1. The play opens on a stormy heath with 3 witches plotting “to meet Macbeth”:
“Fair is foul and foul is fair”.
2. The witches inform Macbeth of his prophecy: “All hail Macbeth, thou shalt be
King hereafter”.
3. Macbeth’s thoughts start becoming consumed by the witches’ prophecy: “If
chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir”.
4. Introduction to Lady Macbeth as she explains her ambitions to become a queen
at whatever cost- “To have thee crown’d withal”, “Too full o’ the milk of human
kindness”- Emasculates Macbeth as she considers him inferior and weak.
5. Then, Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy where she reveals her intention of harming King
Duncan who is visiting hers and Macbeth’s home- “croaks the fatal entrance of
Duncan under my battlements”
6. She also prays for her femininity to become non-existent as she believes by
having female characteristics, she is unable to achieve her ambitions- “Unsex
me here... Spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” “Take my milk for gall”.
7. She confronts Macbeth and tries to convince him to kill King Duncan- “Look like
the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”, to which he replies, “We will
speak further”. This shows that he does not oppose Lady Macbeth’s proposal-
He has become blinded by the idea of power”.
8. Interaction between Lady Macbeth and King Duncan as she pretends to be
welcoming- “Your majesty loads our house”.
9. Then, Macbeth’s first soliloquy where he ponders on what he can do regarding
killing King Duncan (committing regicide)- “If it were done when tis’ done, then
twere well it were done quickly”. He also considers the idea of damnation in the
afterlife if he commits murder- “We still have judgement here”.
He also highlights the good qualities of King Duncan and questions how he can
kill someone “so meek” when he should instead protect him- “Who should
against murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself”.
