MACBETH-BOOK SUMMARY
author: William Shakespeare- is an english playwright,actor and poet,born in Stratford-upon-
Avon. During his life, he lived in London where he performed in Globe-theatre and wrote
plays and soon became favourite playwright of queen Elizabeth I.,who often visited this
theatre. Through his life, he wrote many plays, Romeo and Juliet,Macbeth,Othello,Merchant
of Venice,King Lear and wrote over 100 sonnets. He died in his hometown at the age of 52.
Genre: drama,tragedy
Setting: 11th century in Scotland
Composition: the play is divided into 5 acts
Characters:
● Macbeth- main character of Shakespeare’s play, scottish general,good warrior,
ambitious,having self-doubts,plagued by worry and psychic thoughts
● Lady Macbeth- Macbeth’s wife, deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and
position,she is the one who urges Macbeth to kill the king, after getting the crown,
both her and her husband turn mad, dangerous, but she and him love each other and
make a good duo
● The three Witches- old and weird,but very good manipulators with people, evil and
wicked, the most dangerous characters in the play, make a prophecy to Macbeth that
he will be a king of Scotland.
● King Duncan- king of Scotland,symbol of stability and goodness,good
leader,kind,killed by Macbeth
● Banquo-Macbeth’ s noble best friend,second victim of Macbeth,not as ambitious as
Macbeth but also asks for a prophecy, witches tell him that his children will rule
Scotland.
● Macduff- nobleman, loyal to king Duncan, since the murder,Macduff didn’t believe
that Duncan was murdered by his servants, Macbeth realises that he won’t be loyal
to him,so he murders his wife and children, Macduff flees and decides to revenge his
family by putting on throne someone better than Macbeth. In the end,he kills
Macbeth.
● Malcolm-son of king Duncan,since his murder, Macbeth feels threatened by him.
Malcolm is worried about his faith,so he leaves Scotland and later creates
partnership with Macduff to kill Macbeth and put Malcolm on the throne.
Full play summary:
Act 1
● The play begins with the brief appearance of the Three Witches and quickly changes
into military camp,where king Duncan listens to news of his two generals Macbeth
and Banquo,who defeated two armies- one from Ireland and other one from Norway.
After the battle, Banquo and Macbeth encounter the Three Witches. They greet them
with prophecies, they call Macbeth “Thane of Cawdor” which impresses both leaders.
After the witches tell Macbeth that he will be king, Banquo demands his future and
witches tell him that he will have children who become kings, but he himself won’t be
king. After their encounter, both leaders return back home and they are told that
Macbeth has become the Thane of Cawdor which confuses them both, but it makes
Macbeth more ambitious to become a king.
author: William Shakespeare- is an english playwright,actor and poet,born in Stratford-upon-
Avon. During his life, he lived in London where he performed in Globe-theatre and wrote
plays and soon became favourite playwright of queen Elizabeth I.,who often visited this
theatre. Through his life, he wrote many plays, Romeo and Juliet,Macbeth,Othello,Merchant
of Venice,King Lear and wrote over 100 sonnets. He died in his hometown at the age of 52.
Genre: drama,tragedy
Setting: 11th century in Scotland
Composition: the play is divided into 5 acts
Characters:
● Macbeth- main character of Shakespeare’s play, scottish general,good warrior,
ambitious,having self-doubts,plagued by worry and psychic thoughts
● Lady Macbeth- Macbeth’s wife, deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and
position,she is the one who urges Macbeth to kill the king, after getting the crown,
both her and her husband turn mad, dangerous, but she and him love each other and
make a good duo
● The three Witches- old and weird,but very good manipulators with people, evil and
wicked, the most dangerous characters in the play, make a prophecy to Macbeth that
he will be a king of Scotland.
● King Duncan- king of Scotland,symbol of stability and goodness,good
leader,kind,killed by Macbeth
● Banquo-Macbeth’ s noble best friend,second victim of Macbeth,not as ambitious as
Macbeth but also asks for a prophecy, witches tell him that his children will rule
Scotland.
● Macduff- nobleman, loyal to king Duncan, since the murder,Macduff didn’t believe
that Duncan was murdered by his servants, Macbeth realises that he won’t be loyal
to him,so he murders his wife and children, Macduff flees and decides to revenge his
family by putting on throne someone better than Macbeth. In the end,he kills
Macbeth.
● Malcolm-son of king Duncan,since his murder, Macbeth feels threatened by him.
Malcolm is worried about his faith,so he leaves Scotland and later creates
partnership with Macduff to kill Macbeth and put Malcolm on the throne.
Full play summary:
Act 1
● The play begins with the brief appearance of the Three Witches and quickly changes
into military camp,where king Duncan listens to news of his two generals Macbeth
and Banquo,who defeated two armies- one from Ireland and other one from Norway.
After the battle, Banquo and Macbeth encounter the Three Witches. They greet them
with prophecies, they call Macbeth “Thane of Cawdor” which impresses both leaders.
After the witches tell Macbeth that he will be king, Banquo demands his future and
witches tell him that he will have children who become kings, but he himself won’t be
king. After their encounter, both leaders return back home and they are told that
Macbeth has become the Thane of Cawdor which confuses them both, but it makes
Macbeth more ambitious to become a king.
