Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
SUMMARY: In a thunderstorm, three witches decide to
meet again on the heath 'after the deed is done.' Next, a captain
reports to King Duncan that Macbeth beat Macdonwald in battle. Ross adds that
the Thane of Cawdor was traitorous to Scotland during the battle. The
three witches confront Macbeth and Banquo on their way home from the battle.
They predict that Macbeth will be King of Scotland, and Banquo, though never
king himself, will beget rulers. The witches leave and Ross informs Macbeth
that he has inherited the title Thane of Cawdor (as also predicted by the
witches). Macbeth contemplates the prediction of him being king, and wonders if
he should help make it happen. Malcolm reports to King Duncan that Cawdor
admitted his traitorous deeds at his execution. The king then warmly greets
Macbeth and Banquo. To Macbeth's dismay, King Duncan declares his eldest son,
Malcolm, Prince of Cumberland (i.e. the next king). At Inverness Castle,
Macbeth's wife learns of his encounter with the witches and decides that she'll
persuade Macbeth to fulfill his destiny through foul play. She then learns that
King Duncan is coming to her castle to stay the night, strengthening her
decision to murder Duncan.
Macbeth appears and his wife tells him she'll do the foul deed herself. Duncan arrives and
Macbeth tells his wife he doesn't want to murder Duncan. She talks him into it, adding that
they'll frame Duncan's
own guards with the murder.Past midnight,
Macbeth converses with Banquo, then alone, hallucinates that a bloody dagger is
in front of him. Macbeth meets his wife and tells her he murdered Duncan. He also begins
hearing voices. Macbeth forgets to return the daggers to the king's guards, so
his wife does it for him, bloodying herself too, as Macbeth loses himself in
insanity. They return to their chambers as Macduff and Lennox
appear at the castle gates. Macbeth greets them and they ask to see Duncan. Macduff and
Macbeth 'discover' the body. Macbeth accidentally admits of the
murder, then recants. Duncan's
sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee to England and Ireland,
fearing for their own lives. Subsequently, Macduff and Ross discuss that all
have decided that Malcolm and Donalbain bribed the guards to kill Duncan. Consequently,
Macbeth is declared king.At Scotland's
castle (Forres), Macbeth contemplates how he fears Banquo may give breed to
children who may overthrow Macbeth. Macbeth convinces (hires) to men to murder
Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth scares his wife by informing her of Banquo
and Fleance's impending death. The murderers successfully murder Banquo, but
Fleance escapes. At dinner, Macbeth imagines he sees Banquo's ghost causing his
wife to excuse the dinner guests. On the heath, The three witches make a brew
chanting 'double, double, toil and trouble.' Macbeth approaches and
asks three questions. The witches answer: 1. Beware Macduff, 2. None of woman
borne will harm Macbeth, and 3. Macbeth will until Birnam Wood come to
Dunsinane Hill. Finally, the ghost of Banquo appears, showing his eight future
royal offspring. Lennox and another Lord
discuss that Macduff has gone to England to convince the innocent
Malcolm to join arms with Northumberland and Siward against Macbeth. They
inform Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth vows to fight them
at Fife. Lady Macduff laments that her
husband, a traitor, is virtually dead. Villains come and kill her son since he
supports his father. In England,
Macduff and Malcolm agree to fight together against Macbeth. Ross delivers the
devastating news to Macduff that his son and wife are dead. A doctor and
servant observe Macbeth's wife's sleepwalking and sleep-talking about Duncan's
death. Menteith, Angus, Caithness, and Lennox discuss the impending battle with Macbeth and
Birnam wood. An Dunsinane
Castle, Macbeth is
informed that an army of 10,000 is near. At Birnam wood, Malcolm orders his
soldiers to cut the trees and use them as disguises. In the castle, Macbeth
learns that his wife has died by her own hand, then learns, to his dismay, that
Birnam wood is 'moving' toward the castle. The army arrives and
Macbeth fights and kills young Siward. Next, Macduff and Macbeth fight. Macduff
informs Macbeth that he (Macduff) was ripped from his mother's womb, and thus
not born of woman. Soon after, Macduff kills Macbeth. Macduff then crowns
Malcolm the new King of Scotland.
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