A Scene By Scene Plot Summary: Macbeth: Plot

Act 1 Scene 1

The three witches meet on the heath and discuss when to meet with Macbeth.

Act 1 Scene 2

King Duncan is told of Macbeth and Banquo's bravery in battle and their success in defeating the invaders/rebels.

Act 1 Scene 3

Returning from battle, Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches who tell the first set of prophecies. Ross and Angus arrive and tell Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor.

A1:S3 Macbeth's Prophecies

1. "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis" (Witch 1) 2. "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor" (Witch 2) 3. "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter" (Witch 3).

A1:S3 Banquo's Prophecies

1. "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater" (Witch 1) 2. "Not so happy, yet much happier" (Witch 2) 3. "Thou shalt get king, though thou be none" (Witch 3).

Act 1 Scene 4

Macbeth and Banquo return from the battle and meet with Duncan. Duncan praises Macbeth and Banquo for their bravery before announcing that Duncan's eldest son, Malcolm, will become the next king. Duncan will feast at Macbeth's castle that evening.

Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth receives Macbeth's letter about the witches' prophecies and Macbeth's promotion to Thane of Cawdor, which seems to show the witches' prophecies are true! Eager to become queen, Lady Macbeth has some private doubts about Macbeth's ability to see the prophecies through. At the end of the scene, Macbeth arrives and Lady Macbeth begins to manipulate him.

Act 1 Scene 6

Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle.

Act 1 Scene 7

A feast is taking place, but Macbeth is alone as he considers the rights and wrongs of murdering Duncan in a soliloquy. Lady Macbeth interrupts Macbeth and says king Duncan is asking for him. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he will not go ahead with the plan to murder Duncan, but Lady Macbeth persuades him to change his mind and commit to killing Duncan as originally planned.

Act 2 Scene 1

The night of Duncan's murder. Macbeth bumps into Banquo and they discuss the witches' prophecies. On the way to murder Duncan, Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger.

Act 2 Scene 2

Macbeth murders king Duncan and begins to experience guilt. Lady Macbeth continues to manipulate Macbeth and tells him "a little water clears us of this deed".

Act 2 Scene 3

Macduff arrives with Lennox. It's early morning and their knocking wakes the porter up. The porter compares Macbeth's castle to "hell gate". Macduff finds Duncan's murdered body. The Macbeths pretend to be shocked!

Act 2 Scene 4

Ross discuss the unnatural events that happened the night of Duncan's murder. Macduff tells Ross that Duncan's sons (Malcolm and Donalbain) have fled Scotland. Macduff leaves Macbeth's castle and returns home to his family.

Act 3 Scene 1

Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat, for the witches foretold that Banquo's family would eventually take the crown. So, Macbeth hires three murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance.

Act 3 Scene 2

In a brief soliloquy, Lady Macbeth shows she is uneasy at how the plan is working out. Macbeth hints to Lady Macbeth about his plan to kill Banquo but refuses to tell her any specifics - Lady Macbeth is cut out of the plan!

Act 3 Scene 3

Banquo is murdered, but Fleance manages to escape!

Act 3 Scene 4

During Macbeth's feast, the First Murderer brings news of Banquo's death and Fleance's escape to Macbeth. Returning to the feast, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost!

Act 3 Scene 5

The three witches meet with Hecate, the queen of the witches. Hecate tells the witches off for meeting with Macbeth without her permission. Hecate then instructs the three witches to prepare for a second meeting with Macbeth.

Act 3 Scene 6

Lennox and another scottish noble talk about the murders of Duncan and Banquo. They suspect Macbeth is involved somehow and call him a "tyrant". We learn that Malcolm is raising an army in England and Macbeth is preparing for war. Lennox hopes Malcolm and Macduff will return to Scotland and defeat Macbeth.

Act 4 Scene 1

The witches prepare for Macbeth. Macbeth arrives and the witches summon three apparitions: a severed head, a bloody child, and a royal child holding a tree.

A4:S1 The Three Apparitions

There are three apparitions. 1) A severed head says "beware Macduff". 2) A bloody child tells Macbeth that he can't be killed by anyone born from a woman. 3) A royal child holding a tree tells Macbeth that he will not be defeated "until Great Birnam Wood... shall come against him".

Act 4 Scene 2

Ross warns Lady Macduff that she in danger before he leaves for England. However, it's too late, for Macbeth's three murderers soon show up and kill Lady Macduff and her children.

Act 4 Scene 3

Malcolm and Macduff are in England when Ross arrives and breaks the news to Macduff that his family has been slaughtered. Macduff vows vengeance on Macbeth!

Act 5 Scene 1

Lady Macbeth suffers from incredible guilt and she reveals details of Duncan's murder to her Doctor and Gentlewoman as she sleepwalks. Lady Macbeth tries desperately to clean her hands of imaginary blood - a sign of her guilty conscience.

Act 5 Scene 2

Malcolm and the English army march towards Dunsinane and discuss the "tyrant" Macbeth and his war preparations.

Act 5 Scene 3

Macbeth still trusts the witches' prophecies and mocks his servant for being afraid of Malcolm's approaching army. The Scottish Doctor discusses Lady Macbeth's condition and Macbeth demands the Doctor cure her. Alone on stage the doctor says he wishes he could escape Dunsinane!

Act 5 Scene 4

Malcolm's army camouflage themselves with branches from Birnam wood and advance on Macbeth's castle!

Act 5 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth dies. Macbeth pauses briefly to mourn her before mocking life itself, calling it "a tale / Told by an idiot". This shows Macbeth's increasing sense of defeat. Macbeth learns that Birnam wood is moving towards Dunsinane and he begins to "doubt th'equivocation" of the witches. Nonetheless, Macbeth refuses to die without a fight!

Act 5 Scene 6

Malcolm, Siward and Macduff prepare to attack.

Act 5 Scene 7

Macbeth kills Young Siward.

Act 5 Scene 8

Macduff finds Macbeth and they fight to the death. Macduff kills Macbeth.

Act 5 Scene 9

Macduff returns with Macbeth's severed head and declares Malcolm the rightful king of Scotland.