Macbeth Plot

Act 1 Scene 1

Witches decide to confront Macbeth after battle

Act 1 Scene 2

Macbeth and Banquo fought with courage and violence; Macbeth killed Macdonald. Duncan says he will make Macbeth thane of Cawdor.

Act1 Scene 3

Witches tell Macbeth he will be king; Banquo's children will be kings. Ross and Angus tell Macbeth that he will be thane of Cawdor. Macbeth begins to think darkly.

Act 1 Scene 4

Duncan announces Malcolm as heir to throne; Macbeth takes note of Malcolm's way in his path to throne. Duncan and party to dine and sleep in Macbeth's place.

Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth is convinced that Macbeth is not ambitious enough to murder Duncan, and resolves to put her femininity aside to make sure Macbeth becomes king.

Act 1 Scene 6

Duncan and company arrive

Act 1 Scene 7

Macbeth has doubts-- realizes there is no reason to kill Duncan besides own ambition. Lady Macbeth challenges his manhood and tells him the plan so he agrees.

Act 2 Scene 1

Macbeth hallucinates and sees floating dagger leading him to Duncan's chamber; he kills Duncan.

Act 2 Scene 2

----

Act 2 Scene 3

Duncan declared dead. Macbeth kills chamberlains, but Macduff is suspicious. Duncan's sons flee.

Act 2 Scene 4

Lords appoint Macbeth king, suspect chamberlains were killers but were paid off

Act 3 Scene 1

Macbeth is convinced by the murders to have Banquo and son Fleance killed

Act 3 Scene 2

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fret over decision but decide it must be done for Macbeth to secure the throne

Act 3 Scene 3

Murderers kill Banquo but Fleance runs away

Act 3 Scene 4

Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost sit in his chair, so he has a "fit" and the feast ends. He decides to go to the witches. Macduff is revealed to be avoiding the court so not to be accused of treason.

Act 3 Scene 5

Hecate scolds witches for meddling with Macbeth; instructs them to summon visions/spirits that will give him false sense of security.

Act 3 Scene 6

Lennox and other lord suspect Macbeth is responsible for Banquo's death. Macduff says England is to align with Malcolm and King Edward for aid. Macbeth prepares for war.

Act 4 Scene 1

Macbeth asks witches for more premonitions: floating heaad=beware of Macduff, bloody child=killed by nobody born to a woman, crowned child=safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff is in England; Macbeth has Macduff's wife and children killed.

Act 4 Scene 2

Murderers kill Macduff's son and chase away his wife.

Act 4 Scene 3

Malcolm and Macduff meet in England; Malcolm tests Macduff to see where his loyalty lies, Macduff passes test. Malcolm to return with 10,000 soldiers.

Act 5 Scene 1

Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, and hallucinating about blood on hands. She is declared mad.

Act 5 Scene 2

English army meet near Birnam Wood

Act 5 Scene 3

Macbeth believes that he has nothing to fear

Act 5 Scene 4

Each soldier in the English army takes branch to give the illusion of less men.

Act 5 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Macbeth is told by the servant it looks like Birnam Wood is advancing to Dunsinane. Macbeth says he will die fighting.

Act 5 Scene 6

Malcolm orders men to toss branches and draw swords

Act 5 Scene 7

Macbeth is still confident because he can't fathom a man not born to a woman; he kills Seward's son. Macduff resolves to kill Macbeth personally. Malcolm and Seward enter castle.

Act 5 Scene 8

Dunsinane is captured. Macbeth encounters Macduff; they fight to the death-- Macbeth gets beheaded. Malcolm is made king.