Main Character Plot Summary Act By Act: Macbeth: Plot

Act 1 Summary: A fateful meeting

The witches speak in rhyme about when to meet with Macbeth. Their paradoxical talk introduces the themes of fate and the supernatural. The witches tell Macbeth and Banquo prophecies about their future and the first one - that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, comes true! Lady Macbeth is excited to read Macbeth's letter about the prophecies and asks evil spirits to give her the strength to help make sure Macbeth becomes king as prophesied.

Macbeth Act 1

Macbeth and Banquo win the battle, and the witches tell them the prophecies. Macbeth is promoted to Thane of Cawdor, and Lady Macbeth plots Duncan's murder and manipulates Macbeth into following the plan.

Lady Macbeth Act 1

Having read Macbeth's letter about the witches, Lady Macbeth calls on evil spirits to take away her humanity, so that she may do whatever evil deed is necessary to make her husband king. Lady Macbeth plots Duncan's murder and manipulates Macbeth into following the plan.

Banquo Act 1

Victorious in battle, Banquo and Macbeth encounter the three witches who tell Banquo that "thou shalt get kings, though thou be none". After returning to king Duncan and being praised for his efforts in battle, Banquo rides with king Duncan to Macbeth's castle where they are welcomed by Lady Macbeth.

Macduff Act 1

Macduff does not appear in Act 1.

The Witches Act 1

The play begins in thunder and lightning with the witches plotting to meet Macbeth. In scene 3, the witches wait on the heath for Macbeth and brag about the evil and foul things they've been up to. Finally, Macbeth arrives with Banquo and the witches tell them the prophecies.

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 2 Summary: Murder

Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into murdering Duncan while he stays overnight at their castle. Macbeth is overcome with guilt and Lady Macbeth has to take charge, first by taking the daggers back to crime scene and then by getting Macbeth to bed. Macduff discovers Duncan's body in the morning and the Macbeths pretend to be horrified.

Macbeth Act 2

Macbeth immediately regrets killing the king, and foolishly forgets to leave the daggers with the body, leaving Lady Macbeth to take them back and plant them on the sleeping guards. In the morning, the murder is discovered, and in a fit of panic, Macbeth kills the guards. Fearing for their lives, Duncan's sons (Malcolm and Donaldbain) flee Scotland, and soon after, Macbeth is crowned king.

Lady Macbeth Act 2

On the night of the murder, Lady Macbeth corrects Macbeth's mistake by taking the bloody daggers and placing them by Duncan's guards in order to set them up as suspects. When Duncan's murder is discovered the following morning, Lady Macbeth pretends to faint in order to look innocent.

Banquo Act 2

Stargazing with his son Fleance, Banquo notices the sky is strangely dark and thinks it as a bad sign or omen. Suddenly, Macbeth appears, and has an awkward conversation about the witches with Macbeth. That night, king Duncan is murdered.

Macduff Act 2

Macduff and Lennox arrive at Macbeth's castle early in the morning as instructed by Duncan. It is Macduff who finds Duncan's murdered body. Macduff also questions why Macbeth kills Duncan's guards so hastily. Macduff leaves Macbeth's castle and returns to his own home in Fife.

The Witches Act 2

The witches do not appear in Act 2.

Act 3 Summary: A guilty conscience

Now king, Macbeth hires three murderers to kill Banquo, but does not tell Lady Macbeth about the plan, seemingly to protect her. Macbeth is haunted by Banquo's ghost at the feast, symbolising his guilty consciences. Lady Macbeth is forced to make excuses for Macbeth's behavior. This is not good for his reputation as a "brave" soldier. Hecate tells the witches to prepare for another meeting with Macbeth. Meanwhile, Lennox talks with another scottish noble about the situation in Scotland and the growing suspicion of Macbeth.

Macbeth Act 3

Suspicious and paranoid, Macbeth arranges for Banquo to be killed without telling Lady Macbeth any of the details. Fleance escapes the murderers, but Banquo is killed. To celebrate his coronation as king, Macbeth hosts a banquet. Banquo's ghost appears and causes Macbeth to act very bizarley in front of all his guest, making them worried and suspicious of Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth Act 3

Lady Macbeth is unaware that Macbeth had plotted Banquo and Fleance's murder, which is the first sign that she is losing control over events in the play. However, at the banquet, Lady Macbeth has to make excuses for Macbeth's strange rantings at Banquo's ghost (who only Macbeth can see).

Banquo Act 3

In a soliloquy, Banquo shares his suspicions about Macbeth's involvement in Duncan's murder with the audience. Banquo explains to Macbeth that he will be out horse riding for the day, but will try to make it back for Macbeth's evening banquet. While out riding, Macbeth has Banquo and Fleance murdered - but Fleanance manages to escape! At the feast, Banquo's bloodied and bruised ghost haunts Macbeth, causing the new king to act erratically in front of all his guests.

Macduff Act 3

Macduff does not appear in Act 3. This means his is absent from Macbeth's celebratory feast.

The Witches Act 3

The three witches meet with Hecate, the queen witch. Hecate tells the witches off for telling Macbeth "riddles and affairs of death" (Hecate A3:S5) without her permission. Hecate instructs the witches to prepare their "vessels" and "spells" for a meeting with Macbeth because Hecate plans for the witches to meet once more with Macbeth to show him a final set of apparitions.

Act 4 Summary: More predictions

Macbeth visits the witches and is given three more predictions, which mislead him into thinking he is undefeatable. Macbeth's three murders kill Macduff's family while Macduff is in England helping Malcolm prepare to raise an army to invade Scotland. When Ross arrives in England to tell Macduff that his family have been killed, Macduff swears vengeance against Macbeth!

Macbeth Act 4

The witches prepare for a visit from Macbeth. He is shown three apparitions: the severed head, the bloody child, and the royal child and tree. Macbeth's murderers kill Macduff's family.

Lady Macbeth Act 4

Lady Macbeth does not appear in this Act. Instead, we are introduced to Lady Macduff and her son. Here, Shakespeare shows the audience a contrasting image of family and the idea of womanhood when compared to the murderous Macbeths.

Banquo Act 4

Banquo does not appear in Act 4.

Macduff Act 4

Macduff's family are murdered by Macbeth's murderers. Macduff arrives in England and helps Malcolm plan to attack Macbeth. Ross arrives and tells Macduff the news that his family have been murdered, Macduff vows vengeance on Macbeth.

The Witches Act 4

With thunder raging, the witches mix horrid ingredients into a cauldron and cast a spell. Hecate appears briefly and is pleased with the witches' work. Macbeth arrives and after demanding answers from the witches about his fate, he is shown the 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 5 Summary: Consequences

Lady Macbeth sleepwalks at night, tormented by her guilt at killing Duncan. Eventually, the guilt proves too much and she kills herself. Meanwhile Malcolm and Macduff, with the support of an English army, march towards Scotland. Confident that the witches' apparitions mean he is undefeatable, Macbeth prepares for battle. However, the prophecies do not protect Macbeth: Birnam Wood does move and Macduff did not have a regular birth. Finally, Macduff kills Macbeth and declares Malcolm king of Scotland.

Macbeth Act 5

Macbeth learns of Lady Macbeth's suicide, and he is left alone to fight Malcolm and Macduff who are supported by the English army. Macbeth is deserted by all except Seyton and dies at the hands of Macduff.

Lady Macbeth Act 5

Lady Macbeth suffers terribly from a guilty conscience. She repeats details and acts out events from the night of Duncan's murder, such as washing her hands. The guilt proves too much and Lady Macbeth commits suicide.

Banquo Act 5

Banquo does not appear in Act 5.

Macduff Act 5

Macduff fights Macbeth. Macduff reveals that he was "from his mother's womb untimely ripp'd", meaning that he is "not of woman born" as the witches foretold. In other words, Macduff is the one man that the witches said could and would defeat Macbeth. Having chopped off Macbeth's head, Macduff declares Malcolm the rightful king of Scotland.

The Witches Act 5

The witches do not appear in Act 5.