Plot summary by scene

Act 1, Macbeth as a Tragic Hero with Ambition

1.1 3 Witches gather and plan to meet Macbeth

1.2 Captain tells King Duncan how Macbeth and Banquo have won in battle against the traitor Thane of Cawdor

1.3 Witches meet Macbeth & Banquo and say the prophecies: Macbeth will be Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, King, Banquo’s descendents shall be kings

1.4 King Duncan announces Malcolm as his heir and he is visiting Dunsinane Castle, Macbeth’s ambition grows

1.5 Lady Macbeth learns of the witches prophecies and Duncan’s visit, she plots his death

1.6 Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan to the castle

1.7 Macbeth is unsure about the murder so Lady Macbeth manipulates him into doing it

Act 2, Disruption of Natural Order - Consequence of Regicide

2.1 On Macbeth’s way to kill Duncan he bumps into Banquo and Fleance, Macbeth kills King Duncan

2.2 Lady Macbeth and Macbeth panic after killing Duncan, Macbeth is full of guilt

2.3 Macduff discovers the dead King Duncan, Macbeth frames the guards, the King’s sons Donalbain (Ireland) and Malcolm (England) flee

2.4 Strange occurrences happen in the natural world: Eclipse, Horses going wild, Owls killing Falcons (broken food chain)

Act 3, Descent into Downfall and Disorder

3.1 Macbeth is now King, Macbeth is paranoid of Banquo and so hires assassins

3.2 Macbeth thinks he can stop the witches prophecies by killing Banquo and Fleance

3.3 The assassins kill Banquo but Fleance escapes

3.4 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth host a feast, the ghost of Banquo appears

3.5 Hecate plans to lead Macbeth to his destruction

3.6 Macduff refuses to respond to Macbeth

Act 4, Macbeth’s tyrannical leadership

4.1 Macbeth meets the Witches and sees their 3 apparitions: Head with helmet (Beware Macduff), Bloody child (none born of woman can harm him), Child with crown holding a tree (safe till Birnam Wood moves). Lastly an apparition of Banquo and 8 kings

4.2 Macbeth fears Macduff and sends assassins to kill him and his family, however Macduff is in England to get help from Malcolm.

4.3 Macduff is told that his wife and children have been killed by Macbeth

Act 5, The Ending

5.1 A doctor checks on Lady Macbeth who is sleepwalking and sleeptalking

5.2 Exiled Scottish lords prepare for war by Birnam Wood

5.3 Macbeth hears of the English Army approaching, he prepares for war and asks how Lady Macbeth is

5.4 Malcolm’s soldiers approach Dunsinane with branches, fulfilling the prophecy

5.5 Macbeth prepares for battle and then learns of Lady Macbeth’s suicide

5.6 Malcolm’s soldiers attack Dunsinane

5.7 Macduff chases Macbeth

5.8 Macduff and Macbeth fight to the death, Macduff kills Macbeth as he was born of a c-section, and Malcolm is proclaimed King

Best Scenes For:

Macbeth: 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 5.8

Lady Macbeth: 1.5, 1.7, 2.2, 3.4, 5.1

Banquo:1.2, 1.3, 3.4, 4.1

Duncan: 2.3

Witches:1.1, 1.3, 4.1

Macduff: 4.1, 4.3, 5.8

Malcolm:4.2, 5.6, 5.8