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Act 1, Scene 1
Three witches stand together in thunder and lightning. They ask, "When shall we three meet again,
in thunder, lightning, or in rain?" The revealed the answer is that they shall meet Macbeth after all events have
unfolded. After that was discovered, the three weird sisters leave.
Act 1, Scene 2
At Forres, near a camp, Duncan, King of Scotland, meets his sons, Malcolm and Donalbain,
along with Lennox, a Scottish thane. The three men bring in a bleeding captain who has news of the war with Norway. The captain
tells the king that Macbeth was fighting honorably against the Norwegian invaders last he saw. But the captain does not know
the outcome of the battle. After the king sends the captain away to have his wounds tended, Ross and Angus, two other
Scottish thanes, come in with news of victory over Norway. They also tell the king that the Thane of Cawdor turned into a
traitor and sided with Norway during the battle. Duncan decides to give Cawdor's title to Macbeth for his bravery in battle.
Act 1, Scene 3
On a heath near Forres the three witches are gathered waiting for Macbeth. Macbeth and Banquo meet
the witches as they leave the battle camp. The first witch hails Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, which he was before he went
into battle. Then the second witch hails him as the Thane of Cawdor, and the third calls him king. Macbeth was shocked to
be addressed this way. The witches then tell Banquo that although he will not be king, his descendants will be. Shortly after
saying this, the witches disappear without giving the men an explanation of their predictions. When the witches are gone Ross
and Angus come to Macbeth to tell him that the king has granted him the title of the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo are
both surprised and excited to see that there is some truth in what the witches told them. But this prophecy also makes them
a little nervous because they are afraid that they will be tricked into betraying Duncan to achieve the throne. Macbeth decides
to just let things happen as they do and not rush along anything.
Act 1, Scene 4
At the palace at Forres, Duncan hears of Cawdor's execution. Cawdor died without begging for mercy,
and Duncan is shocked by his own misplaced trust. Such a deep betrayal makes him feel dumb. Macbeth and Banquo then arrive
at the palace. Duncan thanks Macbeth for his loyalty and tells him that there is no way to repay him for his service. Duncan then announces that his son, Malcolm, is to be the Prince of Cumberland and heir to the Scottish throne.
Macbeth at once sees that Malcolm is blocking his path to the throne and preventing the witches' prophecy from coming true.
Macbeth begins to desire the Scottish throne and realizes that in order to get it he will have to be somewhat evil. He leaves
ahead of the other lords and the king in order to prepare his castle for Duncan's arrival.
Act 1, Scene 5
At Macbeth's castle his wife, Lady Macbeth, reads a letter from her husband. His letter tells
her of his encounter with the three witches and their predictions of his rise to power. Lady Macbeth resolves to make the
prophecies true because she thinks that her husband lacks the wickedness or guts to do what will be necessary to take the
throne. An attendant comes in as she is thinking of this and tells her that the king is on his way and that Macbeth
is riding ahead of them. When Macbeth arrives his wife tells him that she read his letter
and she will see to it that the witches are right about Macbeth's royalty. Lady Macbeth warns her husband to act normal so
that the king won't suspect that he is in danger while he is at the castle for the night. She vows that the king will be killed
and tells Macbeth to leave everything to her.
Act 1, Scene 6
Duncan and his sons arrive at Macbeth's castle with Banquo. Lady Macbeth greets the king and welcomes
him to her home. After greetings, Duncan asks to see her husband so Lady Macbeth escorts the king into the castle.
Act 1, Scene 7
After entering the castle, Duncan eats and Macbeth leaves dinner to
go be on his own. Macbeth is rethinking the plot to kill Duncan when Lady Macbeth comes in. She asks her husband why he's
left dinner. Knowing he is scared, she tells him that he is a coward if he doesn't go through with the plan to kill Duncan
while he sleeps, framing the drugged guards outside the king's bedroom. Macbeth agrees to kill Duncan that night
and make himself king.
Act 2, Scene 1
Banquo meets his son, Fleance, in the court of the castle in the middle of the night because
he can't sleep. It's past midnight and Macbeth comes in. Banquo is surprised that Macbeth is still awake because Duncan
is already in bed. Banquo tells Macbeth that he dreamed of the witches. Macbeth says that he wants to talk with Banquo sometime
about the witches' prophecies. Banquo dodges the subject and don't want to discuss the predictions unless he can
be sure that he can keep his conscience clear and keep his loyalty to the king. Macbeth sends the reluctant Banquo off
to bed then. When Banquo and Fleance are gone Macbeth tells a servant to tell Lady Macbeth
to prepare to drug the soldiers outside Duncan's door. As Macbeth waits for the signal
from his wife, he imagines that he sees a dagger hovering in front of him. He sees the evilness of what is planned, but when
the bell signals him to murder Duncan, Macbeth goes to complete the plan to kill the king.
Act 2, Scene 2
Lady Macbeth is excited by her role in the plot to kill Duncan. She has drugged the soldiers' wine,
but when she hears movement, she thinks that one of them is awake. She worries that her cowardly husband won't be able to
complete the murder. But she is relieved when she sees that the noise that she heard was her husband returning with the soldiers'
daggers covered in blood. Macbeth tells his wife that after he murdered Duncan, he heard
Malcolm and Donalbain wake, and one of them shouted "Murder." Macbeth then heard them pray and, for the guilt of his
sin, he could not even say 'Amen' to their prayer. Then he thought he heard a voice say that he had killed sleep and that
he would sleep no more because of his crime. He's afraid that the stain of Duncan's blood will not clean off his hands.
Lady Macbeth takes the daggers back to Duncan's body and smears the king's blood on the sleeping soldiers so that it frames
them for the murder. She warns her husband that thinking about the murder will drive him insane. Suddenly there is a
knock at the castle gates, so Macbeth and his wife hurry to change and wash the blood from their hands.
Act 2, Scene 3
Macduff and Lennox have arrived at Macbeth's castle with the other thanes, and they wake Macbeth
with their knocking. Macduff explains that they've come to meet with Duncan as he ordered them to, so Macbeth leads the men
to the king's room. He pretends that he believes that the king is still sleeping. Macduff comes out of the king's room yelling
that the king has been murdered. Macbeth, acting shocked and heartbroken follows Lennox into the king's room. Macduff shouts
for bells to be rung to wake the castle because the king has been killed. Lady Macbeth, Malcolm,
Donalbain, and Banquo come in and hear of Duncan's death. Lennox says that the guards appear to be the murderers because
their clothes and swords were covered in blood. Lennox also notes that the guards appeared different when they woke,
as if they were out of their mind or dangerous. Macbeth tells them that he was so emotional over the king's death that he
killed the guards without thinking. Lady Macbeth faints and is helped away as the thanes
decide to get dressed and then meet up again. Malcolm and Donalbain talk to each other when the thanes have gone. The king's
sons are afraid that they are in danger because they are the heirs to the throne. For safety they decide that Malcolm will
go to England and Donalbain to Ireland because they believe that killer is not finished and they are the next targets. They
sneak away from the castle before the thanes return.
Act 2, Scene 4
Ross and an old man are outside Macbeth's castle discussing how Duncan's own prized horses broke out
of their stalls and ate each other a few days before he was murdered. This seemed to foreshadow the king's unnatural death.
Macduff tells Ross that Malcolm and Donalbain probably bribed the guards who murdered the king
because they have fled the castle. The way that they left suggests guilt, so Macbeth inherits the throne. Macduff, however,
is returning to his home in Fife.
Act 3, Scene 1
Banquo enters the palace at Forres alone. He speaks to himself as if he is speaking to Macbeth
when he says that Macbeth has gathered all the titles that the witches told him he would. He was the lord of Glamis,
became the lord of Cawdor, and then king, fulfilling the witches' predictions. Banquo, however, suspects that Macbeth pushed
the prophecy through foul play. Banquo also remembers that the witches predicted that it would be Banquo's line that would
succeed Macbeth on the Scottish throne. While the talking was going on Macbeth,
Lady Macbeth, the lords, and attendants of the court enter. Macbeth invites Banquo to attend a dinner banquet as an
honored guest. The king and Lady Macbeth make a big show of their fondness for Banquo and the importance that he attend
the evening feast. Banquo has business to take care of in another town so he must leave, but he gives Macbeth his word that
he will arrive back at the palace in time for the dinner. Macbeth asks the attendant if the
men he sent for have arrived and are willing to do what he asks. The attendant, sure that these murderers will follow the
king's orders, goes to get the murderers who are waiting outside the palace. While the attendant
is gone, Macbeth spouts off about the danger that Banquo poses to Macbeth's position as king. Macbeth also remembers the witches'
prophecy that Banquo's line would rule Scotland after Macbeth, and so Macbeth knows that in order to prevent such a thing,
he must destroy Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth believes that Banquo has a royal and commanding air about him that threatens
Macbeth more than the fear of murdering Banquo. Macbeth knows that he must kill the lord and his son. That's why he has called
the murderers who were waiting outside the palace. Macbeth has convinced these murderers
that Banquo is responsible for their ill fortune. Macbeth orders them to go kill Banquo and his son.
Act 3, Scene 2
Lady Macbeth ask if Banquo has left the palace yet. Once she knows that Banquo is gone but will return
again tonight, Lady Macbeth sends the servant to tell her husband that she wants to talk to him privately. Lady Macbeth
feels that if her husband does not enjoy his royalty, then all of their deceit and wrong doings has been for nothing. If he
does not seem happy, it would have been better if they had not killed the king to take his throne in the first place. He says that Duncan lying quiet in his grave has it better than Macbeth who lives in fear and guilt after
murdering the king. Lady Macbeth asks him to at least fake cheerfulness at dinner that night so that his guests won't
suspect anything. He promises that he will pretend to be happy and at ease. Macbeth's only comfort is that Banquo and
Fleance can be killed. He warns Lady Macbeth that before the night is over another terrible deed will be done, but he does
not tell her of his plan to kill Banquo and his son.
Act 3, Scene 3
The murderers wait in a park near the palace and a third joins them. As they wait, horses approach.
They hear Banquo call for a light and then he and Fleance approach with a torch. The murderers leap from their hiding places
and attack Banquo, but Fleance escapes. The murderers cannot find Fleance because the torch has been extinguished in the struggle.
One of the murderers goes to the palace to tell Macbeth that Banquo is dead, but his son has escaped.
Act 3, Scene 4
Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Lennox, Ross, and other lords and attendants are at the banquet in Macbeth's
palace. He is too distracted to give a speech because one of the murderers has appeared in the doorway. He tells the
lords that in a moment they will all drink together and then he walks to the doorway to talk with the murderer. Macbeth is satisfied to see the blood on the murderer's face and learn that Banquo is dead. He believes that
he can take care of Fleance in time, so he is not worried about the him now. Lady Macbeth warns her husband that
his lack of hospitality is ruining the banquet. Rejoining the lords at dinner, Macbeth mentions
that he wishes that Banquo were with them as he promised he would be. Lennox invites the king to sit with them, but Macbeth
looks around the table and does not see an empty seat. Banquo's ghost is in the seat reserved for the king,
and Macbeth doesn't realize that it is a ghost until Lennox again points to the seat as being empty. Macbeth is still
bothered by the ghost and his own guilt, but Lady Macbeth convinces him to play it off as an illness. Macbeth speaks to the ghost telling it to return to the grave and bother him no longer. The ghost vanishes again
and Lady Macbeth tells her husband that he has ruined the mood of the banquet. When the lords begin to question Macbeth
about what sights he means, Lady Macbeth sends them all away because she claims that her husband's health is bad and
their questions will only make his illness worse. The thanes leave Macbeth and his wife. When
they are alone, Macbeth tells his wife that the blood that has been shed at their hands will be seen and their guilt
will be discovered. Then he tells her that Macduff refused the invitation to dinner and he's not sure how to take the rejection.
He plans to send another invitation to Macduff tomorrow and also to visit the three witches to find out what his future is.
He wants to know his fate, good or bad. Lady Macbeth tells him that what he needs more than anything else is sleep.
The guilt of his actions keeps him awake because he is not yet an accomplished enough murderer to be able to ignore his conscience.
They try to go to bed.
Act 3, Scene 5
The three witches meet Hecate. Hecate is angry with the witches for telling Macbeth of his fortune
without calling on her at all. She tells them that they have done all their work for a selfish man who thinks only of his
own fortune. Hecate tells the witches to meet her in the morning because Macbeth will be coming back to make Macbeth
believe that his position is secure.
Act 3, Scene 6
Lennox and another lord discuss the events that have happened. Lennox seems to think that Fleance has
killed his father just like Malcolm and Donalbain are assumed to have hired the guards to kill their father. He thinks
that if Macbeth found Banquo's son or the sons of Duncan, he might tear them apart as he did the guards who were smeared in
Duncan's blood. Lennox don't seem to suspect Macbeth's real reason for murdering the guards or why Macbeth would kill Fleance,
Malcolm, or Donalbain. Lennox asks the other thane if he knows that Macduff is now out of
favor with the king because Macduff has voiced suspicion at Macbeth's ascension to the throne and because he refused to attend
Macbeth's feast the previous night. The other lord explains that Malcolm has gone to England and has been welcomed there by
the English king, Edward. Macduff went to ask Edward for help against Macbeth. Macbeth after hearing this news, prepares for
battle.
Act 4, Scene 1
The three witches stand around a bubbling cavern . They chant together as they concoct
a potion or a brew. Hecate appears with them and tells them that their efforts shall be rewarded before she disappears
again. Macbeth comes to the cavern and demands answers to his questions about the future.
The witches call upon their potion to answer his thoughts and questions. The witches tell Macbeth to watch and speak not,
because the questions in his mind are known. A vision tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff,
the Thane of Fife. The vision then disappears. Macbeth tries to ask another question to the vision, but one of the witches
warns the king that the visions will not be commanded. A second vision appears,
a bloody child. The vision tells him, "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall
harm Macbeth." Macbeth reasons that if no one born of a women shall kill him, he should not
fear Macduff, but just to be sure, and so that he might rest easy, Macbeth vows to kill Macduff anyway. Then a third and final vision appears. It is a child crowned that holds a tree in his hand. This final
vision tells the king that "Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam woods to high Dunsinane hill shall come against
him." Macbeth feels invincible when this was said because no one can make
the forest uproot and move. But Macbeth has another question that he insists the witches must answer. He wants to know
if Banquo's line will ever hold the throne. Although the witches tell him to be satisfied with what he already knows, Macbeth
insists they answer his last question. So they show him a line of eight kings. The last king has a glass in his hand, and Banquo's
ghost follows the eighth king. Macbeth sees that all of these kings are of Banquo's line. In the glass that the eighth
holds are many more kings from Banquo's line. After answering his question, the witches, joined by Hecate, dance around and
then vanish. While Macbeth was meeting with the witches, several riders came to give him
word that Macduff had fled to England. Macbeth decides to go to Fife, Macduff's home, and murder Macduff's wife and
children while he is away in England rallying forces against Macbeth.
Act 4, Scene 2
At Macduff's castle in Fife, Lady Macduff and her young son are talking with Ross. Lady Macduff is
angry that her husband has fled and left his wife and children unprotected. She thinks her husband does not love them, and Ross
tries to explain to her that her husband was wise to flee. Ross, however, does not tell her where her husband has gone. Lady
Macduff says that "when our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors." So whether her husband actually was a traitor
and needed to flee or not, the fact that he has fled makes him seem a traitor. Ross cannot convince her that her husband has
acted in wisdom, and so he leaves. Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but
the boy argues that if he were dead, she would be sad. As they argue a messenger comes in and warns that danger is coming
and that she should take her children and flee. She has nowhere to run to, and the murderers come in disguised. The murderers
ask her where her husband is, and she tells him that she hopes that Macduff is in a place where they can't find him. The murderers
call Macduff a traitor and the young boy calls them liars. One of the murderers stabs the boy and kills him. Lady Macduff
runs screaming 'Murder,' and they chase after her.
Act 4, Scene 3
Macduff arrives in England and speaks to Malcolm. Macduff encourages Malcolm to come fight
and take back the throne that belongs to him. Malcolm knows that before Macbeth took the throne, he and Macduff were close.
Therefore, Malcolm feels the need to test Macduff's loyalty. Malcolm warns Macduff that he might not be any better a king
than Macbeth. Then Malcolm makes up all of these bad traits that he claims to have that would make him a bad king. When Macduff
says that his hopes are broken and that Scotland, under Macbeth, can no longer be his home, Malcolm sees that Macduff is trustworthy.
Malcolm explains his test and assures Macduff that his hopes should live because he will be a worthy and honest king once
he regains the throne that Macbeth stole away. Ross comes in and they recognize his face,
they are happy to see him to hear news of their country. But Ross' news is not good news. He tells Macduff of the murder
of his wife, children, and servants. Macduff gets mad and vows to kill Macbeth in vengeance for the death of his entire
family. The three men prepare to join the English nobleman, Siward and his ten thousand soldiers that Edward, King of
England, has offered to help the Scotsmen fight Macbeth and win back the throne for Malcolm.
Act 5, Scene 1
It is the middle of the night. A doctor and Lady Macbeth's servant woman whisper together in a room
of the Dunsinane castle. The servant has called the doctor to observe Lady Macbeth's sleep walking. The queen gets
out of bed with her eyes open, as if she is awake, but she is still asleep and speaks strangely about blood on her
hands. As the doctor watches, Lady Macbeth rubs her hands together as if washing them. Lady Macbeth speaks about how
she cannot cleanse her hands and she mentions the wife of Macduff and Banquo, practically admitting her guilt. The
doctor tells the servant that guilty minds will often confess their secrets while they sleep, and so something of the same
must be happening with Lady Macbeth. He tells the servant to keep an eye on Lady Macbeth. He also suggests that Lady Macbeth
needs divine assistance, and not that of a physician, but he doesn't dare to speak more of what he has heard.
Act 5, Scene 2
In the countryside near Dunsinane the Scottish lords who have joined against Macbeth are waiting
for Malcolm, Macduff, and the English support that they will bring. The word from those who hate Macbeth is that he
behaves madly. The lords decide amongst themselves that Macbeth's guilt has finally driven him crazy, and because he
has committed crimes so horrible that his own senses are reviled by his actions. The lords vow to fight for the rightful king,
Malcolm, and to use all of their strength and ability to remove Macbeth from the throne.
Act 5, Scene 3
Macbeth is at Dunsinane and a servant comes to update him on the opposing army's movements, and
Macbeth laughs at him and tells him that the movements of Malcolm's forces don't mean anything to him because
he does not have to fear anyone born of a women. Also, he still didn't fear anyone until the Birnam wood move to
Dunsinane. The servant tells him that the English force of ten thousand soldiers is on its way to the castle. Macbeth, although
he should have no reason to be afraid because of the prophecies given to him by the three witches, calls for help to
prepare for battle. Macbeth asks the doctor about Lady Macbeth's condition, and the doctor
says that because the illness is caused by herself, he cannot cure her unableness to rest.
Act 5, Scene 4
Malcolm and the Scottish thanes along with Siward and his son approach Birnam wood with their large
army. Malcolm orders the men to each cut a limb from the forest trees and use it to disguise themselves so that Macbeth
will not see them coming. The only men left to fight for Macbeth are men who had no other choice, and are therefore they aren't as
strong of heart as the men who fight for Malcolm because they want to. Malcolm and the lords are almost sure that Macbeth
will be defeated.
Act 5, Scene 5
Macbeth is inside Dunsinane castle still confident that no matter what Malcolm's soldiers try, they
can never kill him. He then hears a noise and Seyton, Macbeth's servant, goes to see what the noise was
about. Seyton returns to tell Macbeth that Lady Macbeth has died. Then, a messenger
runs in to tell Macbeth that it looks like Birnam wood is approaching Dunsinane. Macbeth begins to panic at the news because
the prophecy is beginning to unfold. He orders his men to put on their armor and prepare to fight so that at least they will
die wearing their armor.
Act 5, Scene 6
Malcolm and his troops are near the castle now, so he orders them to throw down their branches and
prepare to fight. Siward and his son lead the first charge, and Macduff orders the trumpets to sound to signal the beginning
of the fight.
Act 5, Scene 7
Macbeth begins to fight and wonder who was not born of a women because that is the only person,
according to the witches, that Macbeth needed to worry about. Siward's son approaches Macbeth and they fight. Macduff
calls out for Macbeth so that he can get revenge from the destruction of his family, but he cannot find the king.
Siward tells Malcolm that the castle has been surrendered, and that they have won the battle.
Act 5, Scene 8
Macduff finds Macbeth and challenges him, but Macbeth tries to tell him not to waste his time because
no man of a woman born can kill Macbeth. As they fight each other, Macduff says that he was ripped from his mother's womb
too early, and therefore was not of a woman born. Macbeth, seeing that he cannot win, still makes an attempt to avoid
his death as he fights against Macduff. They continue to fight till death. Ross tells Siward
that his son is dead. Although the man is sad for the loss, he believes that his son had a good and honorable death because
he died bravely in battle. As they are talking Macduff approaches with Macbeth's head. Macduff
hails Malcolm as the king of Scotland, and all the lords cheer their king. Malcolm grants the title of earl to all of the
lords who were loyal to him while Macbeth ruled. Now that Macbeth has been killed and his wife has killed herself, Malcolm
says that he will call back to Scotland those who had fled while Macbeth was ruler. Then he begins his reign.
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