Ten Minute Macbeth
Directions: Read the overview of the play.
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The play opens with three witches gathering amidst thunder and lightning. Three witches, or Weird Sisters, discuss when they will next meet (1. When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?). A wild battle rages in Scotland as King Duncan and his supporters struggle to put down a rebellion. Macbeth, a Scottish General, wins the day for Duncan and the traitors are put to death.
Macbeth and his best friend Banquo stumble upon the witches as they travel home. The witches predict that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and will soon reign over Scotland as the King. (2. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!). However, they also foresee that Banquo’s descendents will be kings (3. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.) Macbeth rejoices in the news and writes to his wife about it.
Lady Macbeth is thrilled that her husband will be king. However, King Duncan is still alive and ruling. She realizes that the only way to secure the crown for Macbeth quickly is to murder Duncan while he is staying with them. (4. O, never shall sun that morrow see!). She works to persuade Macbeth to murder the King. (5. Screw your courage to the sticking place.). At first, Macbeth is reluctant to kill Duncan. He feels so nervous about the impending murder that he even imagines seeing a bloody knife. (6. Is this a dagger which I see before me?). Eventually, he resolves to commit the crime. (7. I go, and it is done.). In the middle of the night, Macbeth kills King Duncan.
Very early the next morning, there is a noise at the gate. (8. Here’s a knocking indeed!). It is Macduff, a nobleman, arriving early to wake up the King. He is the first to discover that the King has been murdered. (9. O Horror, horror, horror!). His cries alert the whole palace about the murder. Macbeth exclaims (10. ‘Twas a rough night.) Lady Macbeth feigns innocence. (11. What, in our house?). Fearing for their lives, Malcolm and Donalbain, the Duncan’s sons, decide to run away.
Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland, and soon Banquo suspects that it was Macbeth who murdered the King (12. I fear thou played’st most foully for ‘t.). To keep himself safe, Macbeth plots to kill Banquo and Banquo’s son, Fleance. He hires murderers to do the deed for him. Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes (13. Fly, good Fleance, fly!).
Macbeth is wracked with guilt, and is haunted by Banquo’s ghost (14. Avaunt, and quit my sight!). Eventually, he decides to consult the witches once more, and they warn him about a new enemy. The witches told Macbeth to beware Macduff, that no man born of woman would be able to harm him, and that he would remain unvanquished until trees moved. (15. Beware Macduff!). Adding bloody deed to bloody deed, Macbeth has Macduff’s entire family killed (16. He has killed me, mother.), but Macduff has joined Prince Malcolm in England. When Macduff receives the news that his family has been slain, he is shocked, and swears revenge. Lady Macbeth, too, begins to feel the weight of guilt, which causes her to have nightmares (17. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?).
Things take a turn for the worse for Macbeth. In England, Malcolm gathers a strong army to rise up against Macbeth (18. Our power is ready.). Succumbing to the strains of guilt, Lady Macbeth dies (19. The queen, my lord, is dead). Unfeelingly, Macbeth intones that life seems too brief to care much longer for it (20. Out, out, brief candle).
Malcolm and his army, along with vengeful Macduff, arrive at Macbeth’s castle. Macduff finally confronts Macbeth (21. Turn, hellhound, turn!) and the two fight. Macduff kills Macbeth, and Malcolm claims the throne which is rightfully his (22. Hail king of Scotland!).