Macbeth Summary and Key Points

Introduction to the Plot

• Three Witches: Initial appearance planning to meet Macbeth.
• Military Camp: King Duncan receives news of Macbeth's victory over MacDonwald and the thane of Cawdor.
• New Thane of Cawdor: King Duncan decides to name Macbeth as the new thane.

Encounter with the Witches

• Meeting with Witches: Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches on their return from battle.
• Witches' Predictions:
  • Macbeth will become King.
  • Banquo's descendants will be kings.
• Title Granted: Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor after the execution of the previous thane.

Rising Action

• Lady Macbeth's Plot: Begins to plan King Duncan's murder so Macbeth can be king.
• King Duncan's Visit:
  • Lady Macbeth gets guards drunk.
  • Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep.
  • Lady Macbeth plants weapons to frame the guards.
• Discovery and Reaction:
  • Duncan's body and the daggers are found with the guards.
  • Macbeth kills the guards in a feigned rage.
• Malcolm and Donalbain Flee: Duncan's sons flee for safety.

Macbeth's Ascension

• Crowned King: Macbeth becomes King of Scotland.
• Banquo's Suspicion: Remembers the witches' predictions and grows suspicious of Macbeth.

Conflict with Banquo

• Threat from Banquo: Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat.
• Murder of Banquo: Hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance.
  • Banquo is killed; Fleance escapes.
• Banquo's Ghost: Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at a banquet, appearing insane.

Further Predictions

• Second Meeting with Witches:
  • Beware Macduff.
  • No man born of woman can harm Macbeth.
  • Safe until Great Burnham Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill.

Macduff's Response

• Macduff's Travel to England: Seeks Malcolm to fight for the throne.
• Murder of Macduff's Family: Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff's family.

Climax

• Lady Macbeth's Madness: Hallucinates due to guilt.
• Malcolm's Army: Scottish and English armies unite against Macbeth.
• Great Burnham Wood: Soldiers use tree branches for camouflage, fulfilling a prophecy.
• Macbeth's Reaction: Rattled by the moving Burnham Wood.

Falling Action

• Confrontation with Macduff:
  • Learns Macduff was not born of a woman.
  • Macduff kills Macbeth.

Resolution

• Malcolm's Kingship: Malcolm becomes the rightful King of Scotland.