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Introduction
Probablycomposedinlate1606orearly1607,MacbethisthelastofShakespeare(/topics/williamshakespeare)'s
fourgreattragedies,theothersbeingHamlet,KingLearandOthello.Itisarelativelyshortplaywithoutamajor
subplot,anditisconsideredbymanyscholarstobeShakespeare'sdarkestwork.Learisanuttertragedyinwhich
thenaturalworldisamorallyindifferenttowardmankind,butinMacbeth,Shakespeareaddsasupernatural
dimensionthatpurposivelyconspiresagainstMacbethandhiskingdom.InthetragedyofLear,thedistraughtking
summonsthegoddessofChaos,HechtinMacbeth,Hecateappearsasanactualcharacter.
Onthelevelofhumanevil,Shakespeare'sScottishtragedyisaboutMacbeth'sbloodyrisetopower,includingthe
murderoftheScottishking,Duncan,andtheguiltriddenpathologyofevildeedsgeneratingstillmoreevildeeds.As
anintegralpartofthisthematicwebistheplay'smostmemorablecharacter,LadyMacbeth.Likeherhusband,
LadyMacbeth'sambitionforpowerleadsherintoanunnatural,phantasmagoricrealmofwitchcraft,insomniaand
madness.ButwhileMacbethrespondstothepropheciesoftheplay'sfamoustrioofwitches,LadyMacbethgoes
evenfurtherbyfigurativelytransformingherselfintoanunnatural,desexualizedevilspirit.Thecurrenttrendofcritical
opinionistowardanupwardreevaluationofLadyMacbeth,whoissaidtoberehumanizedbyherinsanityandher
suicide.MuchofthisreappraisalofLadyMacbethhastakenplaceindiscussionsofherironicallystrongmarriageto
Macbeth,aunionthatrestsonlovingbondsbutundergoesdisintegrationasthetragedyunfolds.
Macbeth Synopsis
SummaryofthePlay
TheplaybeginsonanopenstretchoflandinmedievalScotland.ThreeWitchesenterandgivetheprophecythat
thecivilwarwillendthatdayandthatatsunsettheywillmeetMacbeth.TheWitchesaresummonedtoleave,but
theydonotleavewithoutstatingthatwhatisnormallyfairwillbefoul,andwhatisfoulwillbefair.
KingDuncanlearnsthatMacbethhasbeenvictoriousandhasdefeatedMacdonwald.TheThaneofCawdorhas
betrayedDuncanandisaccusedofbeingatraitor.DuncanorderstheThaneofCawdorsexecutionandannounces
thatMacbethwillreceivethetitleofThaneofCawdor.
MacbethandBanquoleavethebattlefieldandmeettheWitches.TheWitchesstatetheprophecythatMacbethwill
beThaneofCawdorandkingandthatBanquowillbethefatherofkings,butnotkinghimself.Macbethhasbeen
victoriousonthebattlefieldandthewarisatanendtowhatgreatnessshouldhenowaspire?
TheWitchessparktheambitiousnatureinMacbeth,asheknowshisrisetopowerwouldgreatlybeenhancedby
beingnamedThaneofCawdor.AftertheWitchesvanish,RossandAngusarriveandannouncethatMacbethhas
beennamedThaneofCawdor.BanquoisskepticaloftheWitches,butMacbeth,drivenbyadesireforpower,
considerskillingDuncantogainthecrown.Macbethisoverwhelmedbytheimage,yethisdesireforpowerisstill
present,asstatedinaletterhesendstoLadyMacbeth.
LadyMacbethencouragesMacbethtoactonhisthoughts,tellinghimthatshewillguideandsupporthisplantokill
KingDuncan.WhileDuncanisvisitingInverness,Macbethscastle,MacbethkillsDuncanashesleeps.Afterthe
murderisdiscovered,Macbethkillstheservants,whomheaccusesofDuncansmurder.Duncanssons,fearingfor
theirownlives,fleeScotland.Macbethiscrownedking.

BanquoraisessuspicionsthatMacbethkilledDuncan.MacbethhirestwomentokillBanquoandhissonFleance,
whomMacbethfearswillbecomeking,astheWitchesforetold.Banquoiskilled,butFleanceescapes.
TheWitchesconjureaspell,andApparitionsrevealtoMacbeththreepropheciesthatwillaffecthisfuture.Heis
toldtobewareofMacduff,thatnomanbornofwomancanharmhim,andhewillnotbeconquereduntiltheforest
atBirnammarchestoDunsinane.Macbethisalsoshownaprocessionofkingswiththelastkinglookinginamirror
thereflectionisthatofBanquo.
MacbethordersMacduffsfamilytobemurderedandleavesforEnglandtoconfrontMacduff.WhenMacduff
hearsofthemassacreofhisfamily,hevowstoseekrevengeonMacbeth.HejoinsMalcolminhisquesttodepose
Macbeth.
ThearmyproceedsincamouflagebycarryingabranchfromBirnamWoodintobattle.Alarmedbythis,Macbeth
fearstheWitchesprophecywillcometrue.MacbethistoldofLadyMacbethsdeathbyherownhands,andhe
lamentsthenatureofhislife.
MacbethfightsMacduff,andMacbethboaststhathecannotbekilledbyanymanbornofwoman.Macduffinforms
Macbeththathewassurgicallyremovedfromhismotherswombandthuswasnotbornofwoman.Macduffkills
MacbethinbattleandhailsMalcolmasKingofScotland.MalcolmvowstorestoreScotlandtoapeacefulcountry.
EstimatedReadingTime
ThetimeneededtoreadMacbethdependsonthefamiliarityofthereaderwiththelanguageoftheElizabethanEra.
Thenotesandglossaryofthetextbeingusedshouldserveasaguidetothereader.Arecordedversionoftheplay
wouldserveasasourceforpronunciationandaidthereaderwithinflectionandintentofthewords.
SinceShakespearewroteinblankverse,aformofunrhymedpoetry,thereisarhythmtothereadingthatbecomes
easiertofollowasthereadermovesthroughtheplay.Theestimatedreadingtimeisapproximately12to14hours.
Macbeth Summary (Critical Survey of Literature for Students)
OnalonelyheathinScotland,threeweirdwitchessingtheirriddlingrunesandsaythatsoontheywillmeet
Macbeth.Macbeth,thenoblethaneofGlamis,hadrecentlybeenvictoriousinagreatbattleagainstVikingsand
Scottishrebels.Forhisbravedeeds,KingDuncandecidestoconferuponhimthelandsoftherebelliousthaneof
Cawdor.
Onhiswaytoseetheking,Macbethandhisfriend,Banquo,meetthethreewitchesonthedarkmoor.Thewild
andfrightfulwomengreetMacbethbyfirstcallinghimthaneofGlamis,thenthaneofCawdor,andfinally,kingof
Scotland.Finally,theyprophesythatBanquosheirswillreigninScotlandinyearstocome.WhenMacbethtriesto
questionthethreewomen,theyvanish.
MacbeththinksverylittleaboutthestrangeprophecyuntilhemeetsoneofDuncansmessengers,whotellshimthat
heisnowthaneofCawdor.ThispieceofnewsstunsMacbeth,butBanquothinksthewitchesprophecyisanevil
rusetowhetMacbethsambitionandtrickhimintofulfillingtheprophecy.MacbethdoesnotheedBanquos
warninghearingthewitchescallhimkinghasgonedeepintohissoul.Hepondersthepossibilityofbecominga
monarchandsetshiswholeheartontheattainmentofthisgoal.IfhecouldbethaneofCawdor,perhapshecould
ruleallofScotlandaswell.Asitisnow,Duncanisking,andhehastwosonswhowillruleafterhim.Theproblemis
great.MacbethshakesoffhisdreamsandaccompaniesBanquotogreetDuncan.

Duncanisakind,majestic,gentle,andstrongrulerMacbethisfondofhim.WhenDuncan,however,mentionsthat
hisson,Malcolm,willsucceedhimonthethrone,Macbethseestheboyasanobstacleinhisownpathhehardly
daresadmittohimselfhowthisimpedimentdisturbshim.Duncanannouncesthathewillspendonenightofaroyal
processionatMacbethscastle.LadyMacbeth,whoisevenmoreambitiousthanherhusband,seesDuncansvisit
asaperfectopportunityforMacbethtobecomeking.ShedeterminesthatheshouldmurderDuncanandusurpthe
throne.
Thatnightthereismuchfeastinginthecastle.Aftereveryoneisasleep,LadyMacbethtellsherhusbandofherplan
forthekingsmurder.Horrified,Macbethatfirstrefusestodothedeed,butwhenhiswifeaccuseshimof
cowardiceanddanglesbrightprospectsofhisfuturebeforehiseyes,Macbethfinallysuccumbs.Hesneaksintothe
sleepingkingschamberandplungesaknifeintohisheart.
ThemurderisblamedontwogroomswhomLadyMacbethhadsmearedwithDuncansbloodwhiletheywere
asleep.Suspicions,however,arearousedinthecastle.ThedeadkingssonsfleeMalcolmtoEnglandand
DonalbaintoIrelandandwhenMacbethisproclaimedking,Macduff,anoblemanwhohadbeenDuncansclose
friend,suspectshimofthebloodykilling.
Macbethbeginstohavehorribledreamshismindisneverfreefromfear.Oftenhethinksofthewitchessecond
prophecy,thatBanquosheirswillholdthethrone,andthepredictiontormentshim.Macbethissodeterminedthat
BanquoshouldnevershareinhisownhardearnedglorythatheresolvestomurderBanquoandhisson,Fleance.
LadyMacbethandherhusbandgiveagreatbanquetforthenoblethanesofScotland.Atthesametime,Macbeth
sendsmurdererstowaylayBanquoandhissonbeforetheycanreachthepalace.Banquoisslaininthescuffle,but
Fleanceescapes.Meanwhile,inthelargebanquethall,MacbethpretendsgreatsorrowthatBanquoisnotpresent.
Banquoispresentinspirit,however,andhisghostmajesticallyappearsinMacbethsownseat.Thestartledkingis
sofrightenedthathealmostbetrayshisguiltwhenheseestheapparition,butheistheonlyonetoseeit.Lady
Macbethquicklyleadshimawayanddismissestheguests.
MorefrightenedthaneveratthethoughtofBanquosghosthavingreturnedtohaunthimandofFleancewhohad
escapedbutwhoonedaycouldclaimthethrone,Macbethdeterminestoseeksolacefromthewitchesonthe
dismalheath.TheyassureMacbeththathewillnotbeovercomebymanbornofwoman,noruntiltheforestof
BirnamcomestoDunsinaneHill.TheyalsowarnhimtobewareofMacduff.WhenMacbethasksifBanquos
childrenwillreignoverthekingdom,thewitchesdisappear.Thenewstheygavehimhadbroughthimcheer,
however.Macbethnowfeelsheneedsfearnoman,sinceallwerebornofwomen,andcertainlythegreatBirnam
forestcannotbemovedbyhumanpower.
MacbethhearsthatMacduffisgatheringahostilearmyinEnglandthatistobeledbyDuncansson,Malcolm,who
isdeterminedtoavengehisfathersmurder.SoterrifiedisMacbeththatheresolvestomurderMacduffswifeand
childrentobringtherebeltosubmission.Afterthisslaughter,however,Macbethismorethanevertormentedby
fearhistwistedmindhasalmostreachedthebreakingpoint,andhelongsfordeathtoreleasehimfromhis
nightmarishexistence.
Beforelong,LadyMacbethsstrongwillbreaksaswell.Darkdreamsofmurderandviolencedrivehertomadness.
ThehorrorofhercrimesandtheagonyofbeinghatedandfearedbyallofMacbethssubjectsmakehersoillthat
herdeathseemsimminent.
OntheeveofMacduffsattackonMacbethscastle,LadyMacbethdies,deprivingherhusbandofallthesupport
andcourageshehadbeenabletogivehiminthepast.Rallying,Macbethsummonsstrengthtomeethisenemy.
However,Birnamwoodismoving,forMalcolmssoldiersarehiddenbehindcutgreenboughs,whichfroma

distanceappeartobeamovingforest.Macduff,enragedbytheslaughterofhisinnocentfamily,isdeterminedto
meetMacbethinhandtohandconflict.
Macbethgoestobattlefilledwiththefalsecouragegivenhimbythewitchesprophecythatnomanbornofwoman
wouldoverthrowhim.MeetingMacduff,Macbethbeginstofighthim,butwhenhefindsoutthatMacduffhadbeen
rippedalivefromhismotherswomb,Macbethfightswithwaningstrength,allhopeofvictorygone.Withaflourish,
MacduffseverstheheadofthebloodykingofScotland.Theprophecyisfulfilled.
Macbeth Act Summary and Analysis
Act I Summary and Analysis
NewCharacters
ThreeWitches:evilprophetsalsoknownastheWeirdSisters
Duncan:KingofScotland
Malcolm:Duncansson
Captain:awoundedScottishsoldier
Lennox:noblemanofScotland
Ross:noblemanofScotland
Macbeth:DuncanscousinandGeneralinthemilitary
Banquo:soldierandMacbethsfriend
Angus:noblemanofScotland
LadyMacbeth:Macbethswife
Summary
Scene1
TheplayopensonableakandlonelystretchoflandinScotland.ThreeWitchesreportthatthebattleMacbethis
fightingwillbeoverbysunsettheyplantomeetwithMacbethonthebarrenbattlefield,orheath,...
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Act II Summary and Analysis
NewCharacters
Fleance:Banquosson
Porter:doormanforMacbeth
Macduff:noblemanofScotland

Donalbain:Duncansyoungerson
Summary
Scene1
ThereissomethingintheairthatdisturbsBanquoandFleanceandtheycannotsleep.Astheydiscussthereasons
fortheirinabilitytosleep,Macbethjoinsthem.Banquoconfessesthathehasbeendreamingabouttheprophecythe
WitchestoldthemandheisconcernedabouttheevilnatureoftheWitches.Macbethrespondsbysaying,Ithink
notofthem.Bothagreetodiscussthematteratalaterdate.BanquoandFleanceretiretotheirchamberstosleep.
AsMacbeth,aloneinthe...
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Act III Summary and Analysis
NewCharacters
Murderers:hiredkillers
Hecate:aWitch
Summary
Scene1
BanquosaysthattheprophecyhascometrueforMacbeth.HewouldliketheprophecytheWitchesmadeabout
hissonstocometruealso.BanquofeelsthathemustappearloyaltoMacbeth,yethedoesnottrusthim.
MacbethquestionsBanquoastohisscheduleforthedayandsaystoBanquotobesureandjointhematthe
banquetthatevening.Banquoandhissonplantogooutridingfortheday.Macbethisworriedthattheprophecyof
Banquossonsbeingkingswillcometrue.Hisreignwillbebarrenifhissonsdonotsucceedhim.Macbethhires
twomentomurderBanquoandFleance....
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Act IV Summary and Analysis
NewCharacters
Apparitions:visionscreatedbytheWitches
LadyMacduff:Macduffsdistraughtwife
Son:Macduffschild
Summary
Scene1
TheWitchesarepreparingamagicpotionandcastingaspell.Theychantincantationsthreetimestomakesurethe
charmspowerwillbestrong.MacbethgreetstheWitchesanddemandsthattheygivehiminformationaboutthe

future.TheWitchescalluponApparitionstoinformMacbethofhisfuture.
ThefirstApparitionisthatofanarmedheadsayingheshouldbewareofMacduff.ThesecondApparitionisthatof
abloodychildanditstatesthatnomanbornofwomanwillharmMacbeth.Thethird...
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Act V Summary and Analysis
NewCharacters:
Gentlewoman:awomanattendingLadyMacbeth
Doctor:thephysicianinthecastle
CarthnessandMenteith:noblemanofScotlandinMalcolmsEnglishArmy
Seyton:anOfficerinMacbethsarmy
Siward:generalintheEnglisharmyfightingwithMalcolm
YoungSiward:SiwardssonintheEnglisharmywithMalcolm
Summary
Scene1
TheGentlewomanreportstotheDoctorthatLadyMacbethissleepwalkingandherbehaviorisverystrange.The
GentlewomansaysthatLadyMacbethgetsoutofbed,putsonanightgown,unlockshercloset,writesonapiece
ofpaper,sealstheletterandreturnstobed.
...
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