Macbeth+-+Act+Summaries

APA Citation for the information on this page: Underwood, L. N. (n.d.). A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. In //Penguin Group (USA) - Academic Services //.


 * __Macbeth__ Act I Summary**

Three witches meet Macbeth and Banquo on the heath as the men return from battle. They predict that Macbeth will be named Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland and that Banquo will be the father of kings. The witches vanish; Ross enters to greet Macbeth with the title of Cawdor, the traitor whom King Duncan has determined must be executed and whose title and lands will be given to Macbeth. This immediate "earnest of success commencing in a truth" causes Macbeth to consider the extent of his ambition and Banquo to warn that predictions are often harmful as well as beneficial. (iii)

Announcing that his eldest son, Malcolm, is to be his heir, Duncan states his intention to visit Macbeth's castle, Inverness. (iv.) When Lady Macbeth reads the letter Macbeth has sent ahead, she determines her husband must take advantage of the opportunity Duncan's forthcoming visit offers as a way of fulfilling the prophecy. However, she fears that though Macbeth is "not without ambition," he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way." (v)

Macbeth is not as determined as his lady about the need for murder. He considers reasons he should defend rather than threaten the life of his king. Lady Macbeth remains adamant and pressures him with attacks on his manhood as well as reminders of their feelings for each other. She convinces Macbeth to proceed by presenting her plan to drug Duncan's guards and leave evidence that will implicate them in the crime. (vii)

Scene 1: Three witches open the play with the question "When shall we three meet again ..." They plan to meet Macbeth on a Scottish moor. The short scene sets the ominous tone for the play and ends with them chanting in unison the famous fair is foul line: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the fog and filthy air" (I.i.11-12). This line is arguably the theme of the entire play.
 * Act I broken down by scene**

Scene 2: Scotland is at war with Norway. King Duncan of Scotland receives news of Macbeth and Banquo's heroic deeds on the battlefield. They have successfully defeated a traitor. Duncan also learns that the rebellious traitor the hane of Cawdor has been defeated. Duncan announces Macbeth will be named the new Thane of Cawdor. This will be in addition to his present title, Thane of Glamis (pronounced Glahmms).

Scene 3: Macbeth approaches the three witches who hail him as thane of Glamis (his known title) and thane of Cawdor (unknown to Macbeth). The witches proclaim that Macbeth will be crowned king and that Banquo's descendants will gain the throne. Two Lords, Ross and Angus, arrive and inform Macbeth, already in deep thought over the witches' prophecy, that he has been named thane of Cawdor. Macbeth wonders whether the throne will come to him through natural events or if he must commit dark deeds to obtain it. Macbeth's ambition is known to us. Will he go rogue or not? Time will tell. He's not sure yet.

Scene 4: Duncan announces Malcolm as the heir to his throne. Macbeth immediately considers Malcolm an obstacle. Duncan plans to dine and stay over at Inverness, Macbeth's castle, that evening. Macbeth has already sent a letter to his wife about the witches and his new title, thane of Cawdor. Macbeth leaves early and rides swiftly to arrive at Inverness first. He wants to inform his wife that Duncan is coming and prepare for the king's arrival.

Scene 5: Lady Macbeth reads aloud a letter from her husband. She fears, however, that Macbeth's ambition is too much tempered by his kindness. She resolves, therefore, to convince her husband to follow his ambition and puts her feminine gentleness aside and vows to have Duncan killed before he leaves Inverness, Macbeth's castle. We see her very dark side and her overly ambitious attitude when she calls upon dark spirits to "unsex" her and take her womanliness and replace it with a manlier sternness to kill Duncan and not regret doing so. Lady Macbeth will be a huge force pushing Macbeth to commit regicide.

Scene 6: Duncan arrives and praises Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. He gives her a large diamond and makes himself at home. He is comfortable with the Macbeths and finds them to be good hosts.

Scene 7: Macbeth ponders the situation but finds no reason to slay the king other than his own ambition, which undoubtedly will bring unforetold evils upon himself. Macbeth informs his wife that he has changed his mind about assassinating the king. Lady Macbeth chastises her husband for his weakness. She is the force pushing him. Initially, she is more strong willed and determined to achieve the crown by any means necessary.

Brief Analysis: The play's beginning forebodes ill and establishes a dark mood for the entire play. Act I is full of contrasts where "fair is foul and foul is fair," none more glaring than Macbeth, who is brave and loyal on the battlefield and ambitious and disloyal off it. Macbeth's decision, influenced greatly by his wife, to kill Duncan violates three principles:
 * 1) Duncan is a benevolent and good king;
 * 2) Macbeth is a subject to the king and has vowed loyalty;
 * 3) Duncan is a guest in Macbeth's home and is, therefore, accorded the rights of hospitality.

Macbeth sees a "dagger of the mind" leading him towards Duncan's chamber. (1) Lady Macbeth has drugged the guards, noting that Duncan's resemblance to her father has stayed her from doing the deed herself. After the murder, Macbeth carries the bloody daggers from the chamber causing Lady Macbeth to reprimand him for his great show of emotion. After she returns the daggers and smears the guards with blood, she tells Macbeth, "a little water clears us of this deed." (ii)
 * __Macbeth__ Act II Summary**

The porter attends the knocking at the gate, creating a comic relief scene of his imaginings. Macduff discovers the body, and Macbeth kills the guards, explaining the act as his overwrought response to their unjust offense. Duncan's sons realize their danger and decide that Malcolm will go to England and Donalbain will go to Ireland. (iii) Their flight makes them suspects, and Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland. (iv) Macduff is uneasy with Macbeth being crowned king.


 * Act II broken down by scene**

Scene 1: After a late night discussion with Banquo and his son Fleance, Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger floating in the hall. He attempts to grab the dagger but fails. He sees blood on the blade and decides the vision is a result of his uneasiness. Macbeth hears the bell toll and approaches Duncan's bedroom, resolved to carry out the treasonous murder.

Scene 2: Lady Macbeth hears Macbeth shout and fears the plan has failed.Macbeth enters, unsteady. Lady Macbeth attempts to calm her husband but becomes angry when she realizes he has forgotten to leave the daggers. Macbeth refuses to return and Lady Macbeth returns them herself.

Scene 3: A porter knocks at the castle door. After a humorous interlude, Duncan appears and requests the presence of the king. Macduff is led to the king's room and is shocked by the appearance of the bloody king. Macbeth's sons are also present and are told the king's servants have been found with the bloody daggers and that Macbeth killed them in rage. Macduff suspects treachery. Malcolm and Donalbain realize they are not safe and flee.

Scene 4: Ross, another thane, appears and is informed by Macduff that Macbeth has been crowned king. Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected as a result of their flight from Inverness.

Brief Analysis: Macbeth hesitates to commit the murder and immediately regrets it. He undergoes a change, however, once Duncan's body is discovered, focusing on what needs to be done for him to take the throne. Despite the appearance of the chamberlains' guilt, Banquo suspects Macbeth's involvement.

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__Macbeth__ Act III Summary
Banquo begins to suspect Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan and Macbeth in turn feels that Banquo will reveal that it was he that killed the King. Therefore, Macbeth sends out some thugs to murder Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes.

Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Lennox, Ross, and other lords attend a banquet. The ghost of Banquo presents itself to Macbeth. Macbeth begins to rant and rave, making the other guests uneasy. Lady Macbeth tries to cover up the situation by saying Macbeth is prone to fits. By the end of this Act, we learn that Macduff has not attended the banquet because he has gone to England, looking for aid because he is suspicious of Macbeth.

Act III broken down by scene
Scene 1: Macbeth soliloquizes that Banquo is his only threat. Two murderers enter. Macbeth entreats them to murder Banquo and Fleance.

Scene 2: Macbeth informs Lady Macbeth of his plan to kill Banquo and Fleance and urges her to show great kindness to them in order to create a false sense of security.

Scene 3: Three murderers attack Banquo and Fleance. Banquo is murdered. Fleance flees.

Scene 4: One of the murderers informs Macbeth that Banquo has been killed and Fleance has survived. Macbeth returns to his dinner and sees Banquo's ghost sitting in his chair. Lady Macbeth tells the dinner guests not to worry and that Macbeth's short spell will end. It does...until the ghost reappears. Lady Macbeth sends the guests out of the room and the ghost vanishes. Macbeth informs his wife that Macduff refuses to appear in court.

Scene 5: The three witches discuss Macbeth. Hecate appears and chastises the three for not including her in the prophecies. Knowing Macbeth will arrive the next day, they plan to give him a false sense of security about his fate. The witches are on the heath. Hecate is their ruler is also there. She is angry because they did not talk to her about their dealings with Macbeth. She says that Macbeth will fall from power. They have meddled with affairs and this must be righted.

Scene 6: Banquo's murder has been blamed on his son Fleance, but many noblemen suspect Macbeth. Macduff has gone to England and Macbeth is preparing for war.

Brief Analysis: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth learn that becoming king and queen has not brought them the happiness they had envisioned. The two reverse roles in scenes 1-3 with Macbeth becoming the devious murderer and his wife becoming the one needing urged. In scene 4, Lady Macbeth reasserts herself as Macbeth seems to be crazy. Macduff establishes further himself as Macbeth's main rival. The theme that things are not as they seem reappears with the false sense of security given to Banquo, the same false sense of security the witches give Macbeth in Act IV.

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__ Macbeth __ Act IV Summary
Macbeth confronts the three Weird Sisters and they show him more visions. The visions lead Macbeth to believe that he cannot be killed by any man, giving him a false sense of security. He then plans to send murderers to the castle of Macduff (who is in England ) in order to kill his family. Meanwhile, Macduff is in England begging Malcolm to return to Scotland and seize the throne from Macbeth who has become a tyrant. Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty to Scotland and himself, and after being satisfied with Macduff's responses, he agrees to wage war against Macbeth. Malcolm's uncle will also aid in the attack.

Act IV broken down by scene
Scene 1: The witches dance around a cauldron, chanting. Macbeth appears and is given his prophecy: (1) beware Macduff; (2) none of woman born shall harm Macbeth; (3) Macbeth is safe until "Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill"; (4) Banquo appears at the end of a long line of kings, but the witches refuse to explain the last vision. Macbeth sends murderers to Macduff's castle.

Scene 2: Lady Macduff and Ross converse. Lady Macduff criticizes her husband for abandoning her. Ross assures her that Macduff has acted wisely. Ross leaves. Lady Macduff tells her son that her father is dead. Her son argues otherwise. A messenger warns Lady Macduff to flee. She refuses. A murderer enters, stabs Macduff's son and kills Macduff's family.

Scene 3: Malcolm and Macduff meet in England. Malcolm expresses distrust over Macbeth's abandonment of his home, fearing he is in league with Macbeth. Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty by denouncing himself as unworth to become king. Macduff passes the test by telling Malcolm he is unworthy if he possesses such traits as he claims. Malcolm retracts his statements and recognizes Macduff as a loyal assistant. Ross enters and lies to Macduff that his family is safe. Malcolm receives 10,000 soldiers from England to attack Macbeth. Ross tells Macduff the truth, that his family is murdered. Malcolm urges Macduff to transform his grief to anger.

Brief Analysis: The Weird sisters continue their advising of Macbeth, giving him a false sense of security and fueling his paranoia. It is unclear whether the Weird sisters control the characters' fate or spur them into action by suggesting what could happen. Macbeth has evolved into a ruthless murderer, striking down Macduff's entire family.

**__Macbeth__ Act V Summary **
====Lady Macbeth, while sleepwalking, reveals her knowledge of the deaths of Duncan, Lady Macduff, and Banquo. Her continual washing of her hands cannot ease her dread or make her feel cleansed. The doctor and attendant realize they cannot help her. (i.) ====

====Macbeth is too involved with battle preparations against Malcolm and English and Scottish troops to spend much time considering his wife's dreams. (iii.) When he hears of Lady Macbeth's death, he contemplates that life is "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." He reassures himself with the predictions only to see the woods advance when Malcolm's soldiers camouflage themselves with boughs from Birnam Wood. (v.) ====

====Macbeth sees the ambiguity of the predictions but goes bravely into battle. He kills young Siward who dies fearlessly (vii.) and then faces Macduff who tells him that he was not "of woman born" but was "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb. Finally realizing the true implications of the predictions, Macbeth refuses to yield to Macduff and face capture and ridicule. He confronts Macduff and bravely fights to the death. Macduff displays the "usurper's cursed head" and acclaims Malcolm the new King of Scotland. (viii.) ====

__Macbeth__ Act V broken down by scene
Scene 1: A doctor and a woman discuss Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking. Lady Macbeth arrives and laments the murder of Banquo and Macduff's family. She scrubs her hands and claims nothing will remove the blood from them. The two observers discuss Lady Macbeth's madness.

Scene 2: Scottish lords discuss the military situation. Macbeth is secure in the king's castle. Malcolm and Macduff have gathered their 10,000 troops near Birnam Wood.

Scene 3: Macbeth strolls throughout his castle, overconfident in his safety on account of the Weird sisters prophecies.

Scene 4: Malcolm and the English commander order their troops to pluck a bough from Birnam wood and cover themselves as they march.

Scene 5: Macbeth, still overconfident, orders banners to be hung from his castle. He is informed that Lady Macbeth is dead. He is informed that Birnam Wood is marching on the castle. Macbeth remembers the prophecy and prepares to fight.

Scene 6: The battle begins outside the castle.

Scene 7: Macbeth strikes down several soldiers, still confident that no man born of woman can harm him.

Scene 8: Macduff emerges from battle and searches for Macbeth. The battle resumes.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Scene 9: Malcolm and Siward enter the castle.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Scene 10: Macduff finds Macbeth. They argue. Macbeth shares the prophecy about not being killed by a man born of woman. Macduff informs Macbeth that he was not born of woman but ripped from his mother's womb.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Scene 11: Macduff strolls in with Macbeth's head and declares Malcolm king. Malcolm promotes all thanes to Earl.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Brief Analysis: The Weird sisters' prophecies come true, exactly in the manner they foretold them. Macbeth has a false sense of security. He dies the day Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane, and he is killed by a man not born of woman. It is left unclear just how Banquo's descendants will become kings, but we know it will happen.