Macbeth+-+Act+and+Scene+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.