Detailed plot summary which summarises the key events in every act and scene for the whole play. So whenever you need to check you can with a 1 page summary for each text. Make sure you have the correct sequence of events.
Scene 1: summary - Three witches appear out of the storm, and make plans to appear after the battle, to
Macbeth
Scene 2: summary - Duncan is told of Macbeth’s and Banquo’s great courage in battle, Macbeth
slaughtered Macdonwald “from the nave to the chops”.
Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor
Scene 3: summary - The three witches appear again, and meet Macbeth and Banquo; Banquo asks if
they are mortal and real women.
The witches declare three prophecies - that Macbeth will be Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and
King. Banquo learns that he won’t be King but will birth a lineage of future Kings
Scene 4: summary - Macbeth + Banquo meet the King, who thanks them for their heroism in the
war, Duncan announces Malcolm as heir to the throne, and plans are made for Duncan to dine at
Macbeth’s castle
Scene 5: summary - Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth about the witches' prophecy; she
decides to convince Macbeth to do whatever is necessary to take the throne and asks the spirits to
remove her femininity and “unsex me here” in order to be able to do this
Scene 6: summary - Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle and thanks Lady Macbeth for the great
hospitality
Scene 7: summary - Macbeth ponders assassinating Duncan, he says the deed will be easy if not for
the consequences; he then considers the reasons why he shouldn’t kill Duncan which doesn’t
motivate him to not kill the King.
He realizes it is his own “vaulting ambition” that is influencing him.
Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he no longer wants to kill Duncan, and she questions his masculinity
and proceeds to tell him the plan, Macbeth is astonished at the plan and agrees
, Act 2
Scene 1: summary - Banquo tells Macbeth that he had a dream about the “three weird sisters” -
Macbeth pretends to have not thought of the witches since the prophecies.
Macbeth has a vision of the dagger floating in the air in front of him aiming towards Duncan; he
wonders if what he sees is a “dagger of the mind, a false creation”.
Scene 2: summary - Lady Macbeth talks to herself about how it’s impossible for Macbeth to fail;
Macbeth emerges with blood all over his hands, and she tries to calm him down.
Lady Macbeth then gets angry when she realizes that he hasn’t left the daggers to frame the
chamberlains, she has to go and place them back and shames Macbeth for his cowardliness.
Scene 3: summary - Macduff goes to see the King, and discovers that he is dead, Lady Macbeth then
appears and expresses her horror that such a deed should occur in her house.
Macbeth declares that in his rage he has killed the chamberlains, which makes Macduff suspicious.
Lady Macbeth faints; Malcolm and Donalbain realize they aren’t safe because the killer will also try
and kill them- they both decide to flee.
Scene 4: summary - Ross is discussing the horrors that have occurred in nature since Duncan’s death;
his well-behaved horses killed each other.
Macduff emerges and tells Ross that Macbeth has been made King and that the chamberlains must
have been paid by someone to kill Duncan; suspicion turns on Malcolm and Donalbain as they
have fled.
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