Macbeth - English lit

• Act 1

  • Opens with the three witches meeting
  • The Captain gives a report on the battle to Duncan, praising Macbeth
  • The witches meet again on a heath, Macbeth and Banquo arrive and meet the witches
  • Macbeth and Banquo return to the palace and meet with King Duncan
  • Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth explaining the witches' prophecies
  • Banquo and Duncan arrive at Macbeth’s castle
  • Macbeth doesn’t want to kill Duncan but Lady Macbeth persuades him
• Act 2

  • Banquo discusses the night and its unnatural darkness
  • Lady Macbeth remarks at her ability in planning the murder and drugging the guards
  • The porter likens himself to a porter of hell
  • Ross and an old man discuss the recent events and reflect on the reversal of the natural order
• Act 3

  • Banquo reveals suspicions about Duncan’s death
  • Macbeth thinks about the witches' prophecy and plots Banquo’s murder
  • Lady Macbeth reveals concerns about the stability of their reign
  • Banquo is murdered but his son, Fleance, escapes
  • Macbeth hosts a banquet and is told that Banquo has been killed, but Fleance escaped
• Lady Macbeth reveals her concerns about the stability of their reign


  Macbeth discusses his issue of Banquo with her but does not tell her of his plan
• Act 3, Scene 3

  Banquo is murdered but his son, Fleance, escapes
• Act 3, Scene 4

  Macbeth hosts a banquet and is told that Banquo has been killed, but Fleance escaped. Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet and Lady Macbeth has to take control. The night ends in chaos
• Act 3, Scene 5

  Witches meet with Hecate, who predicts their next meeting with Macbeth, but tells them that this time he will come of his own accord. She then scolds them for helping Macbeth gain power, telling them to trick him into false security and send him to his doom
• Act 3, Scene 6

  Lennox and the other lords discuss recent events. Malcolm and Macduff have left for England to raise an army. People are beginning to suspect Macbeth
• Act 4, Scene 1

  Macbeth meets the witches again and receives three apparitions about his future: to beware of Macduff, that no one of “woman born” can harm him, and that he will never be defeated until “Birnam Wood [come] to high Dunsinane hill”
• Act 4, Scene 2

  Lady Macduff describes Macduff as a traitor, saying he has betrayed her by going to England. Macbeth has Lady Macduff and their son killed
• Act 4, Scene 3


  Malcolm tests Macduff loyalty and decides to trust him. Ross arrives and tells them they need to go back to Scotland. He later tells Macduff that Macbeth has killed his wife and child, Malcolm tells Macduff to take revenge
• Act 5, Scene 1

  Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and obsessively washing her hands (re-enacting the murder and trying to wash the blood off her hands). The doctor comes to visit her but says that she is possessed and he cannot heal her
• Act 5, Scene 2


  The army is marching towards Dunsinane. Macbeth is going mad
• Act 5, Scene 3


  Macbeth shows hubris and is cruel to Seyton. The doctor tells him about Lady Macbeth
• Act 5, Scene 4


  Malcolm tells the army to carry boughs in front of them to disguise their numbers
• Act 5, Scene 5


  In the middle of battle Macbeth finds out that Lady Macbeth has died. He no longer feels fear. He is told that the woods are moving and there is going to be a siege
• Act 5, Scene 6


  The army, including Malcolm, Siward, and Macduff, has reached the castle. They reveal themselves from under the branches and blow trumpets
• Act 5, Scene 7

  Macbeth kills young Siward. Macduff wants to avenge his family so he looks for Macbeth. The castle is being defeated, Macbeth’s forces are betraying him
• Act 5, Scene 8


  Macduff faces Macbeth, but Macbeth thinks he can’t be killed. Macduff then reveals that he was born by caesarean section rather than a natural birth. Macbeth dies. Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland and vows to restore order