Wait…What Is Happening?
Macbeth – Act 1
Scene 1:
Three witches meet during a storm. The witches plan to meet again after the battle.
They know the future and can predict what will happen. They mention Macbeth.
The scene is very short, which is called a staccato opening.
Scene 2:
Captain tells the story of Macbeth’s brave battle. The captain is injured and tired
from swimming. The captain explains that Macbeth kills many men. The Thane
of Cawdor is fighting for King Duncan, but he switches sides to fight with the
Norwegians. The Thane of Cawdor is a traitor. King Duncan takes the Thane of
Cawdor’s title away from him and gives it to the brave Macbeth. Macbeth now has
two titles: Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor.
Scene 3:
Macbeth and Banquo are called to speak to the three witches. The witches switch
gender; they are now males. This means that the witches are asexual. The witches
tell Macbeth and Banquo 3 prophecies of the future. They tell Macbeth that he is
Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and the future King of Scotland. They tell
Banquo that he is lesser than Macbeth, but greater, not so happy, but happier, and
he gets kings be gone. These prophecies are like brainteasers for Banquo and
Macbeth to figure out. Ross tells Macbeth that the king has made him Thane of
Cawdor and Macbeth is amazed that the witches’ prophecy has come true.
Scene 4:
The Thane of Cawdor was a good man, who admitted his sings and is now dead.
The whole kingdom and country loves King Duncan and must have absolute trust
in the Thane of Cawdor. King Duncan wants to reward Macbeth and he loves and
respects Banquo. King Duncan’s son, Malcolm, is heir to the throne – Prince of
Cumberland. Then Duncan goes to Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth admits that he has
a deep desire to be king. Macbeth has an internal struggle – should he
allow/submit (the good) or leap over him and destroy the king (the bad).
Scene 5:
Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband, Macbeth aloud. Macbeth tells her
about the three witches and their prophecies. Macbeth also tells Lady Macbeth
that the first prophecy has come true. Macbeth loves his wife because he calls her
his “partner,” which is unusual for the time period, and tells her about everything
that has happened. Lady Macbeth learns that King Duncan is coming to her castle,
where she lives. Lady Macbeth is going to try to convince Macbeth that he must
kill the king. Lady Macbeth is asking for help to become a man, so she can help
kill the king. This is a big change in her character – she is becoming evil.
Scene 6:
King Duncan comes (with his sons, thanes, and attendants) to visit at Macbeth’s
castle. There is a lot of dramatic irony in this scene because Duncan feels very
welcomed at Macbeth’s castle, but the Macbeths are planning on killing Duncan.
Lady Macbeth explains that it is her duty to be hospitable because they love the
king.
Scene 7:
Preparations are taking place for the night’s feast. Macbeth paces by himself and
thinks about killing Duncan; this is Macbeth’s soliloquy. Macbeth says that he
might be able to kill Duncan if it goes quickly, but he is afraid of the consequences
of killing the king. Macbeth thinks about the reasons that he should not kill King
Duncan: Macbeth is Duncan’s kinsman, subject, and host. Macbeth is also so well
liked by everyone. The only motivation that Macbeth has to kill King Duncan is
his own ambition. Macbeth is rationalizing whether or not he should take actions
into his own hands and he seems to decide that he will not kill the king.
Lady Macbeth enters and tells Macbeth that the king wants to see him. Macbeth
tells her that the king has honored him, so he does not want to kill King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth becomes very mad and calls him a coward, unlike a man. Macbeth
asks her what will happen if they are not successful, but Lady Macbeth says that
they will definitely by successful. They develop a plan to kill Duncan: When
Duncan sleeps, they will give his chamberlains (guards) wine to make them drunk.
Then Macbeth and Lady Macbeth can go in to Duncan’s room to kill him. They
will smear Duncan’s blood on the chamberlains to make them look guilty.
Macbeth is impressed with Lady Macbeth’s plan and agrees to go ahead with the
murder of King Duncan.