English 9
Mrs. Sharp
name:
period:
Macbeth Whoosh!
Characters
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Banquo
Fleance
Duncan
Three Witches
Macduff
English Army
Murder (all)
The play begins with the brief appearance of three Witches, planning to
meet with Macbeth. The action then moves to a military camp where the Scottish
King Duncan hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated
two invading armies, with Macbeth brutally murdering the opposing general in
battle. On their way home from the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter the
Witches, who predict that Macbeth will be made Thane of Cawdor and eventually
King of Scotland. They also predict that Banquo will father a line of kings, although
Banquo will not be King himself. The Witches vanish, Macbeth and Banquo are
shocked and interested to know more. Then, some of King Duncan’s men come to
tell Macbeth that he has just been named Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth writes to his
wife to share his news with her, and his uncertainty about what it means. He tells
her that he is on his way home and that the King is coming to visit them that night.
Lady Macbeth does not share her husband’s uncertainty. She decides they should murder Duncan and
make her husband King. Lady Macbeth talks to Macbeth and convinces him to commit the murder. While
Duncan is asleep, Macbeth murders him. To ensure there are no witnesses, Macbeth also murders Duncan’s
two guards. When the King’s death is discovered the next morning by the other Lords, Banquo and Macduff
included, everyone is outraged Duncan’s sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England and Ireland respectively,
fearing that their father’s killer will murder them as well. Macbeth easily assumes the kingship.
Fearing the Witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, the new King Macbeth hires a
group of men to murder Banquo and his son Fleance, but Fleance escapes into the night. Macbeth is furious:
his troubled mind is further distressed at a banquet that night, when he is visited by Banquo’s ghost. When he
sees the ghost, he talks wildly and is obviously upset by the murder he has just ordered. Lady Macbeth tries to
soothe him and tells the guests that this is just a sickness he has had since childhood. She finally gives up and
sends everyone away while she tries to figure out what’s wrong with Macbeth.
Macbeth goes to visit the Witches again. He is told he must beware of Macduff but that he is
incapable of being harmed by any man born of woman; and that he will be safe until Birnam Wood comes to
Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth is relieved and feels secure, because he knows that all men are born of women
and that forests cannot move. When he learns that Macduff has fled to England to join Malcolm, he orders
the murder of Lady Macduff, her children, and all the servants of the house.
On hearing the news of his family’s slaughter, Macduff is stricken with grief and vows revenge, joining
Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, who has succeeded in raising an army in England. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth, is
having nightmares, is sleepwalking, talking to herself, and thinks she sees bloodstains on her hands. Macbeth
is preparing for battle. As his enemies approach, Macbeth receives news that his wife is dead. Macbeth is left
numb with fear when he learns the English army is camouflaged with tree boughs cut from Birnam Wood,
fulfilling half of the Witches’ prophecy: Birnam wood is on the move. Despite the dire circumstances, Macbeth
vows that he will not give up and that he will fight until the end. Malcolm’s forces are surrounding the castle,
lead by Macduff, who is on the hunt for the murderous fiend. Macbeth is confronted by the vengeful
Macduff, who declares that he was not “of woman born” but instead had a caesarean birth and was from his
mother’s womb “untimely ripped.” The two fight but the tyrant Macbeth is killed by the noble Macduff.
Malcolm becomes King of Scotland, like his father Duncan before him, bringing an end to this time of unease
and murder.
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Macbeth Whoosh!
The play begins with a thunder and lightening storm and the brief appearance of three Witches,
planning to meet with Macbeth. As they come together they say, “Fair is foul and foul is fair/Hover through the
fog and filthy air.” WHOOSH!
The action then moves to a military camp where the Scottish King Duncan hears the news that his
generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated the invading Norwegian army, with Macbeth brutally
murdering the opposing general in battle. Duncan is very proud and happy to hear what valiant warriors he has
fighting to protect Scotland. WHOOSH!
On their way home from the battle, Macbeth and Banquo are exhausted but victorious. They are met
by the three Witches, who all hail Macbeth and Banquo. Then, they predict that Macbeth will be made Thane
of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. Macbeth is shocked, confused, and excited. They also predict that
Banquo will father a line of kings, although Banquo will not be King himself. Then, The Witches vanish.
Banquo is also shocked and confused but the two friends say to each other: “You shall be king./ Your children
shall be kings.” WHOOSH!
Macbeth and Banquo are shocked and interested to know more, but they continue their journey
home. Then, some of King Duncan’s men come to tell Macbeth that he has just been named Thane of
Cawdor. Macbeth is shocked! He can’t believe that one of the things the Witches said has come true. He
imagines what it might be like to become king, but decides “If chance will have me king, why then chance will
have to crown me, without my stir.” Macbeth and Banquo finally meet with King Duncan, who greets them
happily and proudly congratulates them on their accomplishments. Duncan also announces that his son
Malcolm, who also fought bravely in battle, will be next in line for the throne. At this news, Macbeth says,
“Stars, hide your fires. Let not light see my black and deep desires.” Macbeth writes a letter to his wife to share
his news with her, and his uncertainty about what it means. He tells her that he is on his way home and that
the King is coming to visit them that night. WHOOSH!
Lady Macbeth does not share her husband’s uncertainty. As she reads the letter, she decides they
should murder Duncan and make her husband King. She calls upon the spirits to fill her with cruelty and make
her able to convince her husband. Lady Macbeth talks to Macbeth and, at first, he says “We will proceed no
further in this business.” But, when Lady Macbeth accuses him of not loving her, of being a coward, of not
being man enough to do it, and that she would do ANYTHING she promised him she would do, she finally
convinces him to commit the murder. WHOOSH!
That night, after the party, Duncan is asleep in his room. Lady Macbeth delivers wine to the guards,
which they quickly drink before passing out. When the coast is clear, Lady Macbeth rings a bell, signaling that
it is time to murder King Duncan. Macbeth says, “Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to
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heaven or to hell.” Macbeth then sneaks into Duncan’s rooms and murders him. As he leaves with the bloody
daggers in his hands, he runs into Lady Macbeth. Macbeth says, “This is a sorry sight.” Lady Macbeth responds
“Tis a foolish thought to say a sorry sight.” She returns to the scene of the murder, plants the bloody daggers
on the guards, and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth retreat to their room to wait for morning. WHOOSH!
The next morning, Lennox and Macduff, two nobles come to the house and are greeted by Macbeth.
Macduff goes to wake Duncan and discovers he has been murdered! He screams, “Ring the alarum bell!
Murder and treason! Our royal master’s murdered!” Macbeth goes to investigate and, to ensure there are no
witnesses, Macbeth murders Duncan’s two guards. He tells everyone, “Forgive me of my fury that I did kill
them.” When the King’s death is discovered by the other nobles, including Lady Macbeth, Banquo, and
Duncan’s sons Malcolm and Donalbain , everyone is outraged. Malcolm and Donalbain stand aside and decide
what to do. They both fear they’ll be murdered just like their father was. Donalbain says, “Where we are
there’s daggers in men’s smiles.” Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England and Ireland respectively, fearing that
their father’s killer will murder them as well. With Duncan dead and Malcolm and Donalbain suspected in the
murder of their father, Macbeth easily assumes the kingship. WHOOSH!
Fearing the Witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, the new King Macbeth is
suspicious of what his friend knows and what he might do. He asks Banquo to attend a special dinner party.
Banquo assures Macbeth that he will be in attendance with his son Fleance. When Banquo leaves to go riding
with Fleance, Macbeth calls in two men and hires them to murder Banquo and his son Fleance. When the
two murderers meet in the park, they are joined by a third murderer. As soon as they hear Banquo and
Fleance coming, they set upon them. Banquo is killed, as Fleance escapes into the night, Banquo calls to him,
“Fly, good Fleance, fly! Thou may’st revenge!”. WHOOSH!
Meanwhile, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have been preparing the banquet. As their guests are
arriving, the first murderer comes to give Macbeth the report. When he tells Macbeth that Banquo is dead,
Macbeth is very happy. He says, “Thou art the best o’th’cutthroats.” However, when the murderer tells
Macbeth that Fleance has escaped, Macbeth is furious. He says, “Then comes my fit again. I am cabined,
cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears.” However, he decides that Fleance won’t be a threat
just now, and he returns to the party. Macbeth’s troubled mind is further distressed when he is visited by
Banquo’s ghost. When he sees the ghost, he screams, gestures, talks wildly and is obviously upset by ghost
that has appeared to him because of the murder he has just ordered. Lady Macbeth tries to soothe him and
tells the guests that this is just a sickness he has had since childhood. Macbeth continues to rage and cower, so
Lady Macbeth finally gives up and sends everyone away while she tries to figure out what’s wrong with
Macbeth. Macbeth recovers once the ghost of Banquo vanishes. He decides he will visit the Witches to see
what is next. WHOOSH!
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Macbeth goes to visit the Witches again. They call forth three apparitions to tell him is fate. The first,
an armed head tells him, “Beware Macduff. Beware the Thane of Fife.” Macbeth is glad to have this warning
as he has already begun to suspect Macduff. The second apparition, a bloody child, tells Macbeth that “None
of woman born can harm” him. Macbeth is understandably relieved to hear this, but he vows to murder
Macduff, just to be safe. The last apparition, a child wearing a crown and holding a tree, tells Macbeth that
he will “never vanquished be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” Macbeth
is relieved and feels secure, because he knows that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move.
But, he begs the Witches to tell him one more thing: “Will Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom?” The
Witches warn him “Seek to know no more” but he threatens them with a curse if they don’t tell him what he
wants to know. The Witches agree, saying, “Show! Show! Show!” and the ghost of Banquo appears with a line
of kings behind him. Macbeth knows that this means that Banquo’s sons will go on to rule the kingdom. He is
appalled and calls the Witches “Filthy hags!” and asks them why they have shown him this, but they just
vanish. Macbeth is left with the knowledge that all he has done (and all the people he’s murdered) has not
protected him from Banquo’s sons becoming king. WHOOSH!
Feeling insecure about what the Witches have shown him, Macbeth sends a spy to Macduff’s house.
The spy returns and informs Macbeth that “Macduff has fled to England.” Enraged, Macbeth orders the
murders of all of Macduff’s family and his entire household of servants. On hearing the news of his family’s
slaughter, Macduff is stricken with grief and vows revenge. Macduff joins Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, who
has succeeded in raising an army in England. WHOOSH!
Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth, is having nightmares, is sleepwalking, talking to herself, and thinks she
sees bloodstains on her hands. She is overheard saying “Out damn spot! Out I say!” and talking about “The
Thane of Fife.” Meanwhile, Macbeth is preparing for battle. As his enemies approach, Macbeth receives
news that his wife is dead. Macbeth is left numb with fear. WHOOSH!
A servant reports to Macbeth that the English army is camouflaged with tree boughs cut from Birnam
Wood, fulfilling half of the Witches’ prophecy: Birnam wood is on the move. Despite the dire circumstances,
Macbeth vows that he will not give up and that he will fight until the end. Malcolm’s forces are surrounding
the castle, lead by Macduff, who is on the hunt for the murderous fiend. Macbeth is confronted by the
vengeful Macduff, who declares that he was not “of woman born” but instead was from his mother’s womb
“untimely ripped.” The two fight, but the tyrant Macbeth is killed by the noble Macduff. WHOOSH!
Malcolm becomes King of Scotland, like his father Duncan before him, bringing an end to this time of unease
and murder. WHOOSH!
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Creating Your Own Whoosh!
With your group, you will create a retelling of the story (so far – no spoilers please!) from the point of view of a
character you create. In Shakespeare’s version, we get the story primarily from Macbeth’s point of view, but this is a
chance to see the story from another character’s perspective. Within your group, decide from whose point of view
you should retell the story. Some possible options are:
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One of the other key characters such as Macduff, Banquo, or Lady Macbeth
One of the minor characters, for example, Seyton (Macbeth’s servant), one of the murderers, Ross, or
Lennox
An important character who only has a short life within the play, such as Duncan
Inventing a new character of your own, for example, a fellow soldier of Macbeth’s who stays in the army, a
court jester, a cook or other servant, an English soldier who marches toward Dunsinane with Malcolm, etc.
A character who is dead, for example, Banquo’s ghost.
In addition, discuss with your group the reasons and context of why your character is telling the story and to whom.
Consider when your character is telling the story and under what circumstances.
For whatever character your group creates, make sure you develop his/her character traits and perspective on
events. Be sure to know who he/she is, what is his/her relationship to the Macbeths, where your character’s story
begins, where the character is when he/she is telling the story, what the most exciting things are from the
perspective of your character, and how your character feels at the end of your version of the story.
As a group, work together to tell the story of the play from this character’s point of view. You should each take a
turn telling the story, as the character you’ve created, from the beginning to the end. Each group member’s part should
be 1-2 minutes long and should be told from the first person point of view.
Each group should create a short scene which sets the context for your story and allows the character you’ve created
to speak the story within that context. Be prepared to present your scenes and tell your stories to the class as a
whole.
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