MACBETH
ACT I STUDY GUIDE
Scene I On a wild heath, in the thunder and lightning, three witches gather to plot their upcoming evil deeds. On this
day of dire battle in Scotland, they plan their upcoming meeting with Macbeth, Thane of Glamis and
the hero
of the day. They decide to meet with him “when the battle’s lost and won,” and they announce their evil purpose to
destroy all decency and replace it with evil: “Fair is foul, foul is fair / Hover through the fog and filthy air.”
Scene II In a camp near the town of Forres, King Duncan of Scotland receives news of the day’s battles with
Norway. A bleeding captain comes into camp and relates how the war was “lost and won” twice during the day—
first, MacDonwald’s treason was beaten back by Macbeth and Banquo. Soon after, Norway attacked again, again
being beaten by the two worthy Thanes Macbeth and Banquo. Ross, another Thane, appears and relates how the
Thane of Cawdor’s treason nearly beat the Scots at Fife, until Macbeth won the day and forced Norway to surrender.
The King orders Cawdor’s death and announces that Macbeth will be made the new Thane of Cawdor.
Important speeches: The Captain—lines 18-25, describing Macbeth
—lines 27-36, a warning to the king
Scene III The witches re-enter in thunder, describing the evil they’ve been up to all day while they wait for Macbeth.
One of the Weird Sisters describes how an insolent young woman refused her chestnuts, and the others promise her
winds to sail on to torture the woman’s husband, a sailor.
Banquo and Macbeth see the witches, who hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor,
and as “ Macbeth, these words, while Banquo demands to be told of his Macbeth, and “Not so happy, yet much
happier” since he will beget kings, without ever being king. Macbeth, “rap’t” by their words, tries to find out more
from the three, who promptly vanish.
Ross and Angus appear, telling Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor— and Macbeth
begins to think about the “two truths” which the witches told him— and begins to think that he may just get to be
King, since the witches have “promised” that, too. Banquo and Macbeth agree to discuss the whole affair later.
Speeches: Banquo—line 113, on the witches.
—lines 132-139, Aside to Macbeth, on the “prophecies”
—line 156 “Look how our partner’s rap’t” about
Macbeth’s wonderment
Macbeth—line 125, Aside to himself, etc. on his future
—lines 140-155, longer Aside, on the same theme
Scene IV In the palace at Forres, King Duncan asks about Cawdor’s death, and Duncan’s son, Malcolm, reports that
Cawdor’s death was the best part of his life. The King comments that he trusted the traitor “absolutely.”
Macbeth
and Banquo arrive with Ross and Angus, and the King courteously receives them with praise and rewards befitting
their great services to him that day. The King announces that he has made his son Malcolm the new Prince of
Cumberland — this means that Malcolm is next in line to the throne. Duncan also announces that he will be spending
the night at Inverness, Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth writes home to tell his wife about the visit, and muses over the
fact that he must somehow “o’erleap” the Prince to become King.
Speeches: Macbeth — line 55-60, Aside to himself, thinking about his
new “black thoughts” about the King’s health.
King Duncan—line 61-65, to Banquo about Macbeth’s greatness
Scene V Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter, and begins to realize that SHE must goad Macbeth into taking the
“nearest way” to the throne, since he is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” to do it himself. A messenger
announces that Duncan will be spending the night, and the Lady exults in the perfect opportunity to kill the king—
making strange erotic “spells” and referring to the “Raven” which will “welcome” Duncan into her home....and her
trap. Macbeth arrives, and the two discuss the King’s visit: the Lady tells her man he must hide his evil thoughts
under a disguise of Courtesy: “look like the innocent flower,/ But be the serpent under’t.”
Speeches: Lady Macbeth—lines 1-33 in soliloquy, about herself, Macbeth,
and the murder of the King.
—lines 45-61, in soliloquy, speaking to evil spirits
and asking them to “unsex” her.
—lines 62-66, to Macbeth, about their plans and
their glorious future as King and Queen.
Scene VI Duncan and all the other Thanes arrive at Inverness Castle, and both the King and Banquo remark about
the beauty and serenity of the place: Banquo mentions “the temple-haunting Martlet” as the bird which greets them.
Lady Macbeth greets the King with lots of formal Courtesy, which we now know is a clever facade; the King returns
in kind. The words of love and friendship create beautiful dramatic irony.
Speeches: Banquo—lines 4-12, about the castle and the birds.
Scene VII Macbeth has second thoughts about the murder in first long soliloquy — the whole of lines 1-28 show
how his re-consideration of the murder may prevent him from acting. AN IMPORTANT SPEECH! Lady Macbeth
enters the scene, and chides him for vacillating—Macbeth tries to defend his misgivings about the murder, saying
that he would rather just be content with his new honors, but Lady Macbeth attacks his reasons for hesitating, as well
as his manhood, to convince him that he should murder Duncan while he sleeps in their castle that night, according to
the plan she has worked out. Macbeth finally agrees, and re-affirms that they should hide their evil plans from
everyone else.
Speeches: Macbeth’s soliloquy
Lady Macbeth’s “arguments” against his hesitation.