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MACBETH- SYNOPSIS
Duncan, King of Scotland, is informed that his generals Macbeth and Banquo have defeated
the Norwegians and Scottish rebels in battle. As they return from war, Macbeth and Banquo
meet three ‘Weird Sisters.’ The Weird Sisters predict Macbeth will become Thane of
Cawdor, and will one day be king, and that Banquo will be the father of future kings.
Macbeth is greatly impressed when Ross and Angus arrive and greet him with the title of
Cawdor, proving one of the Weird Sisters’ prophecies true.
King Duncan greets Macbeth with praise, but stops short of naming him ‘Prince of
Cumberland’ – successor to the throne. Instead, he bestows that title on his eldest son,
Malcolm. Duncan declares he will visit Macbeth’s castle that evening. Macbeth writes to his
wife telling her what has happened and of the King’s plans. Lady Macbeth, seeing the
opportunity, plots with her husband to kill King Duncan when he arrives. After his initial
enthusiasm for the plan Macbeth changes his mind, but Lady Macbeth persuades him to
carry out the murder. Macbeth kills Duncan and returns to his wife with the bloodied
daggers. She returns the daggers to Duncan’s room and smears the blood on Duncan’s
sleeping servants to make it seem as if they were the murderers. Her hands are now
covered in blood.
Lady Macbeth and her husband retire for the night and are disturbed by knocking at the
castle gates. Macduff arrives, and has a brief exchange with the porter. He discovers King
Duncan is dead, and rouses the castle. Malcolm and his brother Donalbain, fearing blame
for their father’s death, flee abroad. Soon after, Ross and Macduff reflect on what has
happened, and Macduff reports that Macbeth has been made King.
Macbeth is concerned for his position and arranges the murder of Banquo and his son
Fleance. Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes. At dinner that night Macbeth sees Banquo’s
ghost at the table and is terrified, much to the confusion of their guests. He decides to return
to the Weird Sisters to discover his fate. They tell him he should fear Macduff, that no man of
woman born can harm him and that he will never be vanquished until Birnam Wood comes
to his castle at Dunsinane. They show him a vision of eight kings derived from Banquo.
Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled to England so he arranges the murder of Macduff’s
wife and children. In England, Macduff meets Malcolm, who tests Macduff’s allegiance to
Scotland by first painting a bleak picture of his own personality as a future king, then
revealing his true character. They agree to fight together, with English support. During the
meeting, Ross brings news of the murder of Macduff’s family. In Scotland, a doctor, and a
gentlewoman observe Lady Macbeth sleepwalking, imagining that she cannot cleanse her
hands of Duncan’s blood.
The nobles gather, and Malcolm orders his men to camouflage themselves with tree
branches as they attack, thus giving the appearance of Birnam Wood approaching
Dunsinane. Macbeth learns that Lady Macbeth has died and fearing no man born of woman
continues to fight. He kills Young Siward and discovers Macduff was born by caesarean
section. Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm is proclaimed King.
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