ACT 1 – The Rise of Ambition
Scene 1: The Witches’ Prophecy is Set Up
● The play opens with thunder and lightning, setting a dark, ominous tone.
● Three witches meet and plan to encounter Macbeth after a battle is over.
● They speak paradoxically (“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”), foreshadowing moral confusion.
Scene 2: Macbeth’s Bravery Reported
● A captain reports to King Duncan how Macbeth fought valiantly in battle against traitors
(Macdonwald and the Norwegians).
● Macbeth is praised as a hero—brave, loyal, and worthy.
● Duncan decides to reward him by giving him the title Thane of Cawdor.
Scene 3: The Witches’ Prophecy
● Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches.
● The witches hail Macbeth with three titles: Thane of Glamis (his current title), Thane of
Cawdor (a title he doesn’t know he’s just been granted), and “King hereafter.”
● To Banquo, they say he will father kings, though he won’t be one himself.
● Ross and Angus arrive, confirming Macbeth is indeed now Thane of Cawdor—part of the
prophecy has already come true.
● Macbeth begins to fantasize about kingship, but Banquo warns that evil forces often tell
partial truths to lure men into harm.
Scene 4: Duncan Announces Malcolm as Heir
● Duncan thanks Macbeth and Banquo for their service.
● He names his son Malcolm Prince of Cumberland, making him heir to the throne.
, ● Macbeth sees Malcolm as an obstacle to his ambition.
Scene 5: Lady Macbeth’s Ambition
● Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter about the witches.
● She fears Macbeth is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” to act ruthlessly.
● She calls on spirits to “unsex” her—make her cruel, pitiless, and capable of murder.
● She resolves to push Macbeth into killing Duncan.
Scene 6: Duncan Arrives at Macbeth’s Castle
● Duncan arrives at Inverness, praising its beauty—dramatic irony, since murder is being
plotted within.
● Lady Macbeth greets him warmly, masking her deadly intentions.
Scene 7: Macbeth’s Doubts
● Macbeth wrestles with his conscience: Duncan is his guest, his relative, and a good
king—reasons not to kill him.
● He fears eternal damnation and retribution.
● Lady Macbeth mocks his masculinity and ambition, manipulating him into agreeing to
murder Duncan.
● They plan to get Duncan’s guards drunk, use their daggers to kill him, and frame them.
ACT 2 – The Murder of Duncan
Scene 1: Macbeth Hallucinates the Dagger
● Banquo and Fleance are unsettled by the night’s unnatural atmosphere.
Scene 1: The Witches’ Prophecy is Set Up
● The play opens with thunder and lightning, setting a dark, ominous tone.
● Three witches meet and plan to encounter Macbeth after a battle is over.
● They speak paradoxically (“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”), foreshadowing moral confusion.
Scene 2: Macbeth’s Bravery Reported
● A captain reports to King Duncan how Macbeth fought valiantly in battle against traitors
(Macdonwald and the Norwegians).
● Macbeth is praised as a hero—brave, loyal, and worthy.
● Duncan decides to reward him by giving him the title Thane of Cawdor.
Scene 3: The Witches’ Prophecy
● Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches.
● The witches hail Macbeth with three titles: Thane of Glamis (his current title), Thane of
Cawdor (a title he doesn’t know he’s just been granted), and “King hereafter.”
● To Banquo, they say he will father kings, though he won’t be one himself.
● Ross and Angus arrive, confirming Macbeth is indeed now Thane of Cawdor—part of the
prophecy has already come true.
● Macbeth begins to fantasize about kingship, but Banquo warns that evil forces often tell
partial truths to lure men into harm.
Scene 4: Duncan Announces Malcolm as Heir
● Duncan thanks Macbeth and Banquo for their service.
● He names his son Malcolm Prince of Cumberland, making him heir to the throne.
, ● Macbeth sees Malcolm as an obstacle to his ambition.
Scene 5: Lady Macbeth’s Ambition
● Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter about the witches.
● She fears Macbeth is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” to act ruthlessly.
● She calls on spirits to “unsex” her—make her cruel, pitiless, and capable of murder.
● She resolves to push Macbeth into killing Duncan.
Scene 6: Duncan Arrives at Macbeth’s Castle
● Duncan arrives at Inverness, praising its beauty—dramatic irony, since murder is being
plotted within.
● Lady Macbeth greets him warmly, masking her deadly intentions.
Scene 7: Macbeth’s Doubts
● Macbeth wrestles with his conscience: Duncan is his guest, his relative, and a good
king—reasons not to kill him.
● He fears eternal damnation and retribution.
● Lady Macbeth mocks his masculinity and ambition, manipulating him into agreeing to
murder Duncan.
● They plan to get Duncan’s guards drunk, use their daggers to kill him, and frame them.
ACT 2 – The Murder of Duncan
Scene 1: Macbeth Hallucinates the Dagger
● Banquo and Fleance are unsettled by the night’s unnatural atmosphere.
