Banquo wonders where the witches went and how but then wonders whether the witches were real or not. Macbeth wishes that they had stayed. Two messengers called Ross and Angus catch up with Macbeth and inform Macbeth of King Duncan’s thoughts of Macbeth’s bravery and success in battle and that the King has decided to give the Thane of Cawdor title to Macbeth as a reward. Angus also tells them that King Duncan wishes to see them. Banquo realises that the first prediction has come true whilst Macbeth asks Angus how he can be given the title Thane of Cawdor when the previous Thane still lives. Angus explains that the old Thane of Cawdor haqs been sentenced to death because of treason.
Macbeth thinks about the predictions, he thinks they can’t be good but they can’t be bad. He ponders on the fact that if the predictions are bad why has part of it come true in goodness not in evil happenings, or if the predictions are good why does he keep on thinking about killing King Duncan. The last thought terrified Macbeth, murdering the King? He couldn’t.
On his travels Macbeth writes a letter to Lady Macbeth telling her of the witches and their great predictions, he also says about the arrival of Ross and Angus who told him the news of him becoming the new Thane of Cawdor.
After reading her husbands letter Lady Macbeth knows that he would be too loyal and decent to kill King Duncan. Her ambition to be Queen makes Lady Macbeth vow to manipulate and taunt Macbeth into murdering the King. A messenger comes to Lady Macbeth and tells her that the King is to stay at the Macbeth residence for the night.
After the messenger leaves Lady Macbeth calls upon evil spirits to make her stronger and she also asks the dark of the night to hide the murder that she is planning.
A while later after Lady Macbeth’s summoning, Macbeth arrives. They discuss the murder and Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to pretend to be normal and loyal on the outside even if he isn’t on the inside.
Duncan and all the Thanes arrive at Macbeth’s castle. They are given a warm, friendly welcome from both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. At the banquet held that night Macbeth leaves and thinks hard about King Duncan and consequences. Lady Macbeth changes his mind back to the original decision and tells Macbeth that they will put the blame on the guards.
Banquo and Macbeth talk about the witches and their predictions but Macbeth says they will discuss it later. Once Banquo has left, Macbeth goes and kills King Duncan. Macbeth returns from King Duncan’s room petrified and daggers still in hand. He told Lady Macbeth in a panic that he had done it, Lady Macbeth was delighted until she saw the daggers still in her husbands hands. Lady Macbeth told Macbeth to take the daggers back and plant the daggers on King Duncan’s guards. As Macbeth refused this command Lady Macbeth took the daggers herself and put them in the guard’s hands so that it would look like they had done it. They then went and washed their hands and clothes. Macbeth was shocked still but when Macduff came to the castle to see the King he acted normal and acted as surprised as the others when Macduff came back up and announced the murder of King Duncan. After hearing about the death of their father Malcolm and Donaldbain flee to Ireland and England.
Banquo thinks that all the good things that have happened to Macbeth are more than coincidental. Macbeth has planned a feast and Macbeth ensures that Banquo will be there and also asking in the conversation where Banquo is going to ride and whether Fleance is going with him.
The murderers meet up at the designated spot that Macbeth had suggested, when Banquo comes along with Fleance jostling up and down on their horses and then the murderers attack. They kill Banquo but Fleance manages to escape.
Macbeth hears from the murderers that Banquo was killed but Fleance was not.
Macduff goes to see Malcolm in England and tries to convince Malcolm to raise an army to get rid of Macbeth.
Macbeth goes to meet the witches and before he had asked his questions he saw three apparitions. The apparitions told him to beware of Macduff, that no man born from a woman can harm him and that he can’t be beaten until Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane Hill.
When Macbeth hears that Macduff has gone to England he decides to have Macduff’s family killed
Malcolm hears of the deaths of his family and tries even harder to persuade Malcolm to get an army together to fight Macbeth, but fortunately Malcolm had only been testing him to see if he was a spy of Macbeth, Malcolm was actually teaming with the English army to go against Macbeth.
A servant tells Macbeth that an army is approaching but Macbeth doesn’t worry because a man born from a woman can’t kill him and he is weary of life anyway. Macbeth is also told that his wife’s mental state is getting even worse. This does not bother Macbeth, he just puts on his armour ready for battle.
Malcolm and his army are at Birnam wood. Malcolm commands every man to cut down a tree branch and carry it, so Macbeth couldn’t see how many of him there were. Macbeth bumps into a messenger who informs him of the approach of Birnam wood and that Lady Macbeth had died, he isn’t even bothered by that.
When they arrive at Dunsinane Hill Malcolm tells all the soldiers to put down their branches and fight, Siward and his son are to lead followed by Malcolm and Macduff.
Whilst the soldiers are fighting Siward’s son finds Macbeth and duels him, as Siward’s son was born of a woman Macbeth defeated him. Macduff didn’t want to fight anyone but Macbeth, and he doesn’t want Macbeth killed by anyone else.
Eventually Macduff finds Macbeth and fights him even though Macbeth didn’t want to. Macbeth tells Macduff that he can’t be killed by anyone born of a woman. Macduff replies that he wasn’t born, he was cut out of his mother by caesarean.
After saying this Macbeth became scared and became the total opposite of the bold character he was before and in his cowardice he refused to fight. Macduff gives Macbeth a choice. Fight to the death or not fight but Macbeth will be kept as a prisoner. Macbeth chooses the first option and therefore they fight.
Macduff comes out victorious holding Macbeth’s head. Malcolm makes all the Thanes into Earls for a reward of their help; he also invites everyone to his coronation.
