Macbeth - summary of the play.

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Macbeth – summary of the play

Act 1

Scene i: Play opens in "an open place," where we see the three witches, the "weird sisters." In a dozen lines, they announce their evil nature by saying "Fair is foul,and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and the filthy air," and their intention to meet with Macbeth once the "hurly-burly" of a battle is over.

Scene ii: The camp of the Scottish King Duncan. A wounded officer tells King Duncan and his son, Malcolm, about the heroism of Macbeth and his friend Banquo. Macbeth leads the forces loyal to Duncan against a rebel army led by the current Thane of Cawdor. News shortly arrives that the battle has now been won. Duncan orders the execution of the Thane of Cawdor and proclaims that Macbeth will become the new Thane of Cawdor. (Macbeth is not present, so does not know of this until the Thane of Rosse tells him in the next scene.)

Scene iii: On a heath, the three witches brag about their unnatural deeds and their supernatural powers. Macbeth and Banquo enter. Macbeth comments on the “foul and fair” day. The three witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, and tell him he will one day become king of Scotland. They say that Banquo will never rule, but his descendants will. Macbeth pleads for more information, but they vanish. Two of the king's men (Rosse and Angus) tell Macbeth he is indeed Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo are taken aback by the witches' knowledge. Macbeth is preoccupied with the idea of becoming king – and horrified by what he might need to do to achieve it.

Scene iv: Duncan's castle. Duncan, Malcolm and Malcolm’s brother Donalbain greet Macbeth and Banquo. Duncan announces that he will visit Macbeth at his castle near Inverness, and then names his oldest son Malcolm as successor to the throne. Macbeth says that he will go to Inverness in advance to prepare for the king's arrival. But in a stage ‘aside’, Macbeth sees Malcolm as an obstacle. He thinks about some terrible deed, but cannot bring himself top name it.

Scene v: At the Inverness castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter. Macbeth conveys good news: he is Thane of Cawdor, and three witches, who have proven that they are to be believed, predict he will become king. Lady Macbeth thinks aloud that his nature is "too full of the milk of human kindness" to realize this ambition. When a messenger enters with news that Duncan is on his way, Lady Macbeth rejoices: they can murder him, and Macbeth will become king straight away. Macbeth then appears and she flatters him with praise. She tells him of her plan to kill Duncan. Macbeth is indecisive but she tells him to go along with her and "Leave all the rest to me."

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Scene vi: As they arrive at Macbeth's castle, Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Banquo are welcomed by Lady Macbeth. She plays the gracious hostess, speaking very formally and demonstrating how she can hide her evil thoughts behind a show of polite welcome.

Scene vii: Macbeth has left the evening’s welcoming party. He contemplates the killing of Duncan in a soliloquy. He is deeply disturbed by the sin of killing a king and a blood relative. Lady Macbeth enters and mocks her husband's fears. When he asks about what would happen if the plan fails, his wife derides this possibility with ...

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