Macbeth summary- Act by Act Flashcards
Act 1- summary of Macbeth
Scene 1
Presentation of the three witches in their bleak setting of thunder and lightning.
We see their malevolent supernatural powers and chants.
Scene 2
Duncan receives news Macbeth was heroic during the battle against the rebels.
He CROWNS Macbeth THANE OF CAWDOR (position above Macbeth’s current position). Note: Macbeth does not know about this promotion of title.
Scene 3
Witches appear in front of Banquo and Macbeth as they’re coming off battle. They give him the prophecy that he will be THANE OF CAWDOR ( you can see why he starts to believe in their prophecies) and the KING OF SCOTLAND.
Witches tell BANQUO HE WILL FATHER A LINE OF KINGS.
Ross then comes to present Macbeth WITH THE TITLE OF Thane of Cawdor- Macbeth begins to believe in supernatural powers.
Scene 4
Duncan announces that Malcolm (his son) will Be the Prince of Cumberland. MACBETH SEES THIS AS AN OBSTACLE, obstructing his ‘rightful’ way of being King.
Scene 5
Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth explaining the Witches’ prophecies. She now begins to believe she should be queen of Scotland.
Lady Macbeth recognises HER FEMINITY CONSTRAINS HER, so she calls upon DARK SPIRITS TO STRIP HER OF “REMORSE” SO SHE COULD BE A BARBARIC MALE. She doubts Macbeth’s ability to commit regicide. She begins to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan.
Scene 6
Duncan and his sons (Donalbain and Malcolm) come to Macbeth’s castle to celebrate the victory in battle.
Scene 7
Macbeth is doubting his decision to kill Duncan- he acknowledges the IMMORALITY OF THIS ACT in his soliloquy. Takes him in to conflict with Lady Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth can see Macbeth is wracked with uncertainty. She uses a tool of EMASCULATION in order to coerce him into COMMITTING REGICIDE. Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth.
She gives Macbeth the pain of the murder- they will get the guards drunk and then once DUNCAN IS DEAD, PLANT THE DAGGER ON THEM.
Macbeth AGREES to committing regicide.
ACT 2
Scene 1.
Banquo expresses his CONCERNS ABOUT THE WITCHES’ PROPHECIES to Macbeth, and Macbeth pretends he hasn’t given the prophecies a second thought ( his deception is coming through)
The dagger scene.
Macbeth sees the BLOODY DAGGER after the murder. He reflects on the extreme consequences of his actions, and the permanence of what he will do.
MACBETH IGNORES THE GUILTY HALLUCINATIONS and proceeds with committing regicide.
Scene 2
Macbeth has COMMITTED THE MURDER and is alarmed he heard noises. He speaks of how no amount of WATER WILL BE ABLE TO WASH THE BLOOD OFF HIS HANDS.
Macbeth in a panicked state, brings back the bloody daggers with him. Lady Macbeth insists that he goes back so they can frame the guards. HE IS TOO PARALAYSED WITH GUILT AND SHOCK.
Lady Macbeth has to return the bloody daggers.
Macbeth begins to hallucinate and hear voices. “Macbeth does murder sleep” - this marks the beginning of his TRUE MENTAL BREAKDOWN.
Scene 3
MACDUFF FINDS THE BODY OF DUNCAN - he is truly devastated.
Macbeth kills the guards in rage (to cover up his actions) so they avoid questioning him.
DONALBAIN AND MALCOLM FLEE (Duncan’s sons) as they fear they too will be murdered.
Scene 4
Macduff tells Ross that Macbeth has been named King of Scotland and will soon be crowned.
Malcom and Donalbain are the KEY SUSPECTS FOR KING DUNCANS’ MURDER”.
ACT 3.
Scene 1.
Banquo becomes increasingly WEARY OF MACBETH an voices his concerns.
Macbeth enters as King for the first time. He articulates how the prophecies the Witches gave Banquo (that he will father the line of Kings) are UNNERVING AND HE IS FEARFUL THEY WILL THREATEN HIS POSITION AS KING.
Macbeth arranges to GET BANQUO AND FLEANCE (BANQUO’S SON) KILLED BY ASSASSINS.
Scene 2
Lady Macbeth becomes increasingly wary about Macbeth’s mental state, and tries to urge him to forget about the murder.
Macbeth clearly explains how his MIND IS PLAGUED with guilt and “full of scorpions”.
She doesn’t know about his plans of getting Barquo and Fleance murdered.
There is a shift in the relationship of power between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth,.
Scene 3
The murderes kill Banquo but Fleance manages to escape.
Scene 4
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hold a banquet.
Macbeth is informed that the murder of Banquo was successful but not Fleance.
During the banquet, Macbeth begins to hallucinate and sees BANQUOS’S GHOST taking his seat at the table.
Lady Macbeth dismisses the Scottish thanes who attend the banquet and says that Macbeth is not feeling well.
Scene 5
HECATE (the goddess of the Witches) and the Witches meet.
They speak about how Macbeth’s OVERWHELMING HUBRIS (pride) is obstructing him from seeing their DECEPTIONS.
Hecate instructs the Witches to AMPLIFY THEIR DECEPTIONS with their next prophecies.
Scene 6
Lennox is discussing with another lord about
how many of the lords are joining MALCOLM TO COMBAT AND BRING DOWN MACBETH.
They speak about their suspicions around how Macbeth got his power.
Act 4
Scene 1
Macbeth comes to the Witches, and as Hecate instructed, they AMPLIFY THEIR DECEPTIVE PROPHECIES.
They tell Macbeth: BEWARE OF MACDUFF , NO MAN BORN OF A WOMAN CAN HARM HIM, HE WONT BE DEFEATED UNTIL BIRNAM WOOD MARCHES AGAINST HIM.
Macbeth concludes that he must kill Macduff and his family .
Scene 2
Ross and Lady Macduff are speaking. It is revealed that Macduff has fled to England and therefore LADY MACDUFF IS WORRIED FOR HER SAFETY.
LADY MACDUFF AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE MURDERED BY THE MURDERERS SENT BY MACBETH.
Scene 3
Malcolm and Macduff who have both fled to England are speaking. They discuss Scotland’s future and righteous kingship.
Malcolm (Duncan’s son) WANTS TO TEST MACDUFF’S LOYALTY, so pretends to confess to multiple sins to him. When MACDUFF REMAINS PATRIOTIC, Malcolm reveals he was lying and that Macduff has gained his loyalty.
They decide to pair together to bring down Macbeth and RESTORE SCOTLAND.
Act 5
Scene 1
Lady Macbeth is accompanied by a doctor and gentlewoman who are explaining she has a “troubled mind”.
We see she is SLEEPWALKING holding a handle next to her. She begins to mirror Macbeth’s past hallucinations of seeing blood, as she sees a “spot” of blood and is plagued by this sight.
Lady Macbeth HAS LOST ALL SANITY.
Scene 2.
The Scottish lords and English forces begin begin to be led towards Macbeth’s CASTLE IN DUNSINANE by Malcolm and Macduff.
They are marching towards the castle HOLDING BRANCHES CUT FROM BIRNAM WOODS so they are disguised (the first of the Witches’ deceptive prophecies to become true- Birnam Woods is moving).
Scene 3.
MACBETH’S ARROGANCE IS MOCKABLE, in this scene. He is boasting to the doctors and others around him that he is INVINCIBLE DUE TO THE WITCHES’ PROPHECIES (no man born of a woman can harm him, and he is safe until Birnam Woods moves)
Macbeth begins to worry when he hears that Birnam Woods has begun to move towards him.
Macbeth is isolated but defiant.
Scene 4
Malcolm and Macduff’s charge towards Macbeth’s castle.
Scene 5
Macbeth hears about Lady Macbeth’s death and begins to realise the FUTILITY OF THIS POWER AND PONDER ON THE MEANING OF LIFE.
A messenger confirms that Birnam Woods is moving towards the castle.
Scene 6
Malcolm and Macduff’s charge towards Macbeth’s castle. MALCOLM INSTRUCTS FOR THE LORDS AND THE ENGLISH FORCE TO THROW THEIR BRANCHES DOWN SO MACBETH CAN SEE THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO OPPOSE HIM
Scene 7
Macbeth comes onto the battlefield to his INEVITABLE DEATH. He is still clinging to the idea that no man born of a woman can harm him.
Macduff and Malcolm are head to head in battle. Macduff REVEALS THAT HE WAS NOT BORN FROM A WOMAN, INSTEAD A CAESAREAN. This is the third prophecy to deceive him.
Macbeth is BEHEADED BY MACDUFF.
Malcolm is restored as the RIGHTFUL KING OF SCOTLAND.
