Scene Summery
act 1 scene
A heath, somewhere in Scotland
three witches talking about how they will meet again upon the heath with Macbeth.
important quotes: Whitch: “fair is foul and foul is fair.”
act 1 scene 2
A camp near Forres
the king is informed about how the battle is going by a wounded captain. we find out that Malcolm is Duncan (the king), son. the battle is even but Macbeth fought valiantly and killed Macdonwald, a kings man gone bad and the leader of the Norwegians. Duncan says that Macbeth will be the new Thane of cadow.
important quotes: Captain:”as two swimmers that do cling together and choke their art” (to describe the battle). captain: “disdaining fortune, with his bandished steel ,which smoked with bloody execution, like valour’s minion, carved out his passage, till he faced the slave;”
act 1 scene 3
A heath
witches gather on the heath where they meet Macbeth and his friend Banquo. they tell Macbeth that he will be thane of Cawdor and king thereafter. they tell Banquo that although he will not be king all his children will be. they do not beleave the witches because the thane of Cawdor is still alive. soon after Rosse and Angus enter and tell Macbeth that the thane of Cawdor is a traitor and will be executed. they also tell him that the king has decided to give him all this lands and servants. this makes Macbeth think that the witches were telling the truth about him being king.
important quotes: Macbeth:”the thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me in borrowed robes” Macbeth:”if chance will have me king, chance may crown me, without my stir.”
act 1 scene 4
A room in the Kings palace
Malcom brings news of the thane of Cawdor’s execution. Duncan names Malcom as the prince of Cumberland (the hair to the throne). tis the position that Macbeth wants and declares to himself that he will have to overcome this obstacle.
important quotes: Macbeth:“(aside) the prince of Cumberland!- that is a step on which i must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies. stars, hide your fires! let not light see my black and deep desires; the eye wink at the hand, yet let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” this quote expresses Macbeths ambition
act 1 scene 5
A room in Macbeth’s castle
we meet lady Macbeth. she is reading a letter from Macbeth that tells of his encounter with the whites. she rejoices at this information but worries that her husband is too soft to carry out the task the she belive must be done. In this we see that she is a very ambitious woman and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. A messenger comes and says that Macbeth is on his way and that Duncan is going to stay at their house. she sees this as a opportunity and when Macbeth arrives says that she will take charge of the evil task.
important quotes: Lady Macbeth: “yet do i fear thy nature: it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.” Lady Macbeth: “come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty!” Lady Macbeth: “he that’s coming must be provided for; and you shall put this night’s great business into my dispatch”
act 1 scene 6
outside Macbeth’s castle
the king and Banquo arrive at Macbeth’s castle where they are welcomed by lady Macbeth. Duncan thanks lady Macbeth for her hospitality.
important quotes: Duncan: “this castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses” Lady Macbeth: “all our service, in every point twice done, and then done double…”
act 1 scene 7
Macbeth’s Castle
Macbeth talks to himself about the plan to kill the king and starts to have doubts but in the end he decides that he cannot not jump at this opportunity even though he does not believe it will end well. Then Lady Macbeth comes in and asks him what he’s doing, time is running out. he expresses his doubts to her and she insults his manhood. she plays on his ego and says that he is not a man and that he in to scared to do what he said he would. so she tells him her plan which is to get Duncan’s guards drunk so they pass out and don’t remember anything then frame them for Duncan’s death. Macbeth agrees.
important quotes: Macbeth: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other-” Lady Macbeth: “I have given suck, and know how tender’t is to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had i so sworn as you have done to this.” Macbeth: “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.”
act 2 scene 1
A Courtyard Within Macbeth’s Castle
Macbeth runs into Banquo and his son Fleance in the night when they all can’t sleep. they lie to each other and pretend to be friends though they do not trust.
important quotes: Banquo: “There’s husbandry in heaven; their candles are all out” Macbeth: “Is this a dagger which i see before me’ The handle toward my hand?” Macbeth: “or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?” Macbeth: ” Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or hell.”
act 2 scene 2
A Courtyard Within Macbeth’s Castle
Macbeth comes back from killing Duncan and says to lady Macbeth about how he feels. he is discussed for killing a man in his sleep and feels very unholy. lady Macbeth dismisses his worry and tells him to forget about it.
important quotes: Macbeth: “But wherefore could not i pronounce ‘Amen’? i had most need of blessing, and “amen” stuck in my throat.” Macbeth: “methought i heard a voice cry, ‘sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep,'” Macbeth: “will all Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? no, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” Lady Macbeth: “My hands are of your colour; but i shame to wear a heart so white”
act 2 scene 3
A Courtyard Within Macbeth’s Castle
the porter complains about knocking when going to open the gate for Macduff early in the morning. Macduff go’s to wake the king and finds him dead. he calls all the people in the castle to the courtyard and tells them the terrible news. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth pretend they know nothing about it and lady Macbeth faints. they find out that the guards are covered in blood and have the murder weapon. Macbeth go’s and kills them before they wake up. Malcom and Donalbain express suspicion to each other.
important quotes:Macduff: “confusion now hath made his masterpiece!” Donalbain: “there’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood, the nearer bloody.”
act 2 scene 4
Outside Macbeth’s Castle
Rosse talks with an old man about how the animals are acting very strange after Duncan’s death. this coincides with the idea that what men do is reflected in the natural world. Macduff joins them and Rosse asks if it is known who did the deed. Macduff says it was the guards that Macbeth killed but that because Malcolm and Donalbain ran away the suspicion has fallen upon them.
important quotes: Rosse: “‘gainst nature still: thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up thine own life’s mean!”
act 3 scene 1
A Room In The Palace
A room in the palace
banquo is talking to himself about his suspicion of Macbeth. Macbeth comes in with his outrage and asks if banqo is going riding. when banqos answer is yes he asks if he is taking his son and he is. Macbeth wishes banqo a good ride and he exits. when every one is gone Macbeth asks his attendant to go and fetch the murderers. when they arrive he then proceeds to over justifies killing Banquo. he thinks that with banqo suspicious of him he cannot be a proper king. the murderers agree.
act 3 scene
A Room In The Palace
Macbeth talks to lady Macbeth about banquos suspicion and they decide that it is good to kill him.
act 3 scene 5
A Heath
we meet the queen with who is annoyed at the witches or meddling with Macbeth without her. she plans to give him more profiles that will cause more chaos.
act 4 scene 1
A Dark Cave
the witches are making a potion when Macbeth comes in and demands a prophecy. Hecate does it via Apparition. the first apparition says that Macbeth should fear Macduff, the second one says he can not be killed by man, woman born the third says he will die when the forest moves. Lennox turns up and tells him Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth says he will kill Macduff and all his descendants.