Bright Summaries - Macbeth by William Shakespeare (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

Act I

In Scotland, on the heath, three witches explain that they will cross paths with Macbeth before the sun sets. At the camp of Duncan, king of Scotland, a wounded sergeant explains the situation on the battlefield to his king. He praises the feats of the generals Macbeth and Banquo, who courageously resisted the attacks of the King of Norway. Ross, a nobleman, also brings news: he tells of the betrayal of the Duke of Cawdor, as well as of the final victory of Di-Duncans troops. The king decides: No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive/ Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,/ And with his former title greet Macbeth. (Act I, Scene 2).

Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches who predict that Macbeth will be thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and later king. To Banquo, they say: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none (Act I, Scene 3). Then, Ross announces to Macbeth that the king grants him the title of thane of Cawdor, thus proving the truth of the witches prophecy. Macbeth starts to envision the murder of the king to become king himself.

At the palace of Forres, Malcolm, son of King Duncan, relates the execution of the traitor Cawdor. In inverness, Lady Macbeth reads a letter by her husband, who tells her what happened to him. She decides to push Macbeth to assassinate Duncan, for fear that his will might weaken. Enters Macbeth who tells her that the king will come to them.

Lady Macbeth welcomes the king. Macbeth, in a monologue, hesitates as to what he should do. He decides not to commit the murder, but in the end Lady Macbeth manages to convince him to do it. He says: I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible feat./ Away, and mock the time with fairest show:/ False face must hide what the false heart doth know (Act I, Scene 7).

Act II

At night, Macbeth goes to the kings room with a knife. Lady Macbeth has drugged the kings servants. She comes across her husband who tells her that the deed is done. As Macbeth does not want to return to the kings chambers, it is his wife who goes there to smear blood over the servants to make them appear guilty. The porter opens the door to Macduff and Lennox, two Scottish nobles who have come to see the king. They meet Macbeth and discover the kings death. Following this, the two sons of Duncan flee: Malcolm goes to England, and Donalbain to Ireland. Macbeth will be king.

Act III

Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and his son Fleance because he cannot bear the idea that Banquos descendants might rule after him. The murderers kill Banquo, but his son manages to escape. During a banquet at the palace, Macbeth sees Banquos ghost. Lady Macbeth then tries to keep up appearances in front of their guests, who are concerned about kings troubles.

Act IV

Macbeth goes to see the witches and Hecate, the goddess who they obey, to know his future. Apparitions answer his questions. The first apparition tells him that he should beware of Macduff. The second apparition, a bloodied child, tells him to Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn/ the power of man, for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth (Act IV, scene 1). The third apparition, a crowned child with a tree in his hand, reveals that Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until/ Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill/ Shall come against him (Act IV, Scene 1). Then Macbeth asks if Banquos son will reign after him, the ghosts of eight kings and of Banquo appear before him, therefore corroborating his fears.

Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England and Macbeth orders his castle to be captured and his family killed. Macduff is trying to convince Malcolm that Macbeth is worthy of the crown when he is told what happened to his family.

Act V

Lady Macbeths lady-in-waiting explains to the doctor that her mistress is sleepwalking and that she gets up every night. They observe the queens behavior. She rubs her hands to wash the blood she believes she can see on them.

The English troops led by Malcolm, Siward and Macduff arrive at Dunsinane to set siege to the castle. Macbeth, believing that nothing can happen to him, decides to face the siege. But the soldiers, hidden under branches, walk to the castle, making it look as if the forest was coming towards him: it is the prophecy coming true. Macbeth is then told that his wife is dead. Macbeth kills the young Siward, but Macduff, who has been extracted prematurely from his mothers womb, kills him, thus realizing the second part of the prophecy. Malcolm then becomes king.