Macbeth

1
Macbeth

• William Shakespeare

2
Act I Scene i

• Scene i 3 witches are gathered in the woods,
  discussing when to meet Macbeth because they know
  something about him (Holt 142).

(Jenson 1)
3
Act I Scene ii

• Scene ii At an army camp a bloody solider
  reports that Macbeth has killed a traitor,
  Macdonwald in battle. The Norwegians asked for
  peace, and King Duncan agrees, but not before he
  gets a large chunk of money from the Norwegians.
  Thus, King Duncan bestows the name Thane of
  Cawdor upon Macbeth (unbeknownst to Macbeth),
  then he calls for the death of the present Thane
  of Cawdor who is a traitor (Smith 3).

4
Act I Scene iii

• Scene iii On a heath, Macbeth and Banquo meet 3
  witches who make 3 predictions One witch calls
  Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, a second says he will be
  king, and a third says Banquos children will be
  kings (but Banquo will not become a king).
• Two Scottish noblemen (Ross and Angus) tell
  Macbeth he has been made the Thane of Cawdor, he
  learns of the death sentence placed upon the
  Thane of Cawdor.
• Macbeth then takes the witches prophecies
  seriously and begins to have disturbing, evil
  thoughts of how to steal the throne from Duncan
  he even contemplates murder (Adams 24).

5
Act I Scene iv

• At his palace, King Duncan is told by sources
  that the Thane of Cawdor is dead, and he is
  honored when Macbeth walks in. King Duncan
  proclaims himself grateful of Macbeths deeds
  (Holt 143).
• King Duncan then proclaims his son, Malcolm, heir
  to the throne (Smith 5).
• Macbeth realizes Malcolm will be in his way of
  obtaining the throne, and he again broods on his
  black desires (Adams 25)

6
Act I Scene v

• At the Macbeths castle in Inverness, Lady
  Macbeth learns of the witches prophecies through
  a letter from her husband. She thinks Macbeth is
  too weak to seize the throne alone, so she begins
  to plot his reign as king.
• A messenger arrives and tells her that King
  Duncan will visit their castle that night.
• Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that they should take
  the opportunity to kill the king (Adams 26).

7
Act I Scene vi

• King Duncan arrives at Macbeths castle along
  with his sons, Malcolm and Donaldbain, and with
  the noblemen, Angus, Banquo, Ross, Lennox, and
  Macduff.
• The comments on the pleasant air in the home
  (dramatic irony!).
• Lady Macbeth graciously welcomes the king while
  plotting his murder (Holt 144).

8
Act I Scene vii

• Macbeth speaks his first soliloquy, explaining
  how his ambition has led him to thoughts of
  murder.
• Lady Macbeth encourages her husband to commit
  murder (Adams 29).

(Jenson 2)
9
Works Cited

• Adams, Dean. The Modern Shakespeare. Penguin
  New York, 198820-30.
• Holt, Theresa. The Companion to Macbeth. Vintage
  Press Boston 140-145.
• Jenson, Mark. The Official Macbeth Website. 31
  March 2002. lthttp//www.macbethforstudents.comgt
• Smith, Eugene. William Shakespeares Macbeth and
  Hamlet A comprehensive guide. August 1999.
  lthttp//yahoo.macbeth/smith/shakespeare.com/htmlgt